Umar Sulayman

Umar Sulayman is a dedicated Fulbright scholar with extensive experience in teaching Arabic, English, and Linguistics. His career began in 2001 at the University of Baghdad, where he taught courses in General Linguistics and English Grammar. Additionally, he provided instruction in English as a foreign language and TOEFL preparation at MUC Mansour University College in Baghdad.

In 2006, Umar was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his second Master’s degree in TESOL at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. By 2009, he was teaching English for Specific Purposes at Ohio Northern University (ONU), and in 2010, he took on the role of director of the English for Specific Purposes program. In 2012, he further expanded his contributions by establishing the Arabic program at ONU and began teaching Arabic as a foreign language.

In 2015, Umar relocated to Tempe, where he became a global educator for ASU Global Launch. During his time there, he also acted as the city of Phoenix/Global Launch instructor for three terms and worked as a senior recruiter for the Middle East and GCC countries. In 2017, he joined the School of International Letters and Cultures (SILC) as an instructor of Arabic, Iraqi culture and society, and Linguistics. Since 2018, he has also been the co-coordinator of the SILC language fair.

Umar's life experiences, influenced heavily by the politics and conflict in the region, have led him to be frequently invited to speak on topics surrounding war, refugees, and Middle Eastern politics, further enriching his role as an educator and community leader.