We at the Middle East Center welcome David Giovacchini as Penn Library's new Middle East Studies Librarian. David manages Penn's print and electronic collections related to the Middle East, both in Middle Eastern and west European languages. In addition to selecting materials, David is available for research consultations and provides library support to Middle East studies classes.
David holds a B.A. from Cornell University with a double major in History and Middle East Studies. He received a Master s degree and completed all coursework up to his dissertation at Princeton University in Near Eastern Studies, specializing in Muslim extremist groups, and the Islamic concept of the Mahdi, or messiah, as these developed over time. David has a broad knowledge of both the modern Middle East and the culture and history of the Classical Islamic world. His current interests include Middle East popular culture and its political implications.