jaafar aksikas born 1974 in azemmour morocco is an american academic and cultural critic he holds a phd in cultural studies from george mason university an ma in the humanities and comparative literary studies from al akhawayn university morocco and a ba in english language and literature from chouaib doukkali university morocco he is currently associate professor of cultural studies at columbia college chicago united states he is also president of the cultural studies association his books and edited volumes includecultural studies ofand the law edited with sean johnson andrews 2014arab modernities2009 the sirah of antar an islamic interpretation of arab and islamic history 2002his other publications includeculture industries critical interventions 2011 an inaugural special journal issue on the culture and media industries for the journal lateral critical purchase in neoliberal times a special journal issue on engaged and communitybased forms of cultural studies scholarship for the journal lateralhis work has appeared in several scholarly journals including cultural studies reviews in cultural theory lateral mediterranean politics and cultuur en migratie aksikas has taught and published widely in the fields of cultural studies mediaculture industry studies critical legal studies american studies and middle eastern studies he also serves on the editorial boards of cultural studies and lateral journals he has received numerous awards including the george mason university vision award 2003 and the marquis who is who in america award 2010 he also holds membership at the phi beta delta honor society for international scholarshe is the founding general editor of cultural landscapes the founding coordinator of the cultural studies colloquium series at columbia college chicago and he serves as a member of the illinois network on islam and muslim societies he also serves as consultant for lawyers and the media on middle eastern and north african societies cultures and politics