Musa al-Gharbi

Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ)
Start Date: August 15, 2023

Having grown up in a small military town in Arizona, Musa al-Gharbi was delighted to trade the bustling borough of Manhattan, where he earned his PhD in sociology, for the tranquil suburb of Stony Brook. For the first time in their lives, his two children get to share a yard instead of a bedroom.

“The pace of life is better,” says Musa, who graduated from Columbia University last spring. He’s equally pleased with the change of scenery in his professional life, feeling right at home in Stony Brook’s School of Communication and Journalism.

As much as he enjoys contributing to textbooks, journal publications and other scholarly projects, Musa also has a passion for public-facing work. He regularly writes for news outlets such as The New York Times and The Atlantic, and he’s currently in the process of publishing his first book, which explores cultural and political tensions around social justice discourse.

The SoCJ embraces both of these interests, which made coming to Stony Brook all the more enticing to Musa. In fact, when this job was offered to him, he didn’t even wait to hear back from several prestigious universities that had flown him out for an interview. “I just signed on the dotted line,” he says. “And I never looked back.”

What he appreciates most about Stony Brook is the university’s commitment to equality of access and engaging diverse perspectives. “I really value being in an environment where I can actually help students expand their horizons and enrich their possibilities,” Musa says. “According to The New York Times’ data and rankings, Stony Brook is one of the top universities in the whole country in terms of socioeconomic diversity and in terms of helping students achieve social mobility. I’m all about that life!”

When he was around the age of his current undergraduate students, he says he had no idea what career path he wanted to pursue. Most of his family members had gone into the military, including his grandfather, both of his parents and his twin brother, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Musa was attending his hometown’s community college on and off while working in the private sector to support himself.

One day, he met a woman named Fatima, and suddenly his vision for the future started taking shape. Falling in love and building a relationship with his now-wife motivated Musa to transfer to the University of Arizona and earn his BA in Near Eastern studies and philosophy. Enduring the loss of his brother had sparked a desire to learn more about national security and foreign policy, issues he often broaches in his work, with the hope of preventing other families from experiencing similar tragedies.

After he received his diploma, Musa stayed at the university to get his master’s in philosophy and subsequently taught there part time before he transitioned back to the private sector and started applying to PhD programs. Around two years later, he and Fatima were off to ‘the Big Apple.’

“My improbable journey from community college to the Ivy League would not have been possible without the teachers and advisers I was lucky enough to work with,” he says. “Some of their advice and guidance completely changed the course of my life.”

Musa strives to pay it forward with every student he encounters, making sure to challenge their preconceived notions, sharpen their critical thinking skills, and empower them to actively engage in their career fields while they’re still in school. Outside of the SoCJ, he holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Sociology, allowing him to advise graduate students and participate in departmental committees. 

While he balances his responsibilities at Stony Brook with his freelance writing and forthcoming book, Musa makes sure to carve out plenty of quality time for his family. He and Fatima, who works part time at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, love to embark on outdoor adventures with their 12-year-old son, Ezra, and 9-year-old daughter, Nura.

Oftentimes when weather permits, they’ll walk along the beach and collect crabs, clams and other critters to examine, appreciate, then release back to freedom. They also enjoy hanging out in their new backyard and riding their bikes through the neighborhood.

“I’ve liked living and working here a lot,” Musa says cheerfully. “My journey has been full of unexpected twists and turns, but I couldn’t be happier with where it’s led me.”