He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2011. His research explores modern Mediterranean culture, with a particular emphasis on Spanish and North African literature and film. His first book, Colonial al-Andalus, will be published by Harvard University Press in April of 2018. He has also published articles in such journals as PMLA, Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies, and International Journal of Middle East Studies. In addition to his academic publications, he has contributed essays and commentary to such venues as NPR, the BBC, Foreign Policy, and McSweeney’s Quarterly.