Iraq Native Taking Next Step in Life/Career with Pursuit of Master’s Degree

A native of Baghdad, Iraq, Zaid Abdullah has faint childhood memories of bombs falling during the Persian Gulf War of 1990-91. As a teenager and young adult, he lived through another U.S. incursion, Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2011. He learned English early on, qualified to work as an interpreter at age 17 for the U.S. Army and then construction contractor rebuilding barracks at the U.S. Embassy.

As Abdullah interacted with American soldiers, including a captain who suggested he consider emigrating, and took to heart his father’s recommendation to explore Western cultures, he began to dream of a future in the U.S.

He waited four years for a visa, but today he is living that dream. He is pursuing a master’s degree in operations and supply management, one of 24 Graduate Studies programs at UW-Stout.

Read more of Zaid’s story and his UW-Stout experience.