Stephen Kalin
James K. Batten Visiting Professor of Public Policy
Education
- B.A. Davidson College
Areas of Expertise
- Journalism
- Middle East Politics
- International Security
Background
I am the James K. Batten Visiting Professor in Public Policy for the 2025-2026 academic year, teaching courses on conflict reporting in the 21st century and the contemporary politics of the Persian Gulf.
I'm on leave from The Wall Street Journal, where I am a foreign correspondent based in Dubai and covering the Middle East as well as Ukraine. I have lived in the Middle East since graduating from Davidson in 2009.
Before joining the Journal, I worked for Reuters News Agency in Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. I've covered wars, natural disasters, political upheaval, diplomatic crises and major business events across the region.