Saif Al-Alawi

Saif Al-Alawi (pronounced Safe El-All-Uh-Oui) was born and raised in the Deer Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. His family moved to Phoenix in the late 70s after immigrating to the United States from Cairo, Egypt, and Aden, Yemen. Saif's lifelong engagement with education, athletics, and intellectual pursuit started early with a visit to Sun Devil Stadium for his first college football game. This moment began a lifelong pursuit focusing on the unique relationship between nationalism, commercialization, race, and sports. Saif graduated with his graduate and undergraduate degrees in Communication Studies at ASU West. During his sophomore year, Saif interned as a cast member in the Walt Disney World College Internship Program in the Magic Kingdom at Space Mountain. During his senior year, Saif served as the two-term Student Body President at ASU West. In his free time, he enjoys watching critically acclaimed films and television, reading nonfiction, and walking his rescue pit bulls around the desert landscapes of Arizona. Saif travels abroad frequently, visiting over 22 countries and counting, with his most recent trip to Nepal. Saif identifies as a Sports Tourist and has traveled to over 50 professional sporting venues within the United States. While traveling, he enjoys hiking, visiting national parks and historical sites, and sampling local cuisine.