Profile

Madeline Birknes high-achieving Williams College senior ('25), pursuing a BA in Arabic Studies, who has demonstrated exceptional linguistic proficiency and cross-cultural competence through immersive study abroad experiences in Morocco (Qalam wa Lawh, Fall 2023) and Jordan (Sijal Institute, Summer 2022). Her diverse academic background spans Arabic studies, biology, ecology, computer science, and discrete mathematics, complemented by multilingual coursework conducted in Arabic and French, including Arabic poetry, Francophone graphic novels, and North African art. Ms. Birknes's professional experience includes serving as an Arabic teaching assistant at Williams College since September 2024, managing the Hopkins Forest as a caretaker since February 2022, working as an Assistant Clerk at Cumberland County Courthouse, and teaching botany in field and laboratory settings. Her leadership experience encompasses serving as an outdoor orientation leader for first-year students, requiring wilderness safety training and backpacking expertise, along with active participation in concert choir and Ultimate Frisbee team commitment.

In 2025, Ms. Birknes joined King’s Academy as a teaching fellow in the Department of History, Religion and Society. She currently serves as a faculty member in the same department.