Saeed Dabbour is a doctoral student at the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication, where his research focuses on reality television in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), specifically the Westernization of reality TV in Arab countries. As a critical, cultural, and rhetorical scholar, he uses qualitative methods to analyze how reality television constructs identity and adapts global formats within regional cultural contexts. His work includes an exploration of Qesma w Naseeb, an Arabic dating show influenced by Love Island, examining how the show adapts Western reality TV formats to fit MENA cultural norms.

Beyond reality television, Saeed’s work extends into popular culture and game studies, exploring how representation and identity are communicated in media. He examines Middle Eastern representation in video games, particularly in Overwatch 2, analyzing how characters reflect or challenge dominant narratives about the MENA region.

Saeed is also close to completing his graduate certificate in Indigenous, Race, & Ethnic Studies (IRES), further enriching his interdisciplinary approach to media and cultural studies. His scholarship has been recognized at major academic conferences, and he has been selected to present at the International Communication Association (ICA), National Communication Association (NCA), and the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS).

In addition to his academic work, Saeed serves as a National Advisory Council Member for NCORE and is actively involved in Creating Connections, supporting initiatives that foster inclusive academic spaces. He is also the creator and host of A Breath of Fresh Saeed, a podcast blending media, pop culture, and social commentary, which has amassed over 30,000 plays globally.