Originally from Round Rock, Texas, Mark Orzech is a freshman at UNT and the 2014-2015 Jewish and Israel Studies ambassador. He is majoring in Anthropology and Religious Studies with minors in Arabic and Jewish and Israel Studies; his primary interest is the Middle East, particularly the Levant, and how religion has shaped and continues to shape the culture there. In his words, "This makes Jewish and Israel Studies a natural choice as a minor, as Judaism is the primary religion of my focus and modern-day Israel is very important not only politically but religiously as well to Jews and Muslims alike." He is also a member of the Honors College and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. After graduation he plans to attend graduate school to earn his PhD and hopes to one day work in academia as a professor.