## Clayton Clark [email protected] | [claytonalmutarjim.com](https://www.claytonalmutarjim.com) +1(479)619-8299 | 12759 AR-265 Prairie Grove, AR, 72753 ### **Summary** Arabic language professional with over ten years of experience in Arabic translation, language acquisition coaching, and cross-cultural team leadership. Possesses a unique blend of academic and practical expertise, including teaching Arabic at the University of Arkansas, extensive immersion in Tunisian culture and language, facilitating Tunisian Arabic learning for expatriates, and launching a data engineering office in Tunisia. Seeking to contribute to the University of Arkansas Arabic program as a part-time instructor, leveraging cross-cultural experience, strong relationships across North Africa and the Middle East, and Arabic language and international business acumen to inspire students. --- ### **Areas of Expertise** * **Arabic Language Instruction:** Experienced in teaching Arabic language courses at the university level. * **Arabic Translation:** Proficient in Arabic to English and English to Arabic translation across various fields, including legal, medical, and literary. * **Language Acquisition Coaching:** Specializes in "meta-learning" techniques, focusing on effective and engaging language learning activities. * **Cross-Cultural Communication:** Expertise in bridging cultural gaps and facilitating effective communication on diverse teams. * **Language Proficiency:** Fluent in Modern Standard Arabic and the Tunisian Arabic dialect. * **Global Team Leadership:** Experienced living and leading teams abroad. Proven ability to manage remote teams in cross-cultural environments. * **Data Operations & Analytics:** Experience in technologies ranging from SQL Server to Snowflake, Excel to Python. --- ### **Work Experience** **Harvest Group (Rogers, Arkansas & Sousse, Tunisia)** | 2015 – Present | [harvestgroup.com](https://www.harvestgroup.com) * **Team Lead, Data Operations** | October 2022 - Present | Rogers, Arkansas * Leads a team of 20+ data engineers and data entry specialists based in Sousse, Tunisia (total Harvest Group team in Tunisia now exceeds 40). * Facilitates Harvest Group trips to Tunisia and hosts Harvest Group Tunisia trips to the US. * **Harvest Group Tunisia: Startup to Mature Operations** | June 2015 - October 2022 | Sousse, Tunisia * Resided in Tunisia for six years, contributing to the growth of the Tunisian team to over 20 employees. * 2017-2022: Database Administrator, managing Harvest Group's MS SQL Server. Contributed to the transition of data services to the cloud (a Snowflake based architecture). Established the Data Operations team in Tunisia. * 2016-2017: Business Analyst and other roles as necessary for the start up stage of Harvest Group Tunisia. Contributed to Harvest Group Tunisia operations (e.g., interactions with Tunisia's Tax Authority and the Tunisian Tribunal). **Freelance Translation, Language Acquisition Coaching & Global Teams Consulting** | 2015 – Present | [translationclayton.com](https://www.translationclayton.com) * **Arabic Translation** | 2015 - Present * Provides translation services in legal (asylum cases, birth certificates, etc.), medical, and personal fields. * **Language Acquisition Tutoring & Coaching** | 2016 - Present * While residing in Tunisia, trained local language "nurturers" in "supercharged language learning activities" using the Growing Participator Approach. (Applied these methods personally to acquire Tunisian Arabic in daily life). * Tutored students in university-style Arabic instruction and facilitated language learning through native speaker interaction (2023 - 2024). * Tutored three students in Beginner Arabic between Spring 2023 and Fall 2024. * Facilitated one student's transition to the Growing Participator Approach, connecting them with an Iraqi "language nurturer" for Standard Arabic and coaching both in this method. * **Cross-Cultural Teams Consulting** | 2025 - Present * Developing a framework for global teams: * **Teams adopt, teach, and apply frameworks** to enhance teamwork. Similarly, **global teams should adopt, teach, and apply frameworks** to foster cross-cultural relationships of depth, trust, and collaboration. **University of Arkansas Arabic Program** | 2012 – 2015 * **Graduate Student Instructor** | Fall 2013 – Spring 2015 * Instructed Arabic 1016 and 2016 courses. * **Graduate Assistant** | Fall 2012 - Spring 2013 * Assisted Paula Haydar with Arabic instruction. --- ### **Education** **University of Arkansas** | 2012 – 2015 * **Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing** (Arabic to English Translation) * Final Research: *Why Did the River Stop Talking?* by Zakaria Tamer; a collection of short stories translated from Arabic to English. * Published short stories in [Banipal #49](https://www.banipal.co.uk/back_issues/87/issue-49/) and [Banipal #53](https://www.banipal.co.uk/selections/91/issue-53/). * Graduation: May 2015 **University of Arkansas** | 2008 – 2012 * **Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Middle East Studies, Arabic Minor** * Honors Program, Magna cum laude * Study Abroad in Jordan through CIEE (Arabic Language immersion program), Fall 2010. * Summer Internship with [Engaging Cultures Travel](https://www.engagingcultures.com/), Summer 2011. * Graduation: May 2012 --- ### **Additional Interests Beyond Arabic 1016 & 2016** * Meta-Learning Language: Practical and science-based methods for effective language learning in diverse contexts. * [Global Dexterity](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Global_Dexterity/GGlxaamXRNIC?hl=en&gbpv=0) & [Forging Bonds in a Global Workforce](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Forging_Bonds_in_a_Global_Workforce_Buil/MNrbEAAAQBAJ?hl=en): Exploring cultural intelligence and practical skills for the global workforce, building on ideas by Andy Molinsky, Melissa Hahn, and others. * An Introduction to Tunisian Arabic Proverbs.