Northwestern Qatar has announced the appointment of seven new faculty members across its academic programs in journalism and strategic communications, communication, and liberal arts. This new cohort brings in a depth of scholarly and industry experience that will enrich the school’s academic offerings.
“I’m delighted to welcome the new group of accomplished scholars to Northwestern Qatar’s expanding faculty, further enhancing Northwestern Qatar's highly regarded academic programs,” said Zachary Wright, associate dean for faculty affairs at Northwestern Qatar. “These brilliant minds bring a wealth of experience and are poised to enrich the educational environment and empower the next generation of thought leaders in the region.”
In welcoming the new faculty, Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, said the new faculty will help elevate Northwestern Qatar’s academic profile. "Our new faculty members' stellar research and mediamaking will undoubtedly elevate our academic offerings and prepare our students to thrive in their rapidly evolving fields," said Kraidy.
The new faculty members represent diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and a wide range of achievements in the fields of journalism, strategic communication, filmmaking, social sciences, and more. With their groundbreaking scholarship and immense passion for their disciplines, they will contribute to Northwestern Qatar’s commitment to offering students an unrivaled educational experience that combines theoretical knowledge with real-world skills.
“I’m delighted to welcome the new group of accomplished scholars to Northwestern Qatar’s expanding faculty, further enhancing Northwestern Qatar's highly regarded academic programs,” said Zachary Wright, associate dean for faculty affairs at Northwestern Qatar. “These brilliant minds bring a wealth of experience and are poised to enrich the educational environment and empower the next generation of thought leaders in the region.”
In welcoming the new faculty, Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, said the new faculty will help elevate Northwestern Qatar’s academic profile. "Our new faculty members' stellar research and mediamaking will undoubtedly elevate our academic offerings and prepare our students to thrive in their rapidly evolving fields," said Kraidy.
The new faculty members represent diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and a wide range of achievements in the fields of journalism, strategic communication, filmmaking, social sciences, and more. With their groundbreaking scholarship and immense passion for their disciplines, they will contribute to Northwestern Qatar’s commitment to offering students an unrivaled educational experience that combines theoretical knowledge with real-world skills.
“Our new faculty members' stellar research and mediamaking will undoubtedly elevate our academic offerings and prepare our students to thrive in their rapidly evolving fields”
- Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar
Mohammed Ibahrine, an accomplished academic, teacher, and researcher, is among the new faculty joining the Journalism and Strategic Communication program. A transdisciplinary social scientist by training, Ibahrine’s research examines various topics in the field of marketing communication, including participatory culture, entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Gulf, entrepreneurial marketing, and the fourth industrial revolution.
Rajiv K. Mishra joins Northwestern Qatar as an assistant professor in residence with a joint appointment in the Communication Program and Liberal Arts Program. With an interdisciplinary background in computer science, internet, sociology, science policy studies, and STS, his research and teaching interest explores large technological systems and infrastructures; digital technologies and development; biometrics, databases, and governmentality; digital health and universal health coverage; digital state and welfare; and frugality, tinkering, and alternative S&T spaces.
Digital media and broadcast specialist Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor joins Northwestern Qatar as an assistant professor in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program after more than two decades in the broadcast and corporate communications industry. Safla-Gaffoor works to empower underrepresented voices through her work and research, which focus on the challenges of television reporting in the Global South, the progress of assistive technology, teenagers’ use of online media, and exploring the portrayal of women of color in new digital spaces, and the sporting world.
Also joining this fall is Shehram Mokhtar, who will teach courses in visual culture, critical/cultural theory, transnational media and communication, and gender studies as an assistant professor in residence in the Communication Program. A media and television scholar, his scholarly interests include critical/cultural studies, visual culture, film studies, transnational media, and gender and sexuality studies.
Joining as an assistant professor in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program is Zeina Awad, an international correspondent and news producer who spent more than 15 years reporting on top news stories, sexual violence in conflict, and gender inequality from over 20 countries. In addition to journalism, Awad worked for the United Nations in several senior advocacy roles and served two mandates on the panel of investigative experts for East Africa.
Author and former international journalist and strategic communications expert Matthias Krug is also among the faculty joining this fall with joint appointments in the Communication and Journalism and Strategic Communication programs. With a focus on the intersection of creativity, strategy, communications, and storytelling across digital and publishing spheres, his teaching draws on expertise in strategic communications and media and a career in academia, where he has authored on Qatar’s football and sports history and published peer-reviewed articles in some of the world’s most respected academic journals.
Filmmaker and Northwestern Qatar alum Nissryne Dib returns to the school as an assistant professor in residence in the Communication program. A graduate of the Class of 2015, she went on to receive her MFA in Film Production from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she researched the use of available lighting and the preservation of skin tones in the digital workflow process as well as defining the female gaze in cinematography.
As part of Northwestern Qatar, this new cohort joins a group of faculty and researchers dedicated to cutting-edge research and bring years of teaching, research, and industry experience in their fields, reflecting the school’s commitment to providing aspiring storytellers with the highest caliber of education and mentorship.
Rajiv K. Mishra joins Northwestern Qatar as an assistant professor in residence with a joint appointment in the Communication Program and Liberal Arts Program. With an interdisciplinary background in computer science, internet, sociology, science policy studies, and STS, his research and teaching interest explores large technological systems and infrastructures; digital technologies and development; biometrics, databases, and governmentality; digital health and universal health coverage; digital state and welfare; and frugality, tinkering, and alternative S&T spaces.
Digital media and broadcast specialist Scheherazade Safla-Gaffoor joins Northwestern Qatar as an assistant professor in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program after more than two decades in the broadcast and corporate communications industry. Safla-Gaffoor works to empower underrepresented voices through her work and research, which focus on the challenges of television reporting in the Global South, the progress of assistive technology, teenagers’ use of online media, and exploring the portrayal of women of color in new digital spaces, and the sporting world.
Also joining this fall is Shehram Mokhtar, who will teach courses in visual culture, critical/cultural theory, transnational media and communication, and gender studies as an assistant professor in residence in the Communication Program. A media and television scholar, his scholarly interests include critical/cultural studies, visual culture, film studies, transnational media, and gender and sexuality studies.
Joining as an assistant professor in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program is Zeina Awad, an international correspondent and news producer who spent more than 15 years reporting on top news stories, sexual violence in conflict, and gender inequality from over 20 countries. In addition to journalism, Awad worked for the United Nations in several senior advocacy roles and served two mandates on the panel of investigative experts for East Africa.
Author and former international journalist and strategic communications expert Matthias Krug is also among the faculty joining this fall with joint appointments in the Communication and Journalism and Strategic Communication programs. With a focus on the intersection of creativity, strategy, communications, and storytelling across digital and publishing spheres, his teaching draws on expertise in strategic communications and media and a career in academia, where he has authored on Qatar’s football and sports history and published peer-reviewed articles in some of the world’s most respected academic journals.
Filmmaker and Northwestern Qatar alum Nissryne Dib returns to the school as an assistant professor in residence in the Communication program. A graduate of the Class of 2015, she went on to receive her MFA in Film Production from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she researched the use of available lighting and the preservation of skin tones in the digital workflow process as well as defining the female gaze in cinematography.
As part of Northwestern Qatar, this new cohort joins a group of faculty and researchers dedicated to cutting-edge research and bring years of teaching, research, and industry experience in their fields, reflecting the school’s commitment to providing aspiring storytellers with the highest caliber of education and mentorship.
