Unifying Northwestern University in Qatar YEAR IN REVIEW 2012-13 Contents 01 The Way Forward: Unifying and Strengthening NU-Q 05 Ultimate Goal 06 Action Plan 2014 WHO WE ARE 10 Leadership 15 New Academic Programs 16 Welcoming New Faculty 18 Faculty Re-Appointments 21 Faculty and Staff Roster 23 Student Life 25 Experiential Learning 27 Student Achievements 28 After NU-Q 29 Admissions Data, 2009-2013 WHAT WE DO 32 Events and Programs 34 Middle East Meets Midwest 35 The Second Curriculum 36 Visitors and Events 2012-13 40 Graduation 2013 43 Research 44 Media Use in the Middle East WHAT’S NEXT 46 Collaborations and Partnerships 48 Film Festivals 49 World Internet Project 53 NU-Q’s New Home 54 NU-Q Media Gallery 01 THE WAY FORWARD: Unifying and Strengthening NU-Q As Northwestern University Learning and the advancement of knowledge are at the heart of our mission, but so too is in Qatar enters the 2013-2014 promoting the value of freedom of expression academic year, we do so with in our objectives and operational programs. two classes of alumni working We take that charge seriously and use it as we educate the next generation of global media as media and communications and entertainment professionals. Students and professionals in Qatar, the faculty work with a guarantee of academic Gulf region and around the freedom; students write, film and publish freely, and classrooms are alive with debate. No society world. We do so, too, in the and no school is perfect, and building a tradition shadow of our future home in of freedom of expression in an emerging region Education City, which serves where it has not been part of the culture is an incremental process. We’re optimistic about to remind us of our role in that process and pleased to be a part of it. helping Qatar reach its vision for the future. Finally, we do Unifying NU-Q’s component parts has created a stronger and more robust enterprise that so as a university stronger fosters both stability and change. The school and more unified than we’ve has continued its trajectory from its startup in ever been—and ready to 2008 through the 2012-2013 academic year with the vision of creating a unified, media- prepare another wave of centric school integrated with the liberal arts. NU-Q students for jobs in With new leadership, programs and activities media, communications, that benefit the school and all its stakeholders, NU-Q has achieved greater independence while government, public relations still embracing the purposes and values of and other fields. Northwestern University. As Northwestern’s only overseas campus, NU-Q is charged with delivering an education worthy of a great university, and at the same time calibrating its efforts to serve the needs of its host country and region. 02 03 A “Second Curriculum” Students on the Move A Building Rises In-class learning is only one element of our A number of our students emerged on the As we come to NU-Q each day, we get to educational mission. Conferences, forums global stage, highlighting their abilities and the see a tangible reminder of what the future and intellectual exchanges—both formal and value of an NU-Q education while doing their holds. Our long-awaited new building took a informal—also add strength and benefit students part to strengthen and unify the school. These dramatic leap forward this year as its massive and faculty while advancing the school’s profile achievements included: exterior structure rose on the Education A Unified School regionally and globally. In the past year, NU-Q • The inauguration of the Student Ambassadors City campus, with students, faculty and staff A milestone in our evolution from startup school hosted: Program, where NU-Q students traveled to keeping an eager eye on its growth. Our staff to one-of-a-kind educational experience has been • Two consensus conferences on Middle East Evanston, and the Global Media Experience continues to plan the anticipated studios, the recent effort to bring together the university’s studies, enabling top scholars from the home program, which took students to Dubai and theaters, classrooms, and first-floor gallery sometimes disparate—and occasionally campus to work in concert with NU-Q faculty New York and exhibition space. The gallery and media conflicting—programs. Over the past year, we’ve and students • Student journalism residencies in Paris, center is being defined and planned through taken a number of crucial steps towards achieving • The Media Vision program, bringing two top London, New York and Washington, DC, working content consensus conferences and the that unity, including: futurists for a ten-day residence with students, with 10-week appointments at major media appointment of an expert panel. • Strengthening the leadership structure with faculty and community leaders and public affairs organizations the appointment of associate deans for • A much-needed curriculum consensus • Service learning and academic trips to South academic affairs and research, and the creation conference, led by eminent educator John Africa, Italy, Tanzania and Brazil Into the Future of directorships for the communication, Maxwell Hamilton, that assessed and • The first-ever unified Evanston Exchange, As the academic year ended, NU-Q graduated journalism and liberal arts programs reconsidered the academic program. The which saw NU-Q students host communication its second class into the workforce and academic • Encouraging faculty collaboration across discussion led to recommendations for new and journalism students from the home campus marketplace, and joined the class of 2012 programs in teaching, research and outreach school-wide courses in freedom of expression • NU-Q undergrads working with Medill’s global in helping establish a Northwestern Alumni • Receiving permission from the Board and media and society, plus a reconsideration residency graduate program to produce an Association chapter in Doha. Graduation at of Trustees to make our own academic of the freshman experience and the capstone e-book about Qatar’s water and food security NU-Q is both ceremonial and substantive—a appointments, with the responsibility lying (senior) year. • NU-Q communication students joining their scene that will be repeated every year, but will be solely with NU-Q Evanston counterparts at a film institute in India no less special each time. • Creating a certificate program in Middle East As always, NU-Q played host to a stream studies, drawing on NU-Q’s offerings and those of visiting academics, researchers and media NU-Q’s strategic outlook is superb, with evident of four other Education City schools professionals, each of whom brought a unique Partners in Qatar strengths in the instructional and research • Establishing a minor in Media and Politics and valuable perspective to share with faculty and As the Gulf region continues to emerge as a media programs, as well as robust outreach efforts. in collaboration with Georgetown University students. hotspot, NU-Q is increasing its commitment to both This report provides a sense of the tempo of a in Qatar and building on existing minors guiding and learning from professionals in our back rising institution and details the achievements in business and contemporary media with yard. We inaugurated two new partnerships marked of the last 12 to 14 months. Many people, in Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar Research at NU-Q by memoranda of understanding with Al Jazeera Doha, Evanston and elsewhere around the globe, • Approving aspects of an Arab language Another front in the effort to both unify and grow Networks and the Doha Film Institute. Those pacts have helped get us to this point. With connected initiative to be implemented in 2013-14 the school was the creation of a research office, resulted in strategic planning workshops, faculty programs and cooperative relationships within research group and formal program, led by the and student involvement in projects, and planned the school, NU-Q paid another installment on its If the structure of the university provides the new associate dean for research. Already, we’re residencies, internships and jobs. As a result, NU-Q vision and future, one whose prospects are bright. framework for its message, people are the key seeing dividends. The publication of Media Use in played a greater role in the Doha Tribeca Film It is, of course, my privilege to serve as chief ingredient. On that front, NU-Q had a banner the Middle East, a comprehensive study of media Festival and assisted Al Jazeera with planning for its steward of this enterprise as it coalesces toward year, with the appointment of seven new faculty use and attitudes in eight Middle East and North successful launch of Al Jazeera America. its future. members, some of international renown and all African countries commissioned by NU-Q, received from elite institutions with superb credentials. In significant notice in the public and academic press To further foster discussion about the direction addition, our faculty and students achieved global across the globe. The data from that survey will of media growth in Qatar, NU-Q created the recognition, ranging from prestigious fellowships also be folded into the prestigious World Internet Qatar Media Industries Forum, bringing together from the London School of Economics and Project, which accepted NU-Q as a member. Finally, some 100 leaders of media and entertainment Fulbright Commission to awards at film a number of academic papers are in the works, industries. We also continued to build on successful festivals and success in international journalism including a monograph on new directions in Middle partnerships with the Qatar Museums Authority, competitions. Our women’s basketball team even East media and an occasional paper on the origins the High School Leadership Institute, the Doha — Everette E.