With Vision Renewed, Northwestern Qatar Charts Its Next Chapter Of Impact

Northwestern University in Qatar begins the new academic year with strong momentum and a renewed focus on the future, building on recent milestones in scholarship, teaching, and global engagement. Under the leadership of Dean and CEO Marwan M. Kraidy, the university is poised for long-term impact, strengthening its distinctive identity within Northwestern's global ecosystem and deepening its role as a community of evidence-based storytellers focused on the Global South.

“As we begin the new academic year, and my second term as dean, I am inspired by the commitment and excellence within our community,” said Kraidy.“Our achievements over the past few years have established a solid foundation, and moving forward, our vision remains focused on strengthening our connections, both within our university ecosystem and across the region and beyond, while amplifying Northwestern Qatar's distinctive impact in catalyzing Qatar's transformation into a knowledge economy and in contributing professional excellence to media industries worldwide. I am excited to build on this momentum as we continue advancing our mission, guided by our core values of excellence, collaboration, community, and sustainability.”

This vision is already materializing through major milestones this fall, from welcoming one of the university's largest and most dynamic incoming classes, hosting leading thinkers at its signature Rawabet Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advancing scholarly excellence through new faculty and research, to expanding regional and international engagement.

Dean Kraidy with the newest faculty members, whose appointments strengthen the university's expertise in journalism, film, literature, and investigative reporting

Welcoming the Class of 2029

At the start of the academic year, Northwestern Qatar inducted the Class of 2029, one of its largest and most international cohorts, at the annual Convocation ceremony. Students represent countries and cultures across the globe-including, for the first time, Niger, Belarus, and Côte d'Ivoire-and bring talents in writing, filmmaking, debating, content creation, and screenwriting.

Miriam Gamoran Sherin, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at Northwestern University, joined Dean Kraidy as Convocation Speaker. In her address, she described the ceremony as one of life's rare moments when“our worlds pivot,” urging students to embrace growth and opportunity.

Shaping the AI-empowered future

Earlier this fall, Northwestern Qatar convened global thought leaders and industry experts for its two-day Rawabet Conference,“Shaping the AI-Empowered Future of Knowledge, Scholarship, and Creativity.”

With 23 presentations, student-led research, and a special exhibition, the conference examined AI's promises and perils through themes such as“AI and Creativity,”“AI and Journalism,”“AI Ethics,” and“AI and the Global South.” Scholars, practitioners, and students explored how AI is transforming storytelling, scholarship, and knowledge production, emphasizing the role of academic institutions in critiquing and guiding the technologies shaping our world.

Amplifying faculty impact

Alongside student and scholarly milestones, the university continues to strengthen its faculty base and research output. Northwestern Qatar welcomed four new faculty members-Refqa Abu-Remaileh, Lila Hassan, Sarah Kaskas, and Shakeeb Asrar, whose expertise spans literature, investigative journalism, documentary filmmaking, and media studies. Their work explores narratives that challenge dominant discourses and elevate underrepresented voices.

Momentum continues in faculty research and creative scholarship, with four faculty members-Rana Kazkaz, Christina Paschyn, Spencer Striker, and Wajdi Zaghouani-receiving the 2025 Provost's Grants for Research in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (HSSA). These projects advance interdisciplinary inquiry, innovative media practice, and regional scholarship in fields where access to external funding is often limited.

Expanding knowledge production and contributions

Over the summer, Northwestern Qatar scholars, including a strong contingent fron the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South, made signature contributions on the world stage at the 75th Annual International Communication Association (ICA) Conference in Denver and the 2025 International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Conference in Singapore.

At ICA, the university served as the Opening Reception Sponsor and organized panels on media, identity, digital systems, and storytelling. Faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and alums presented wide-ranging research, from immersive media projects to sports diplomacy and decolonizing theory.

At IAMCR, NU-Q was a Gold Sponsor under the theme“Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet,” with faculty and students contributing panels and presentations on digital ethics, media representation, and environmental narratives from Global South perspectives.

Visitors immerse themselves in the interactive installations of Memememememe, exploring how memes shape and reflect digital culture.

Examining memes as culture

The Media Majlis Museum launched its 10th exhibition,“Memememememe,” coinciding with its fifth anniversary. With over 500 guests attending the opening, the exhibition explores the cultural significance of memes as vehicles of digital communication, identity, and critique. Curated by Jack Thomas Taylor and Amal Zeyad Ali, the exhibition engages audiences to reflect on memes as cultural artifacts that shape, disrupt, and reflect contemporary life.

Building capacity across the region

Extending its regional impact, the Executive Education Program expanded training in strategic communication and leadership. This summer, the program delivered a specialized course,“Communication and Conflict Management for Leaders,” for 30 employees of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

During an immersive, in-person program in Qatar, participants gained practical tools to navigate complex institutional dynamics, enhance communication strategies, and foster collaborative problem-solving in high-stakes environments.

Looking ahead

As Northwestern Qatar marks 18 years, it looks to the future with confidence. Guided by its core values, the university is renewing its mission and shaping its second decade of impact.

“To renew is to ensure a community not only survives but thrives,” emphasized Kraidy.“At NU-Q, we look to the future with the confidence of those who are already shaping it-rather than waiting for it to happen to them.”

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