Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has announced the appointment of Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Malki as Founding Dean of its College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will initially offer two master’s degree programs that were previously delivered through HBKU’s Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) – an MA in Translation Studies and an MA in Audiovisual Translation – with an expanded range of degree programs to follow in the coming years.

The new college will build upon the strength of HBKU’s Translating and Interpreting Institute, which was launched by Dr. Al Malki in 2012. Within the new College of Humanities and Social Sciences, TII will continue to provide high quality professional translation and interpreting services, as well as providing language programs in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese to the community.

Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, President of HBKU, commented: “The humanities and social sciences are essential fields that provide students with a deeper understanding of the complex and pressing issues of the day, and prepare them for the rapid transitions that mark knowledge-based economies. Dr. Amal Al Malki possesses the academic experience, the passion, and the dedication to ensure that HBKU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences will be a valuable, vibrant addition, not only to our university, but also to Qatari society.

Prior to joining Hamad bin Khalifa University, Dr. Al Malki was Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where she became Education City’s first Qatari faculty member. She first joined Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar in 2005 as a visiting professor after teaching in Carnegie Mellon University’s mother campus in Pittsburgh in the United States. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and a MA in English/Arabic Applied Linguistics and Translation from SOAS University of London. Dr. Al Malki is a well-regarded public speaker and a published author, most notably for “Arab Women in Arab News: Old Stereotypes and New Media” which was published in 2012.

Most recently, during her tenure as Executive Director of TII, Dr. Al Malki was responsible for gaining validation for the MA in Translation Studies from the University of Geneva, making it HBKU’s first externally validated graduate degree. She also ensured that TII’s International Translation Conference quickly became an important annual fixture on the calendar of leading translation experts and academics. The conference continues to grow in stature, substantially building the profile of Qatar in this field, with the 7th Annual Conference, titled “Politics of Translation: Representations and Power”, taking place at the Qatar National Convention Centre from March 28th to 29th, 2016.