Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

Amal Mohammed Al-Malki, Ph.D., is Assistant Teaching Professor of English. She teaches courses in writing composition, postcolonial literature, theories of translation and world Englishes. Her research interests include the negotiation of identity between the Muslim world and the west, media representations of Arab women and postcolonial literature. She has published articles in numerous journals including Language and Society and Sustaining Excellence in Communicating across the Curriculum: Cross-Institutional Experiences and Best Practices. Additionally, she is a member of the Qatar National Competiveness Council. She currently holds a two-year grant from the Qatar National Research Fund to study representations of Arab women in the Arabic press. Al-Malki holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of London where she also earned a master's degree in English-Arabic applied linguistics and translation. She also holds a bachelor's degree in English and education from Qatar University.

Brett Browning, Ph.D., is a Senior Systems Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University. He teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence at Carnegie Mellon Qatar and at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh. His areas of research include robot vision, robot learning and coordination. Browning holds undergraduate degrees in math and computer systems engineering as well as a Ph.D. of philosophy, computer science and electrical engineering from University of Queensland in Australia.

Lynn Robert Carter, Ph.D., has been a senior researcher and educator at Carnegie Mellon University for 20 years. He currently teaches in the Software Engineering Foundations and introductory programming courses in Qatar as well as graduate software engineering courses in India, Japan and the United States. Carter has worked at Carnegie Mellon West Coast Campuse and the Software Engineering Institute. Carter has taught at Portland State University, Pacific University, University of Portland, University of Colorado and Arizona State University. Additionally, he spent 17 years in industrial software development and research work at Tektronix, Motorola, GenRad and two start-up companies. He holds a BS and MS in mathematics with specialization in computer science from Portland State University and a Ph.D. in computer science from University of Colorado at Boulder.

Iliano Cervesato, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor teaching principles of programming languages and security. He has held appointments at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Stanford University, Princeton University and Tulane University. He also has worked for ITT Industries at the Naval Research Laboratory. Before coming to Qatar, he was the founder and chief research scientist of Deductive Solutions in Annandale, Virginia. Cervesato's current research interests encompass computer security, computational logic, programming languages and user productivity applications. Cervesato holds a BS in computer science from University of Udine in Italy; an MS in computer science from University of Houston in Houston, Texas; and a Ph.D. in computer science from University of Torino in Italy.

Yonina Cooper, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor of computer science. She is a professor emeritus of the School of Computer Science at University of Nevada Las Vegas, after a 20-year career. Additionally, she has taught computer science and mathematics at University of Kansas, University of Wisconsin and University of Texas. She received her Ph.D. from New Mexico State University.

Hasan Demirkoparan, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor teaching Matrix Algebra, Multivariate Analysis and Concepts of Mathematics. He has several years experience in undergraduate teaching and is the 2002 recipient of Senior Teaching Assistant Award for Excellence in Teaching by The Department of Mathematics at Michigan State University. Before coming to Qatar he worked as a teaching assistant at Michigan State University. Demirkoparan also has taught at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. His research area is applied mathematics, in particular boundary value problems appearing in nonlinear elasticity when solid mechanics is coupled with other effects. Demirkoparan holds a BA in mathematics education and in mathematics from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. He also holds an MS in statistics, an MS in industrial mathematics and a Ph.D. in mathematics, all from Michigan State University.

M. Bernardine Dias, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in Robotics. She is interested in innovating technology for sustainable development, enabling efficient coordination of human-robot teams and implementing planning and navigation for robotic space exploration. Dias is the founder and director of TecbridgeWorld (ww.techbridgeworld.org), a group that conducts technology research relevant to, and in partnership with, developing communities throughout the globe. She also is a leading researcher in market-based coordination of robot teams in dynamic environments, and has participated in several space-related projects including sun-synchronous circumnavigation and Mars advanced global path planning. Dias earned her bachelor's degree from Hamilton College with a dual concentration in physics and computer science, and a minor in women's studies. She holds a master's degree and Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research interests are primarily in field robotics and fieldable systems.

Mohamed A. Dobashi is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Executive Director of the Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. Dobashi is an experienced professional with experience in higher education, the oil and gas sector and international trade development, and is the former Chief Operations Officer for Carnegie Mellon Qatar. Dobashi has held posts at Stanford University and Harvard University. He holds a BA in economics and international business from Pacific Lutheran University; an MBA from Thunderbird (American Graduate School of International Management); and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Hody Fahmy, Ph.D., is a Visiting Associate Professor teaching Great Theoretical Ideas in Computer Science, Algorithms, and Introductory/Intermediate Programming. She has held teaching posts at Sheridan Institute of Technology and Queen's University. She has worked as a post-doctoral fellow at University of Toronto; as a research associate at University of Waterloo; and as a Senior Development Analyst for IBM in Canada. Her areas of research include document analysis and recognition, graph rewriting, software architecture and software maintenance. Fahmy holds a bachelor's degree in biochemistry/computing and information sciences and a MS and Ph.D. in computer and information science, all from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada.

Khaled Harras, Ph.D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon. His research interests spans different thrusts within computer networks including mobile ad-hoc, wireless, sensor and vehicular networks. He is particularly interested in the design and analysis of architectures and protocols for different forms of challenged, delay and disruption tolerant networks. Harras has taught courses in Computer Networks, Introductory/Intermediate Programming and Intermediate/Advanced Programming, Introduction to Computer Systems, Computer Security and Cluster Computing. Harras holds a bachelor's degree in computer science with a double minor in electronics and business administration from American University in Cairo, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of California in Santa Barbara.

Erik Helin is a Visiting Instructor of Spanish teaching and coordinating elementary and intermediate Spanish courses. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, he taught Spanish at University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and in his homeland Sweden. In addition to his teaching experience, Helin has worked in translation as both translator and project manager. He holds a bachelor's degree in travel and tourism with a minor in Spanish; a master's degree in international trade and Spanish from Eastern Michigan University; and a certificate in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from Falun University in Sweden.

Starling Hunter, Ph.D., is a visiting assistant professor and coordinator of the business administration program. He has held positions at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the American University of Sharjah. His research interests include organizational consequences and strategic uses of information technology. Hunter holds a BSEE from Arizona State University; and an MBA and Ph.D. in Management from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Zeinab Ibrahim is a sociolinguist of Arabic and a TAFL professor. She earned her Ph.D. from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. She holds an M.A. in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL) and another in Communication, both from the American University in Cairo. Her most recent book is Beyond Lexical Variation in Modern Standard Arabic: Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco. In addition to three edited books, she published many articles investigating the Arabic language, linguistics and sociolinguistics.

Dr. Zeinab is a certified OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) tester from ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages). She was the President of the American Association of Teachers of Arabic (AATA), Executive Director of CASA (Center for Arabic Study Abroad) and other administrative positions. She has organized several international conferences.
 

Ian Lacey is an Associate Teaching Professor of Management of Information Systems. Before coming to Qatar he spent 22 years in the British Royal Navy, where he held a wide variety of appointments in education, training and information systems. Most recently, he served at the Defense College of Management & Technology, part of the Defense Academy of the United Kingdom.

Selma Limam Mansar, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor and coordinator of the information systems program. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, Mansar held a post as an assistant professor of management of information systems at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. Mansar holds a master's degree in industrial engineering and a Ph.D. from Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble. Her area of research focuses on Business Process Management including best practices in business process redesign.

J. Patrick McGinnis has been teaching business communications in the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business for nine years. In Qatar he teaches business communication, oral communications and cross-cultural communications. His areas of interest include management communication, English as a second language in business communication, business communication technology, discourse analysis, visual communication, cross-cultural communication, composition theory and genre theory. He has held teaching positions at University of Pittsburgh, La Roche College, The Community College of Allegheny County, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Han Nam University. McGinnis holds a BA from LaRoche College and an MA from Pittsburg State University.

Joe Mertz, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor in Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science & the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management. In Qatar he is teaching a course entitled Technology Consulting in the Community. His areas of research include developing courses and projects that make students aware of community development challenges while teaching strategies and methods to use information and communication technologies to address those challenges. In addition to teaching, Mertz directs the Technology Consulting in the Global Community Program, and is an Associate Director of TechBridgeWorld. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Pennsylvania State University; a master's degree in computer science from University of Southern California; and a Ph.D. in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Robert T. Monroe, Ph.D., is an Associate Dean and Associate Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. As associate dean, Monroe focuses on faculty recruitment, mentoring, reappointment and promotion. He also represents Carnegie Mellon Qatar and its faculty to the broader community in both Doha and Pittsburgh. As a faculty member he teaches courses in Data Structures and Web Technologies. Before arriving in Qatar, Monroe was a professor in the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh. Monroe holds a BS in computer science from University of Michigan, and an MS and Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University.

Terrance Murphy, Ph.D., is a Visiting Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. He teaches all levels of general and inorganic chemistry to the entire student body. He holds a Bachelor's degree in chemistry education; a master's degree in MAT in chemistry; and a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry, all from University of Washington. His research interests include bioinorganic chemistry, iron chelators in treating iron overload diseases, coordination chemistry and environmental chemistry. Murphy has taught at University of Washington, Ithaca College, Sultan Qaboos University in Oman and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

Kemal Oflazer, Ph.D., is a faculty member teaching Principles of Computation, Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms, and Formal Languages Automata and Complexity. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, Oflazer taught various graduate and undergraduate courses at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and at Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. His research interests include statistical and hybrid methods for machine translation, especially for morphologically complex languages. Oflazer holds a BS in electrical and electronics engineering from East Technical University in Ankara; an MS in computer science from Middle East Technical University in Ankara; and a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University.

Joel P. Olfelt, Ph.D., is a Visiting Teaching Associate Professor teaching conservation biology. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, Olfelt was an associate professor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Additionally, he has taught courses at St. Olaf College. His area of research includes plant conservation and plant population dynamics. Olfelt holds a Ph.D. from University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Botanical Society of America, and the recipient of the 2004 and 2006 Outstanding Performance Award in Teaching and the 2008 NEIU Outstanding Performance Award In Research.

Marion Oliver, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. He has a B.A. in mathematics and physics from Fisk University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has held faculty positions in the Department of Mathematics and the School of Urban & Public Affairs, now the Heinz School, at Carnegie Mellon; the Graduate School of International and Public Affairs at University of Pittsburgh; the Department of Statistics at University of Pennsylvania; and the School of Business & Industry at Florida A&M University. He also held several administrative positions in higher education, including Associate Dean of the School of Urban & Public Affairs; Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Millersville University; Associate Provost at University of Pennsylvania; and Vice Dean of the Wharton School and Director of the Undergraduate Programs. Additionally, he spent 10 years at the Mobil Oil Corporation (now Exxon Mobil) managing a variety of programs including training for the Middle East.

Silvia Pessoa, Ph. D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor of English writing and sociolinguistics. Her research interests include academic writing development, biliteracy, bilingualism, bilingual education and immigration studies. In Qatar she is involved in various research projects with students that focus on the status of migrant laborers. She holds a bachelor's degree in linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and a master's in TESOL from Eastern Michigan University; and a master's and Ph.D. in second language acquisition from Carnegie Mellon University. She has taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and Spanish at Carnegie Mellon and University of Michigan.

Benjamin Reilly, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor teaching World History, Europe and the Islamic World, Inward Odyssey, 18th Century Europe and Disastrous Encounters. Reilly is interested in the often-violent interaction between humankind and its environment, and is currently developing both an academic course and a textbook on this timely topic. His work on the French Revolution has appeared in several journals, including the Social Science History Journal and French History. In addition, Reilly's popular history of Southern Florida, Tropical Surge: Ambition and Disaster on the Florida Shore, was published in 2005. Reilly received his B.A. in History from New College of Florida before moving on to graduate work at University of Pittsburgh, eventually receiving his Ph.D. in Modern European History. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, he was a professor at the American International School of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Dudley Reynolds, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor of English and the Director of Research in English Language Learning. Before joining Carnegie Mellon, he was an associate professor at University of Houston in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. Reynolds holds a bachelor's degree in English from Davidson College; a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics; and a Ph.D. in Linguistics from University of Indiana. His areas of research include English language learning, language assessment and testing, second language writing and applied linguistics.

John Robertson is the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. Before coming to Qatar, Robertson was the director of the undergraduate business administration program at Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh. He was also an assistant coach for Carnegie Mellon's football team. In addition to his administrative duties, Robertson also teaches courses in the business administration curriculum. Robertson received his bachelor's degree in American history from University of Chicago and his master's degree in social history from Carnegie Mellon University. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in social history from Carnegie Mellon University.

Alex Rojas, Ph.D., is a visiting lecturer of Probability and Statistics for Business Administration students. Rojas holds a bachelor's degree in statistics from National University of Columbia; a Master's degree in mathematics from University of Puerto Rico; a Master's degree in statistics from Carnegie Mellon University; and a Ph.D. in statistics. His area of research includes nonparametric statistics, astrophysics and machine learning. Before coming to Doha, Rojas was an instructor in the Department of Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Majd Sakr, Ph.D. is an Associate Teaching Professor and coordinator of the computer science program at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. In addition to working at Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, Sakr has held appointments at American University of Science and Technology in Beirut and at NEC Research Institute in Princeton, New Jersey. His area of research includes computer microarchitecture, compiler optimizations, scientific computing, embedded systems, reconfigurable systems and more recently cloud computing and human-robot interaction. Sakr holds a BS, MS and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of Pittsburgh.

Thierry Sans, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral research associate who is teaching classes in computer programming. His research interest focuses on computer security including security policies, access control and digital rights management. Sans holds a bachelor's degree from Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France; a master's degree from the National Higher School of Aeronautics and Space (Sup'Aero - ENSAE), Toulouse, France; and a Ph.D. from the National Higher School of Telecommunication in Britanny (GET/ENST-Bretagne), Rennes, France.

Charles E. "Chuck" Thorpe is the first Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. In addition to serving as Dean, Thorpe is a member of the faculty. Prior to being appointed Dean, Thorpe was director of the prestigious and internationally-known Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, where he led a research group that developed autonomous research vehicles. While at the Robotics Institute, he was a principal research scientist and founding head of its robotics master's program. He also taught robotics as a member of its faculty and served as an advisor to Ph.D. candidates. Thorpe's research interest includes the development of outdoor robotic vehicles, in particular computer vision, sensing, planning and architectures for these machines. During his tenure at the Robotics Institute, Thorpe and his Navlab research group built a series of robotic cars, trucks and busses for military and civilian research. He had authored dozens of articles and in 2007 was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers. Thorpe earned his bachelor's degree in natural science from North Park College in Chicago, Ill., and a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. Thorpe is one of the university's first alumni to pursue a career in robotics.

George White, Ph.D., is an associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon Qatar. White teaches Introduction to Entrepreneurship to undergraduate students, and is one of the instructors in the Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program held in conjunction with Qatar Science & Technology Park. White holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur. He has held posts at Stanford University, the Center for the Study of Language & Information Industrial Affiliates and the Institute for Infocomm Research. His areas of research include cognitive science, corporate leadership and personal telephone assistance.