The Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has announced the appointment of Dr Amal Mohamed al-Malki as the founding dean of its College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will initially offer two master’s degree programmes that were previously delivered through HBKU’s Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII), MA in Translation Studies and MA in Audiovisual Translation with an expanded range of degree programmes to follow.
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 programmes in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
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. 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 HBKU, 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 PhD in Comparative Literature and 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.