Humanities, Social Sciences and Health

Dr Feras Hamza

Head of School, Associate Professor

Dr Hamza’s principal research interests are on citizenship as practice and identity in emerging societies such as that of the UAE. His principal teaching duties are postgraduate classes on Globalisation and Citizenship, Research Methods and Middle East society, as well as the undergraduate Islamic Culture (GEC).

Qualifications: BA, London University, MPhil, DPhil, Oxford University

Location: Block 15, Floor 2, Room 2-10

Telephone: +971 4 2781925

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):FerasHamza

Dr Feras Hamza is the Head of School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health at UOWD and Associate Professor in International Studies. Dr Hamza obtained his Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Modern Languages (Spanish and Russian) from London University and an MPhil and a DPhil in Oriental Studies from Oxford University (1997-2002).

Trained as a historian, Dr Hamza spent a postdoctoral year as a Research Assistant in the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, before returning to London in 2003 to join the Institute of Ismaili Studies, where he remained as a Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Graduate Program in Islamic Studies and the Humanities for 5 years. In 2008 he moved to the UAE, to the American University in Dubai, where he contributed substantially to the creation of a Department of Middle Eastern Studies, the accreditation of a Bachelor of International Studies and a Middle Eastern Studies Certificate. He joined UOWD in 2012.

In the field of International Studies, Dr Hamza’s principal research interests are on citizenship as practice and identity in emerging societies such as that of the UAE. His principal teaching duties are postgraduate classes on Globalisation and Citizenship, Research Methods and Middle East society, as well as the undergraduate Islamic Culture (GEC). His Islamic Studies research centers on Qur’anic ethics inspired by the hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur.

He is currently co-authoring, with Dr Karen Bauer (IIS), a second volume of An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: Women in the Qur’an, after the success of the first volume, An Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: The Nature of the Divine (OUP, 2008). Dr Hamza is General Series Editor for the Institute of Ismaili Studies’ Anthology of Quranic Commentaries Series, published by Oxford University Press, Editor for E.J. Brill’s new series Islamic Literatures: Texts and Studies, and Member of the Advisory Board of The Qur’an Throughout the Ages, a 6-volume reception history of the Qur’an (with OUP), initially begun by the late Professor Andrew Rippin.

Dr Imene Ajala

Assistant Professor

Dr Imène Ajala is Assistant Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). She mainly teaches in the Master of International Studies (MIST) programme.

Qualifications: PhD, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva-(IHEID); M.A, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva-(IHEID): Kyoto University International Education Programme Certificate, Kyoto University (Academic Exchange); Diplôme de Sciences Politiques, Grenoble Institute of Political Studies(IEPG)

Location: Knowledge Village Block 15, Office 2-25

Telephone: +971 4 278 1950

Email: AjalaImene@uowdubai.ac.ae

Dr Imène Ajala is Assistant Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). She mainly teaches in the Master of International Studies (MIST) programme.

She obtained her PhD from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Prior to joining UOWD, Dr Ajala taught at Webster University and at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations. She also worked as a Project Manager at the International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights in Geneva. In 2015, she was selected by the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva to complete an International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) on the theme of “Women Leaders: Promoting Peace and Security”.

Dr Ajala’s research interests are Comparative politics, Foreign Policy Analysis, Diaspora studies and multiculturalism with a particular focus on Muslims in Europe. She won the International Award for Excellence for Volume 12 of the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Journal Collection for her article “From Islamic Dress to Islamic Fashion to Cool Islam: An Exploration of Muslim Youth Identities in the West”. She is the author of European Muslims and their Foreign Policy Interests. Identities and Loyalties (Gerlach Press, 2018).

Selected publications:

2018. European Muslims and their Foreign Policy Interests, Identities and Loyalties. Islam and International Relations Series. Berlin: Gerlach Press.

2018. "Tunisian Terrorist Fighters: A Grassroots Perspective". Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. https://doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2018.1473461

2017. “Muslim youth and consumerism: a study of Islamic street wear” Contemporary Islam (12) 1: 57-71.

2017. “From Islamic Dress and Islamic Fashion to Cool Islam: An Exploration of Muslim Youth Hybrid Identities in the West”. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies 12(3):1-11.

2014. “Muslims in Europe after 9/11: Securitization, Identities and Loyalties”. Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, Vol. 34, No. 2-3 April 2014: 123-133.

Dr Michael Mallory

Assistant Professor

Dr Michael Mallory is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) and currently teaches Sociology and International Journalism at postgraduate level. His specialist teaching areas are related to Media, Communications, Technology and the relationship each of these has with Societies and the Global World.

Qualifications: PhD, European Graduate School; MA in Media and Communications, European Graduate School

Location: Block 14, Room 315

Telephone: +971 4 278 1915

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):MichaelMallory

TEACHING

Dr Mallory is a strong believer in a student centered approach to teaching. He believes that teachers are in a position to help students take ownership of their education, giving students the tools and methods needed to further their education.

Prior to joining UOWD Dr Mallory served as Assistant Professor of Arts and Humanities. Previously he was a reputable business owner, managing director and brand ambassador for small companies.

He obtained his PhD from the European Graduate School with the title ‘The Artificial Eye: Artificial Perceptions, Data, and Surveillance’. The work was written from a Philosophical perspective, investigating the role of these technologies and media in society.

INDUSTRY AND CONSULTING

During his career, Dr Mallory served as Managing Director for a small start-up media publication, and was also an advisor and consultant for student led media projects, films, and publications.

RESEARCH

Dr Mallory’s current research interests are Digital Media, Technology and Data and he is currently in the process of pursuing several publications for 2018.

Dr Muna Amr

Associate Professor

Dr Amr is an Associate Professor of Education at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. Before joining UOWD, Dr Amr was an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Jordan specialising in teaching courses with a focus on learning disabilities

Qualifications: Qualification: PhD, MPhil, University of Cambridge/ BA, MA, University of Jordan

Location: Block 14, Room 3-17

Telephone: +971 4 2781948

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):MunaAmr

Dr Amr is an Associate Professor of Education at the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health at the University of Wollongong in Dubai. Before joining UOWD, Dr Amr was an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Jordan specialising in teaching courses with a focus on learning disabilities, language and speech disorders and curriculum and instruction design in special education.

In her academic and professional career, Dr Amr participated in various academic events, research activities in Jordan, the Middle East and Internationally. She designed and delivered numerous teacher training workshops and served as an educational consultant for many projects in education working with national and international organisations including UNECIF, UNRWA, USAID, RTI International, Caritas Austria, Creative Associates and GIZ. Dr Amr also a Co-founder and board member of Footage Foundation (http://www.footageyouth.org), a non-profit organisation that utilises local media technologies and media arts to amplify women and young people’s voice as means of igniting change.

Dr Amr obtained her PhD in Education and MPhil in Educational Research from the University of Cambridge where she researched Dyslexia in Arabic Language and examined teachers’ practices in teaching reading in Jordan. She also holds a BA and MA in special education from The University of Jordan.

In the field of education, Dr Amr’s primary research interests are on literacy, inclusive education, teacher education, education for refugee children and educational polices and reform in the Middle East. Her current principle teaching duties include postgraduate classes on educational psychology, current issues in education, behavioural management, inclusive education and research methods.

Her recent research projects include improving the learning environment through promoting extracurricular activities in public schools in Jordan. Her published research include examining teachers’ knowledge and attitudes toward inclusion (International Journal of Special education, 2016), investigating the collaboration between special education and regular teachers in public schools in Jordan (International Journal of Special Education, 2015), examining professional competencies for resource room teachers (Dirrasat, 2016), and reviewing teacher education for inclusive education in the Middle East (Prospect, 2011).

Dr Swapna Koshy

Associate Professor

Dr Koshy’s research interests include assessment practices in higher education, consumer behaviour studies and methods of improving communication. Dr Koshy's teaching subjects include Business Communication, General Management and Marketing.

Qualifications: BA, MA, TESOL, Trinity College, London, CBM, MSM, University of Wollongong in Dubai, PhD, University of Kerala

Location: Block 5, Floor 1, Room 1-38

Telephone: +971 4 2781934

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):SwapnaKoshy

Dr Koshy is an Associate Professor in Arts and Humanities at UOWD and an award winning teacher and researcher who specialises in innovative assessment design.

Dr Koshy has degrees in English Language and Literature, Business Management, Marketing and TESOL and she was top graduating student. Her research also covers diverse areas in Arts and the Social Sciences including comparative literature, journalism, marketing and pedagogy. She is the recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning- UOW, Teaching Excellence awards from UOWD, ITC award for Leadership, awards for Best Assessment Design (Association for Business Communication), Innovation award UOWD (finalist), Service award as Chair, Library Committee UOWD and Best paper awards for research.

She is also committed to student mentoring and organises and trains students for speaking and debate competitions.

Dr William F. Smith II

Associate Professor

Dr William Smith is Associate Professor at UOWD. Prior to joining the University Dr Smith was an Assistant Campus Dean, Program Director, Academic & Program Manager on academic level and Managing Director, Creative Director and Corporate Communications Manager on industry level.

Qualifications: PhD, The European Graduate School in Switzerland; MA in Media Studies, The New School of Social Research, New York City, USA; BA in New Media & Moving Image, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, USA

Location: Block 15, Floor 1, Room 1-08

Telephone: 042781976

Email: (@uowdubai.ac.ae):WilliamSmith

Dr William Smith is Associate Professor at UOWD’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences. Prior to joining the University Dr Smith was an Assistant Campus Dean, Program Director, Academic & Program Manager on academic level and Managing Director, Creative Director and Corporate Communications Manager on industry level. He obtained his PhD in Philosophy, Art & Critical Thought from The European Graduate School in Switzerland and holds the title of ‘Antonin Artaud Fellow’ at The European Graduate School in Switzerland.

Dr Smith has extensive experiences in iterative design process, concept and launch for emerging media products and services, emerging media technology development, corporate identity development, brand and specialised product market positioning and innovation and creativity management.

He is teaching An Introduction to Philosophy to undergraduate students and Media & Communications to postgraduate students. His specialist teaching areas include Emerging Media Technology, Media Theory, Media Archaeology, Media & Philosophy, Media Innovation & Creativity, and Artificial Intelligence. He follows a student centred approach and believes in a blended and experiential learning experience.

Dr Smith’s research interests are Emerging Media Technology, Media Theory, Media Archaeology, Media & Philosophy, Media Innovation & Creativity and Artificial Intelligence.

Artistic Projects:

Director/Producer. City Beat/Travel Unraveled. 2004-05, Shanghai Dragon TV, episodic program.

Director/Producer. Ayi-Five-0. 2005, Shanghai 10-minute short movie contest, comedy, digital video.

Writer/Director/Producer. Hambone Saved My Life. 2001, 30-minute, documentary, digital video.

Writer/Director/Producer. Berber Tribes in the Sahara. 2001, 26 minutes documentary, digital video.

Director of Cinematography. Shoot the Girl. 2000, 90-minute, Independent feature, 16mm & DV.

Writer/Director/Producer. Voyeurism. 2000, 17-minute, documentary, digital video.

Actor/Director. Bastards with Fathers. 1999-2000, Public Television, episodic comedy TV program.

Community Theatre Actor. Various Roles, 1994-99. Seattle, Washington.

Group Show. 1993, Performance Art Project at Memphis Museum of Art – PBS TV

Lead Actor. Maintenance Men. Performance Art at Memphis State University 1987