Qatar

Well, I have had a few email inquiries from the curious after my elusive reference to our upcoming move to Qatar a few blogs ago. Here are the details:

Todd has accepted the position of Assistant Professor in the International Affairs Program (IAP) at the University of Qatar. The appointment will be for three years in the first instance. He will be responsible for teaching European history courses, as well as political thought. He will begin teaching in the spring semester, so we will likely relocate at the end of January, 2010. The IAP was established in 2006 on the model of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and is primarily responsible for training civil servants for Qatar. I am going to wait until we arrive to see what job possibilities are available--I may begin a master's of library science degree and/or offer piano lessons.

The university is located in Doha, the capital city. Already a major oil and gas producer, Qatar has recently sought to become a key player in the educational and research sector for the region. In addition to the U. of Qatar, which was established in 1973, the Qatar Foundation has recently invited several American universities to establish branches in Education City. We are really excited by Qatar's vision for education, and are thrilled to be a part of it. These educational initiatives along with the presence of Al-Jazeera (the well-known Arab news channel based in Qatar) and a host of other regional and global institutions mean that the tiny independent emirate is punching above its weight on the international scene.

Todd really wanted to spend some time in the Middle East after completing his PhD. His research focuses on British interaction with the Middle East and with Islam in the early and middle twentieth century. Living in Doha will be a perfect way for him to continue to pursue these research interests. Qatar really seems like the logical place for us to begin the next adventure!