Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is constituted of five members: The chair, the secretary, the treasurer and an advisory member.
According to the bylaws the Executive Committee administers Shamaa such as to assure the attainment of its set goals, the proper application of its rules and regulations and the carrying on of its activities. The Executive Committee meets at least once a month, and supervises the administrative staff and the implementation of the decisions of the Board of Trustees.
Members of the Executive Committee and their function:
Dr. Rima Karami
Chair of the Executive Committee
Dr. Maud Stephan – Hachem
Secretary
Dr. Adnan El Amine
Treasurer
Basma Chebani
Advisory member
Dr. Yara Yasser Hilal
Advisory member
Shamaa Community
Cooperating Experts
The Cooperating Expert is a member of the Shamaa family. He may be an academic or someone who works in the field of education. He might be a head of a section or a dean or professor. He could be a specialist in information and documentation or in charge of a library…
He is someone who has espoused the founding idea behind Shamaa and been convinced by the services it renders to educational research and the Arab educational community in general. He feels he has the capability and is in a position to help his institution and colleagues and contribute to this pioneer Arab project.
He is someone who has expressed his readiness to offer such a contribution and make use of his competence and relations to offer suggestions to Shamaa, and to review and provide Shamaa with educational documents and summaries. He takes occasion to introduce his colleagues and students to Shamaa, and explains to them how to benefit from the project.
Ms. Olga Ayoub
Ms. Olga Ayoub is the current Associate Library Director of the Issam Fares Library Learning Center, and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Library and Information Studies at the University of Balamand. She previously served as the Head of Serials and Electronic Resources at the American University of Beirut for eight years, where she managed the major shift from print to electronic for serials and books in all its aspects.
Mr. Jamal Abdul-Karim Al-Alwchi
Mr. Jamal Abdul-Karim Al-Alwchi currently supervises the National library within the framework of the Iraqi National Library and Archives. He formerly served as Head of the Periodicals Section, and of the Relations Section in the Iraqi National Library, and then as Director of the library.
Dr. Khaled Al-Sarairah
Dr. Khaled Al-Sarairah works since 2010 as Assistant professor in the Department of Administration and Leadership in Education in the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the Middle East University and as Director of its accreditation department. He holds a doctorate in Educational sciences which he received in 2005 from the Amman Arab University.
Mrs. Racha Farouk Majzoub Yehya
Mrs. Racha Farouk Majzoub Yehya is the Assistant Librarian at the Central Library of the Neelain University, within the deanship for libraries. She has occupied many posts in the university including librarian in several libraries including the Central Library, the Graduate Library, the Engineering Library, the Library of the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Library of the Faculty of Optics.
Mrs. Cendrella Habre
Mrs. Habre is the University Librarian at the Lebanese American University. Previously she held several positions, namely, Director of Riyad Nassar – Beirut Campus (LAU) for 4 years, Systems Librarian (LAU) for 10 years, Automation Librarian at the Jafet Library, American University of Beirut, Information Specialist at AISG (New York, NY), and Cataloger at Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, NY).
Dr. Soheir Hewala
Dr. Soheir Hewala is Dean of the Institute of Educational Studies and Research at Cairo University, and President of the Board of Directors of the Journal of Educational Sciences and its editor in chief.
She is also President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Educational Services, Psychological Guidance and Professional Development for Teachers.
Dr. Fadi El-Hage
Born in Aley (Lebanon), on September 3rd 1968, Fadi El-Hage is the Dean of the Faculty of educational sciences at the Université Saint-Joseph (Saint Joseph University) since September 2012. He is also the director of the Research Unit of the faculty since 2007. He was, up until 2012, consecutively Director of Studies since 2006 then Vice-Dean since 2010.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim El Desokey Ali
Dr. Mohamed El Desokey is currently head of the Instructional Technology Department at the Faculty of Education, University of Helwan. He has occupied the post of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University, and was a member of the National Committee for Developing the Faculties of Education in Egypt. He was also appointed Vice-President of the Professional Academy of Teachers in Egypt, and was assigned to the position of cultural attaché of Egypt in Uzbekistan from 1999 to 2002.
Dr. Haytham Kotob
Dr. Kotob is a professor at the Lebanese university, faculty of education and at the Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities & Social Sciences. He previously served as the director of faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and of the “Higher Institute for Languages and Translation” at the Islamic University of Lebanon.
Ms. Olga Ayoub
Ms. Olga Ayoub is the current Associate Library Director of the Issam Fares Library Learning Center, and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Library and Information Studies at the University of Balamand. She previously served as the Head of Serials and Electronic Resources at the American University of Beirut for eight years, where she managed the major shift from print to electronic for serials and books in all its aspects.
Mrs. Ayoub pursued her Master in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University in Michigan.
Mr. Jamal Abdul-Karim Al-Alwchi
Mr. Jamal Abdul-Karim Al-Alwchi currently supervises the National library within the framework of the Iraqi National Library and Archives. He formerly served as Head of the Periodicals Section, and of the Relations Section in the Iraqi National Library, and then as Director of the library.
He graduated from the College of Arts, Department of Information and Library Science, at the University of Mustansiriyah, Iraq. He has attended several training courses at the College for Languages at the University of Bagdad, one of which was a speed reading course. He is a member of the Iraqi Federation of Publishers. He has written a number of articles published in Iraqi newspapers relating to libraries as well as to the history and heritage of Iraq.
Dr. Khaled Al-Sarairah
Dr. Khaled Al-Sarairah works since 2010 as Assistant professor in the Department of Administration and Leadership in Education in the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the Middle East University and as Director of its accreditation department. He holds a doctorate in Educational sciences which he received in 2005 from the Amman Arab University.
He previously worked as Assistant professor in the classroom teacher department at Isra University, and as assistant professor and consultant at the Arab Group for Education. He was also Director of Mu’tah Journal for Research and Studies and a member of the editorial Board of several scientific and cultural journals.
He has several published research works in the educational sciences in general and educational administration in particular. He has also published many articles in cultural journals. His research interests include academic accreditation, quality assurance, administrative behavior and management information systems.
Mrs. Racha Farouk Majzoub Yehya
Mrs. Racha Farouk Majzoub Yehya is the Assistant Librarian at the Central Library of the Neelain University, within the deanship for libraries. She has occupied many posts in the university including librarian in several libraries including the Central Library, the Graduate Library, the Engineering Library, the Library of the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Library of the Faculty of Optics.
She was also Head of the Acquisitions Department, and Vice-Head of the Indexing and Classification Department. She holds a bachelor in documentation and library science from Omdurman Ahlia University and a Master’s from Omdurman Islamic University. She has participated in several training courses inside and outside of the Sudan including participation in the Conference on Digitizing the Memory of the Arab World.
Mrs. Cendrella Habre
Mrs. Habre is the University Librarian at the Lebanese American University. Previously she held several positions, namely, Director of Riyad Nassar – Beirut Campus (LAU) for 4 years, Systems Librarian (LAU) for 10 years, Automation Librarian at the Jafet Library, American University of Beirut, Information Specialist at AISG (New York, NY), and Cataloger at Brooklyn Public Library (Brooklyn, NY).
She is currently pursuing her Executive MBA degree at LAU, and has previously earned an MLS from Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY) and a BS in Library and Information Science from the Lebanese University, and has also attended the Frye Leadership Institute in 2007. Mrs. Habre serves on several committees at LAU related to accreditation, strategic planning and libraries and Information Technology and is a member delegate of the OCLC Europe and Middle East Regional Council.
Formerly, she chaired the American International Consortium of American Libraries (AMICAL) Coordinating Committee. Mrs. Habre speaks and publishes on topics such as library automation, library management and leadership, and new learning spaces.
Dr. Soheir Hewala
Dr. Soheir Hewala is Dean of the Institute of Educational Studies and Research at Cairo University, and President of the Board of Directors of the Journal of Educational Sciences and its editor in chief.
She is also President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Educational Services, Psychological Guidance and Professional Development for Teachers.
She holds a Master’s in Education from Alexandria University in Egypt and a Ph.D in Education from the University of London. Dr. Hewala is a member in various scientific societies, committees and organizations including the Regional Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the Arab World within UNESCO.
She is currently a member in the Educational Research Sector Committee in the Higher University Council and in the Education Committee in the Higher Cultural Council in Egypt.
Dr. Fadi El-Hage
Born in Aley (Lebanon), on September 3rd 1968, Fadi El-Hage is the Dean of the Faculty of educational sciences at the Université Saint-Joseph (Saint Joseph University) since September 2012. He is also the director of the Research Unit of the faculty since 2007. He was, up until 2012, consecutively Director of Studies since 2006 then Vice-Dean since 2010.
Fadi El-Hage holds a Ph.D. in educational sciences from the Université de Montpellier II. He is also a lecturer, university professor, teacher trainer, director of theses and researches in educational sciences and a member of several scientific associations.
His areas of expertise are didactic of science, health education, teacher training and education consulting.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim El Desokey Ali
Dr. Mohamed El Desokey is currently head of the Instructional Technology Department at the Faculty of Education, University of Helwan. He has occupied the post of Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University, and was a member of the National Committee for Developing the Faculties of Education in Egypt. He was also appointed Vice-President of the Professional Academy of Teachers in Egypt, and was assigned to the position of cultural attaché of Egypt in Uzbekistan from 1999 to 2002.
Dr. El Desokey participated in developing and implementing the training program for teaching staff at Egyptian universities, and he refereed numerous research works posted for promotion to the rank of Professor and Assistant professor in Egypt and outside. He also discussed and supervised more than 200 Master’s and Doctoral theses at Egyptian and Arab universities.
He is a member of numerous specialized scientific associations including the activity committees of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO.
Dr. Haytham Kotob
Dr. Kotob is a professor at the Lebanese university, faculty of education and at the Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities & Social Sciences. He previously served as the director of faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and of the “Higher Institute for Languages and Translation” at the Islamic University of Lebanon.
Dr. Kotob received his doctorate degree in Linguistics from the University of Franche-Comté in Paris where he previously earned his post-graduate diploma in Computerized Bibliography. Dr. Kotob is a visiting professor at a number of universities, including the University of Lyon II in France and the University of Aleppo in Syria, and, in 2010, he prepared a workshop for Public school principals in Lebanon.
Friends
The Friends of Shamaa are prominent specialists in the field of education in the Arab World who believe in the mission and goals of Shamaa and provide it with moral support; as such they function as consultants and cooperate with Shamaa on various levels. They participate, or may participate in its development through the comments on the Shamaa database, its subject areas and the totality of its contents. They also seek to promote Shamaa among those who work in the educational field. They are consulted with regard to all the activities organized by Shamaa, and their experience in the field of scholarly educational research is drawn upon with a view to further developing Shamaa.
Dr. Ahmed Ouzzi
Dr. Ahmed Ouzzi is professor of higher education and scientific research at the Mohammed V University in Rabat, and professor of psychology and educational sciences and unit director of training and research in developmental educational psychology. As a researcher he is concerned with issues dealing with childhood, adolescence and youth. He has been a visiting professor at many Arab universities and an expert consultant to several international organizations working in the field of education.
Dr. Kamal Abouchedid
Dr. Abouchedid holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (1997). He was Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Applied Sciences at Amity University-Dubai (2022-2023) and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) (2014-2022). Currently, he is Professor of Education and Director of the Center for Applied Research in Education at NDU. He is the President of the Lebanese Association for Educational Studies (LAES).
Dr. Ramzi Salamé
Dr. Ramzi Salamé is currently in charge of quality assurance operations at St. Joseph University in Beirut. He worked for UNESCO as senior specialist in higher education and training of educators, regional advisor for the reform of educational systems in the Arab states, and acting director of the Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut.
Dr. Sadiq Midraj
Dr. Sadiq Midraj began his career in education as a grade 6-12 teacher in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States before earning his Ph.D. in language education (Curriculum & Instruction) from Indiana State University, USA. He functioned as the Director for the College of Education Center for Professional Development at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. Currently, he is the ELL Program Lead Faculty and teachers in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education.
Dr. Saouma BouJaoude
Dr. Saouma BouJaoudeh has since 2009, been Director of the Center of Teaching and Learning and Director of the Science and Mathematics Education Center (SMEC) at the American University of Beirut. He holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with emphasis on science education from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. He taught at Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A, then joined the American University of Beirut in 1993 and now holds the rank of full professor.
Dr. Fadia Hoteit
Dr. Hoteit is a researcher and professor at the Lebanese University, with a doctorate in psychology from the Sorbonne University – Paris V, France. She teaches courses in early childhood education and children’s literature in the Faculty of Education at the Lebanese University. Dr. Hoteit has several studies and research papers dealing with educational, social and psychological aspects relating to children, family and women.
Dr. Fatima Abass Nathar
Dr. Nathar is the assistant dean of the College of Education at Kuwait University for research, consulting and training. She is also a certified trainer at Awan International Group, Kuwait. She holds a doctorate in the philosophy and essentials of early education from the University of Miami, Florida. She also completed 13 specialty credits at Harvard University Medical School, Boston, on the post-traumatic stress disorder and how to deal with children in the midst of violent conflicts.
Dr. Nada Moghaizel Nasr
Dr. Nada Moghaizel Nasr is an honorary Dean and professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the St. Joseph University in Beirut; she is also the President’s Delegate for university education. She holds a bachelor degree in sociology from the American University of Beirut, and a master’s degree, a postgraduate diploma and a doctorate in Educational Sciences from the René Descartes University – Paris V. Professionally she has worked as a researcher at the Center for Linguistic and Educational Studies and as a professor in the Institute of Social Sciences at the Lebanese University.
Dr. Ahmed Ouzzi
Dr. Ahmed Ouzzi is professor of higher education and scientific research at the Mohammed V University in Rabat, and professor of psychology and educational sciences and unit director of training and research in developmental educational psychology. As a researcher he is concerned with issues dealing with childhood, adolescence and youth. He has been a visiting professor at many Arab universities and an expert consultant to several international organizations working in the field of education.
He organizes and supervises many training courses to prepare teachers and trainers in the Arab World and Africa and has published numerous scientific works in psychology and the educational sciences. He is the director and founder of the Journal of Educational Sciences, a specialized quarterly, as well as the president of the Moroccan Association for Studies on Children. Currently he is working on an encyclopedic dictionary of education and training and research for the Council of Higher Education. He is also a member of the central team of the Arab Knowledge Report for 2010-2011.
Dr. Kamal Abouchedid
Dr. Abouchedid holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (1997). He was Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Applied Sciences at Amity University-Dubai (2022-2023) and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) (2014-2022). Currently, he is Professor of Education and Director of the Center for Applied Research in Education at NDU. He is the President of the Lebanese Association for Educational Studies (LAES).
Dr. Ramzi Salamé
Dr. Ramzi Salamé is currently in charge of quality assurance operations at St. Joseph University in Beirut. He worked for UNESCO as senior specialist in higher education and training of educators, regional advisor for the reform of educational systems in the Arab states, and acting director of the Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut.
He undertook consultancy missions to most of the Arab states, and organized the greater part of the ministerial conferences called for by UNESCO in the Arab region between 1994 and 2008. Dr. Salamé is a graduate of the Lebanese University and the University of Montreal in Canada where he received his doctorate in the educational psychology. He held various university positions in Lebanon and Canada, ultimately attaining professorial rank. He has numerous publications on various issues of higher and general education.
Dr. Sadiq Midraj
Dr. Sadiq Midraj began his career in education as a grade 6-12 teacher in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States before earning his Ph.D. in language education (Curriculum & Instruction) from Indiana State University, USA. He functioned as the Director for the College of Education Center for Professional Development at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. Currently, he is the ELL Program Lead Faculty and teachers in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Education.
He provided consultation to the UNESCO Office on quality assurance standards for teacher-education units in Arab countries. He has published in the areas of the affective factors and Arabic-English bilingual reading competences, and he has given numerous presentations at international conferences. His research interests include quality assurance standards, curriculum reform, and bilingual and multicultural teacher education.
Dr. Saouma BouJaoude
Dr. Saouma BouJaoudeh has since 2009, been Director of the Center of Teaching and Learning and Director of the Science and Mathematics Education Center (SMEC) at the American University of Beirut. He holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with emphasis on science education from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. He taught at Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A, then joined the American University of Beirut in 1993 and now holds the rank of full professor.
He served as Director of SMEC from 1994 to 2003 and as chair of the Department of Education from 2003-2009. Dr. BouJaoude has published numerous research articles and educational studies in local, regional and international refereed scholarly journals, as well as in books in English and Arabic. He has spoken at a large number of regional and international scientific conferences. He also serves on the editorial Boards of a number of science education and education journals. He is presently a member of the Executive Committee of the Supreme Education Council of the State of Qatar, and fellow of the Third World Academy of Science.
Dr. Fadia Hoteit
Dr. Hoteit is a researcher and professor at the Lebanese University, with a doctorate in psychology from the Sorbonne University – Paris V, France. She teaches courses in early childhood education and children’s literature in the Faculty of Education at the Lebanese University. Dr. Hoteit has several studies and research papers dealing with educational, social and psychological aspects relating to children, family and women.
She also co-edited several books bringing together research work by Lebanese women, and participated in several collective books such as: Preschool Education in Lebanon (in Arabic), 2002; and Books and Publishing in Lebanon: Reality and Politics (in Arabic), 2003. She has published three books: The Experience of Reggio Emilia in Early Childhood (in Arabic), 2012; Children’s Literature in Lebanon (in Arabic), 2001; and Play in Early Childhood (in Arabic), 2006. She has also published two stories for children in Arabic: Houloumi (My Dream) and Sabi Kabir (A Big Boy).
Dr. Fatima Abass Nathar
Dr. Nathar is the assistant dean of the College of Education at Kuwait University for research, consulting and training. She is also a certified trainer at Awan International Group, Kuwait. She holds a doctorate in the philosophy and essentials of early education from the University of Miami, Florida. She also completed 13 specialty credits at Harvard University Medical School, Boston, on the post-traumatic stress disorder and how to deal with children in the midst of violent conflicts.
Dr. Nathar was cultural attaché in Washington, D.C., from 2002 till 2009. She also held the post of acting chairman and assistant professor of the Education Principles Department in the College of Education at Kuwait University. She was awarded the prize for extraordinary teaching for 2002 from Kuwait University. She has numerous publications in the field of education, and has lectured in the field of education in Kuwait and in the U.S.A. Her educational interests focus on: family education, the impact of social and cultural factors on teaching and education, research in early education and studies on women, and the outstandingly gifted.
Dr. Nada Moghaizel Nasr
Dr. Nada Moghaizel Nasr is an honorary Dean and professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the St. Joseph University in Beirut; she is also the President’s Delegate for university education. She holds a bachelor degree in sociology from the American University of Beirut, and a master’s degree, a postgraduate diploma and a doctorate in Educational Sciences from the René Descartes University – Paris V. Professionally she has worked as a researcher at the Center for Linguistic and Educational Studies and as a professor in the Institute of Social Sciences at the Lebanese University.
She has also participated in the formulation of the civic educational booklets with the Center for Educational Research and Development and was in charge of teacher training at the primary level at the Lebanese Institute of Educators. She has participated in non-governmental organizations as Vice-President, member, founding member, expert and honorary member. She has also authored several books, both individually and collectively, in addition to participating and coordinating in a number of conferences and seminars.