NU-Q presents lectures, documentaries, and a student showcase in Evanston
Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) will be participating in a series of events on its home campus in Evanston, Illinois, USA from May 9 to 11. The events are part of an annual visit NU-Q makes to Evanston to highlight the work of its faculty, students, and staff.
While scores of NU-Q faculty, staff, and students make working visits to Evanston throughout the year, “NU-Q in Evanston” provides a focus that introduces individual scholars and their research efforts as well as allowing students to showcase journalistic projects, documentary films, and undergraduate research. NU-Q students already studying in Evanston join in the program as do the NU-Q Ambassdors, students who promote understanding between the two campuses.
The week incudes several public programs open to the entire university while others involve invited lectures and colloquia in venues ranging from the School of Communication and Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communication as well as the Middle East Studies Program. “Connections between the Qatar program and its home campus in Evanston provides a window on NU’s 12th school and only international campus at a time when the university is accelerating its global activities,” said Everette E. Dennis, dean and CEO of the Qatar campus.
The activities during the week will include a lecture at NU’s MENA Monday series; an award winning faculty film; a showcase for student work in communication, journalism, and liberal arts; as well as briefings on NU-Q's institutional research program and other activities taking place at Northwestern University in Qatar.
Sami Hermez, assistant professor in residence, will be delivering a lecture as part of the MENA Monday series, "On The Loss of Humanity: The Case of Former Militia Fighters In Lebanon;" Danielle Beverly, assistant professor in residence will be screening her documentary “Old South;” and four students will be presenting several research projects as part of a Student Showcase.
Hermez received his PhD in anthropology from Princeton University where his dissertation “Living Everyday in Anticipation of Violence in Lebanon” reflected this interest. He examined the issues from an anthropological perspective using ethnographic fieldwork to gather his data and evidence.
He also held a post-doctoral fellowship at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, and was a visiting research fellow at the Zentrum Moderner Orient and the Collaborative Research Center, Humboldt University, both in Berlin. He has also served as a visiting scholar in the Department of Anthropology at Harvard University and taught at Mount Holyoke, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the American University of Beirut.
His lecture will take place on Monday, May 9 at 12:00 pm in the Hagstrum Room, University Hall.
Beverly’s documentary, which was broadcast over PBS in February, traces a contentious relationship between a historically African-American community, and a college fraternity at the University of Georgia, one known to fly traditionally a Confederate flag and hold an annual antebellum parade. Beverly began her career at Chicago’s PBS affiliate, and has directed and produced content for PBS and cable since 1999. She has also been a professor of filmmaking at the University of Notre Dame, and professional in residence in digital media at Marquette University.
The screening of "Old South,” will take place in Louis Hall 119, Arts Block on May 9 at 6:00 pm.
On May 11, NU-Q will host a Student Showcase where four NU-Q students will present their research projects, including two documentary films; a research paper on the politics of renter benefits and permanent residency in Qatar; and a news package about domestic help raising children in Doha.
The Student Showcase will take place at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at 4:00 pm.