Hessa Al-Thani, Ph.D.

althani.hessa@qu.edu.qa
Doha, Qatar

Areas of Expertise

•  Pedagogical development
•  Restorative Practices in  teaching and learning
•   Teaching & Learning
•  Professional Development
• Excellent discretion, judgment, tact skills
• Stakeholders engagement skills
•  The Science of wellbeing
• Social Emotional Learning & Character Education
• Mentorship

Education

• Ph.D. Education
  Columbia University, 2017
• M.A. Public Administration
  Columbia University, 2009
• B.A.  Sociology
  Skidmore College, 2005

Career Experience

• Teaching Assistant, Qatar University, Qatar                     2019-present

Teach core educational courses at the College of Education. Key member of a committee in charge of developing teaching and learning programs at Qatar University. Head of the strategic planning committee at the College of Education. Member of a committee that monitors the labor market demands and the needs of QU graduates. Works on empowering college programs to improve in pedagogical development and enhance QU graduates’ competencies. Actively involved in activities related to student character development in order to help them reach their potential and be at service wherever they are.

• Founding Member and Partner, Mission                          2016- present Empowerment, Lebanon

Mission Empowerment (ME), an NGO registered in Lebanon, focuses on equipping refugees and disadvantaged youth and women with skills, education and training that allow them to find jobs and sustain
themselves and their families. Working with municipalities and other NGOs to identify eligible recipients, ME offers different free programs that range from coding, IT skills, cook assistants, nursing assistants, beauticians,
electricians, and mechanics.
To date over 2,000 refugees and disadvantaged persons have directly benefited from the work of ME since the
NGO has been established.

• President, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Qatar       2009- 2012

Reviewed existing legislation and proposed new ones to establish policies to enhance the role of the Qatari family and the society. Developed programs and led projects to help advancing the development of the Qatari
family and enhancing the wellbeing of all its members. Set strategic corporate priorities and established operational policies and procedures for the SCFA. Evaluated social non-profit institutions’ efforts to promote
better service. Focused special attention on children, women, elderly and people with disabilities calling for their rights.

• Research Assistant, RAND Corporation, Qatar                  2005-2007

Participated and worked on projects that focus on educational and organizational reforms.  Worked in areas related to evaluation of education policies and organizational performance management. Participated on topics related to human capital performance and the advancement of the Qatari nationals. Researched health policies and examined some of the Qatar health institutions.

Community & Volunteer Activities 

• Muslim Volunteer for New York (MV4NY)                           2017-2019

Participate as a volunteer in various non for profits organizations that focuses on the civic engagement of the Muslim community in New York such as MV4NY is a community based organization conducting charity and volunteer work in the Greater New York Area. I worked with the MV4NY on many events to serve our community in New York City. The events include reaching out to the underserved community, including sandwich making for the homeless; meals on wheels service; hosting dinners for children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House; and Rupert Park events such as park clean up and musical concerts.

Sample Presentations

• CETL “Practical Lesson In Entrepreneurial in Teaching and Learning,” Presenter at Center of Teaching and Learning, Qatar University  October 2021
• “Student Teachers’ First Encounters of Student Centered Learning in Online Environment: A Case from Qatar University”, Speaker at the Education, Engineering Education and Instruction Technology Conference, October 2020
• “Education-Disrupted Education Reimagined: School Leadership During & Beyond COVID-19.” Speaker at WISE Summit, Doha, Qatar September 2020

Sample Publications

• Al-Thani, H., Chaaban, Y. & Du., X.Y. (2022). Teacher educators’ simplex system in navigating the process of responding to disruptive education – A case from Qatar. Research in Post-Compulsory Education. Accepted for 2021. (SCOPUS)

• Qadhi, S., Al-Thani, H., Ahmad, M., Romanowski, M, & Du., X.Y. University Teachers’ self-efficacy of online teaching – a case in Qatar in the context of pandemic. Helyon. Accepted (SCOPUS)

• Chaaban, Y., Al-Thani, H., Du., X.Y. (2021) A narrative inquiry of teacher educators’ professional agency amid educational disruption amidst pandemic. Teacher and Teacher Education. 108. 103522. (SSCI & SCOPUS, IF: 3.27) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103522

• Naji.K.K, Al-Thani, H., Ebead, U, E., Al-Ali, A. & Du, X.Y. (2020), Characteristics, benefits, challenges and socio-cultural factors of implementing PBL in Qatar. In Guerra, Chen, Winther, & Kolmos (eds), Educate for the future – PBL, sustainability and digitalization. Proceeding of the 8 th International Research Symposium on PBL
  (IRSPBL 2020), pp148-159. Aalborg University Press.  https://vbn.aau.dk/en/publications/educate-for-the-
  future-pbl-sustainability-and-digitalisation-2020 (SCOPUS)

• Gail Zellman, Gery Ryan, Rita Karam, Louay Constant, Hanine Salem, Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Charles A.
  Goldman, Hessa Al-Thani, Kholode Al-Obaidli. Qatar’s K-12 Implementation of the K-12 education Reform in Qatar’s Schools. RAND 2009

• Gail Zellman, Gery Ryan, Rita Karam, Louay Constant, Hanine Salem, Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Nathan Orr, Charles A. Goldman, Hessa Al-Thani, Kholode Al-Obaidli. Qatar’s K-12 Education Reform Has Achieved Success in Its Early Years. RAND 2009

• Gail Zellman, Gery Ryan, Louay Constant, Hanine Salem, Gabriella C. Gonzalez, Rita Karam, Nate Orr, Charles A. Goldman, Hessa Al-Thani, Kholode Al-Obaidli. The Evolution of Qatar’s K-12 Education Reform
  over Its First Three Years. RAND DRR-4325. 2007

• Bernard Rostker, Charles Robert Roll, Hanine Salem, Hessa Al-Thani. Strengthening the Structure and Operations of the Amiri Diwan. RAND DRR-4220. 2007