Tribune News Network
Doha
Dr Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia, recently visited the university’s Qatar campus.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, a top-ranked art and design programme in the US, and was established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation. Dr Rao was in Doha as part of a 23-city tour visiting VCU alumni around the world.
During his visit to Qatar, Dr Rao met with HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF). VCUarts Qatar was the first university in Education City and last year it celebrated its
20th anniversary.
Dr Rao met with VCUarts Qatar’s faculty, staff and students, including members of the Student Government Association. A special luncheon took place at the university’s Saffron Hall where the president and his wife Monica Rao gathered with faculty and staff. Also present were Dr Donald Baker, VCUarts Qatar’s executive dean, and his wife Heather Baker; and Jay Davenport, vice-president of Development and Alumni Relations at VCU.
VCU has more 190,000 alumni worldwide, with VCUarts Qatar’s numbering 642 alumni and representing 50 nationalities. An alumni dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha and more than 70 alumni attended, as well as 20 faculty, some of whom were also VCU alumni.
The evening opened with an address by alumna Bouthayna al Muftah, who explained to the attendees how the school had brought her to her full potential. She noted in her speech that her Foundation Year at VCUarts Qatar became the solid base on which the rest of her education was built.
From her first appearance in a group show at Qatar Museums’ Al Riwaq Gallery to her international shows in Berlin and St Petersburg and a solo show at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, it was, she added, what she learned at VCUarts Qatar, that made her career possible.
Bouthayna’s works were on prominent display recently when she partnered with internationally renowned jeweler David Webb for the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2019 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
In his address, Dr Rao stressed that VCU is a community committed to design thinking. "VCUarts Qatar is unique in Doha and Education City in having the opportunity to lead Qatar in design thinking,” he said. He also highlighted the creativity and entrepreneurship shown by VCU alumni.
Dr Rao credited his wife, Monica, with the idea of building VCU’s alumni networks.
Executive Dean Donald Baker announced to the attendees that the Tasmeem Doha art and design conference, which runs from March 13 to 15 at VCUarts Qatar, will, for the first time, be co-chaired by four alumni –Noha Fouad, Wajiha Prevez, Hadeer Omar and Yasmine Sulieman.
He also congratulated four graduates from the Class of 2018 who were recently recognised at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Excellence Awards.
Doha
Dr Michael Rao, president of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia, recently visited the university’s Qatar campus.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, a top-ranked art and design programme in the US, and was established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation. Dr Rao was in Doha as part of a 23-city tour visiting VCU alumni around the world.
During his visit to Qatar, Dr Rao met with HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, vice-chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF). VCUarts Qatar was the first university in Education City and last year it celebrated its
20th anniversary.
Dr Rao met with VCUarts Qatar’s faculty, staff and students, including members of the Student Government Association. A special luncheon took place at the university’s Saffron Hall where the president and his wife Monica Rao gathered with faculty and staff. Also present were Dr Donald Baker, VCUarts Qatar’s executive dean, and his wife Heather Baker; and Jay Davenport, vice-president of Development and Alumni Relations at VCU.
VCU has more 190,000 alumni worldwide, with VCUarts Qatar’s numbering 642 alumni and representing 50 nationalities. An alumni dinner was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha and more than 70 alumni attended, as well as 20 faculty, some of whom were also VCU alumni.
The evening opened with an address by alumna Bouthayna al Muftah, who explained to the attendees how the school had brought her to her full potential. She noted in her speech that her Foundation Year at VCUarts Qatar became the solid base on which the rest of her education was built.
From her first appearance in a group show at Qatar Museums’ Al Riwaq Gallery to her international shows in Berlin and St Petersburg and a solo show at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, it was, she added, what she learned at VCUarts Qatar, that made her career possible.
Bouthayna’s works were on prominent display recently when she partnered with internationally renowned jeweler David Webb for the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition 2019 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
In his address, Dr Rao stressed that VCU is a community committed to design thinking. "VCUarts Qatar is unique in Doha and Education City in having the opportunity to lead Qatar in design thinking,” he said. He also highlighted the creativity and entrepreneurship shown by VCU alumni.
Dr Rao credited his wife, Monica, with the idea of building VCU’s alumni networks.
Executive Dean Donald Baker announced to the attendees that the Tasmeem Doha art and design conference, which runs from March 13 to 15 at VCUarts Qatar, will, for the first time, be co-chaired by four alumni –Noha Fouad, Wajiha Prevez, Hadeer Omar and Yasmine Sulieman.
He also congratulated four graduates from the Class of 2018 who were recently recognised at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Excellence Awards.