Texas A&M at Qatar Recognizes its First Graduates

17 Dec. 2007

DOHA, Qatar - Texas A&M University at Qatar honored Hessa Al-Missned and Aisha Al-Wadaani Monday night at a graduation recognition celebration. Al-Missned and Al-Wadaani are the first graduates from Texas A&M at Qatar since the University opened its branch campus in Doha in 2003.

Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar, said the University's first graduates mark the beginning of a new era. "Texas A&M University takes pride not only in its students, but also in its former students, who are known for their lifelong kinship with Texas A&M," Weichold said. "As these two engineers begin their careers, I am confident they will represent the University well."

Weichold pointed out that Al-Missned and Al-Wadaani, both chemical engineering majors, met the same rigorous degree requirements as graduates from the University's main campus in College Station, Texas, USA. "As the University's first graduates in Doha - and as women engineers - Hessa and Aisha are pioneers in their own right," Weichold said. "I'm hopeful Hessa and Aisha will stay connected with Texas A&M at Qatar as mentors for younger students."

Dr. Jim Holste, associate dean for research and graduate studies, has been at Texas A&M at Qatar since Al-Missned and Al-Wadaani began their studies in 2003. He said their graduation affirms Texas A&M at Qatar's mission of educating first-class engineers. "These two students have undergone a challenging course of study and have succeeded," Holste said. "Their diligence has paid off, and we are proud of this fantastic accomplishment."

Dr. Chuck Bowman, dean emeritus of Texas A&M at Qatar and professor emeritus of petroleum engineering at the main campus in College Station, delivered congratulatory remarks to the students. He implored them to apply their engineering knowledge to the pursuit of solving humankind’s most pressing problems. "There is plenty for all of you to do during your working lifetimes, as engineers, as leaders, as contributors to the society of your country, and to the world," Bowman said. "I'm an optimist. I'm optimistic that you are up to the challenge. I'm optimistic that our collective voyage into the future is in good hands."

Al-Missned and Al-Wadaani said they are delighted to celebrate their graduation and look forward to contributing to the development of their country. Al-Missned's studies at Texas A&M at Qatar were sponsored by the Higher Council on Education and Al-Wadaani was sponsored by Qatar Petroleum.

Texas A&M at Qatar is in its fifth year of operation and officials anticipate that about 20 more students will graduate in May 2008. Since classes began in 2003, enrollment has climbed from 29 students to 271 for the Fall 2007 semester. The University received more than 1,000 applications for this year's class, and only 98 students were enrolled. Texas A&M at Qatar offers accredited undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation's Education City. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M at Qatar provides instruction in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities.

Funds Will Expand Educational Opportunities for Engineering Students

Dec. 5, 2007

DOHA, Qatar, - Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) officials today honored representatives from ConocoPhillips for the company's QR250,000 donation to scholarship funds for engineering students at the University. 

"We are delighted and honored to count ConocoPhillips as a longtime friend and partner of Texas A&M at Qatar," said Dr. Mark H. Weichold, dean and CEO of Texas A&M at Qatar. "These funds will support our efforts to educate first-class engineers, and we are thankful for the support ConocoPhillips continues to provide."

In his comments, Mike Stice, President, ConocoPhillips Qatar, stated: "ConocoPhillips is committed to supporting the State of Qatar's endeavor to further the cause of education.  Today, we re-emphasize our pledge to support Texas A&M's efforts to generate world-class engineers who will sustain the thriving industrial sector in general and the oil and gas industry in particular, both in Qatar and the world.  We are also looking into additional means to expand ConocoPhillips' cooperation with Texas A&M at Qatar, to combine students' academic knowledge with field expertise through training, internships, exposure to latest technology and field expertise."

This year's donation is the third of its kind since TAMUQ and ConocoPhillips started operations in Qatar in 2003. The unrestricted ConocoPhillips donations have helped finance engineering students scholarships and education for the last three years.

ConocoPhillips further supports other Qatar Science and Technology Park and community projects, including the Water Sustainability Center and the Gas Processing Centers at Qatar University, Carnegie Melon University, Shafallah, Reach Out to Asia, Friends of the Environment and a number of other community outreach projects.

Regional Writing Tutors and Instructors Share Ideas

Oct. 29, 2007

DOHA, Qatar - More than 50 educators from across the region convened in Doha Oct. 26 - 27 for the Middle East-North Africa Writing Centers Symposium to collaborate on how to
develop students' writing and language skills. With the focus on how educators can help each other by sharing ways to enhance students' communications skills, participants discussed a range of topics from setting up a writing center, to working with students as peer tutors, to conducting research.

Ways to do this were discussed in a series of interactive workshops led by Dr. Michele Eodice, director of the writing center at the University of Oklahoma in the US and president-elect of the International Writing Centers Association (IWCA). Eodice, who has many years' experience in writing centers in large US universities, said writing centers must be a place for "informal education" rather than an extracurricular or co-curricular academic service. The delegates were brought together by the Qatar Writing Centers Network, an informal group based in Qatar Foundation's Education City. The network comprises directors of the centers in Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) and the College of
the North Atlantic-Qatar.

All of these institutions helped sponsor the symposium. Cecelia Hawkins, director of TAMUQ's Technical Communications Center, chaired the committee that planned the event. "The idea was to do the networking, get support and find out what other people in writing centers are doing, "Hawkins said. Several of the institutions represented at the event, including the University of Bahrain and the universities in Education City, already have writing centers. Others, such as Qatar University, have Web-based writing communities. However, many delegates learned best practices for setting up such centers in their institutions, notably a group from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Oman. Laila Al Hijri, from Ibra in Oman, said the sessions gave important guidance. "Now I know exactly how a writing center is going to help the students," she said. "Because I have talked with so many people I know the kind of benefits it will bring to the students, the teachers and the administration."

Delegates noted that introducing writing centers into high schools-before students reach the level of higher education-would be beneficial; they also discussed the applicability of the writing center model across languages. Another important outcome from the symposium was participants' proposal to form a new regional network connecting writing center professionals on campuses that are distributed across a wide geographical area yet share a common interest in promoting effective use of language.

Autumn Watts, a member of the board of the planned regional organization and coordinator of the writing center at WCMC-Q, said: "Writing centers are gaining increasing attention for their innovative possibilities within education, and the new Middle East and North Africa network will facilitate dialogue and collaboration among universities in this region. The symposium is just the beginning."The IWCA will provide a central point of reference for them, Dr. Eodice said: "The organization can lend credibility to their work, help them build professional identity and give them a real support network here."

TAMUQ Students Run to Spread Health Awareness

The Department of Student Affairs Wellness Program of Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) hosted a recreational 5km walk/run yesterday in Education City. It was part of a novel fitness and nutrition program, the 'Passport: Round Trip to Health' which runs till December 8 with a world travel theme.

The event, named 'Run for the Ring 5K', which started and finished by the TAMUQ Building, was in the time honored tradition of the Aggie Ring, the university ring that students are only eligible for after completing 95 hours of courses.Currently enrolled TAMUQ students who participated could have their name places in a draw for a certificate for and Aggie Ring.

The 'Passport' program sets an achievable but challenging fitness goal for participants - they can track minutes spent doing any exercise they enjoy or wear a step counter to track daily steps. It also makes healthy eating easy through six important nutrition goals, allowing participants to focus on each goal separately.

Aggie Mom Reception

The purpose of the event was to begin introducing TAMUQ student life to those gathered and invite them to become charter members of the soon to be formed Qatar Chapter of the Federation of Texas A&M Aggie Mother's Clubs. 

The enthusiastic family members of the incoming class of future engineers listened to calls to action made by Dr. Saif Ali Al-Hajari, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Foundation, on behalf of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned; Dr. Mark Weichold, Dean and CEO of Texas A&M University at Qatar; Ms. Cathy Holste, wife of Dr. James Holste, Associate Dean for Research; Ms. Liticia Salter, English faculty member; and Ms. Patti Collins, Wellness Director.

In his address, Dr. Saif called for those present to become more than mere parents but, instead, become mentors and partners in their children's success. Dr. Weichold detailed many aspects of university life the students would encounter in the coming years of their enrollment.  Ms. Holste told her own personal account of being an "Aggie Mom" herself and how she found support and answers to her many questions as the mother of a university student. Ms. Salter presented a slide show featuring many historical photographs and described the beginnings of the soon-to-be 100 year-old Texas A&M Federation of Mother's Clubs, and, in the final portion of the program, Ms. Collins outlined the many cycles of student life and how a parent can most effectively assist their child during the challenging transition from secondary school to the university.

The Texas A&M Federation of Mother's Clubs was founded in 1922 by one concerned mother whose son was attending the university. Today, the organization boasts almost 200 chapters and thousands of mothers whose children either attend or have graduated from Texas A&M University. The Qatar Chapter will be the first international chapter and has been enthusiastically supported by the organization's officers in the U.S.

TAMUQ Welcomes Newly Admitted Students

TAMUQ's Chemistry Conference

January 10, 2007, Texas A&M University at Qatar - The Chemistry Program at Texas A&M Univsersity at Qatar (TAMUQ) held its first annual Chemistry conference, sponsored by Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO).  This conference celebrated the inauguration of the Chemistry facilities of TAMUQ in Education City.  The meeting focused mostly on faculty research. 

Organizers invited eleven speakers from Texas A&M University, Qatar University, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, and Texas A&M University at Qatar to present their most recent results in the various disciplines of Chemistry.  The subjects covered varied from polymer chemistry to physical, analytical, and biological chemistry.  One of the invited speakers, Dr. Donald J. Darensbourg, spoke about the synthesis of polycarbonates, polymers with various industrial applications, using carbon dioxide.

The conference started by an introduction by Dr. Hassan S. Bazzi, TAMUQ Science Program Coordinator and Chair of the Organizing Committee.  Dr. James C. Holste, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of TAMUQ, gave a presentation about TAMUQ to the audience of over 60 chemists.  Mr. Khalifa Al-Sowaidi, General Manager of QAFCO, spoke about the line of products of QAFCO and the importance of collaboration with TAMUQ and other academic institutions in Qatar. 

To celebrate the occasion, Drs. Holste and Bazzi presented gifts to Mr. Al-Sowaidi for his support of such events, and to Dr. Siham Al-Qaradawi, Dean of of the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, and Dr. El-Metwally Nour, Head of the Chemistry Department at QU, for their support of TAMUQ.

Dr. Bazzi said, "This event reflects Texas A&M University's commitment to provide the best resources available to faculty and researchers in Education City and in the State of Qatar as they undertake the processes of innovation and the creation of knowledge.  We are looking forward to next year's conference."

Texas A&M University at Qatar is looking forward to an exciting year of changes and major milestones in 2007, starting with the January addition of Dr. Mark H. Weichold as Dean and CEO.  Dr. Weichold currently serves as Texas A&M's dean of undergraduate programs and associate provost for academic services.

TAMUQ, which offers four undergraduate engineering programs, will benefit greatly from Weichold's expertise in engineering and higher education administration.  He has over 25 years of faculty and administrative experience at Texas A&M and, as an electrical engineer, has three patents regarding integrated circuit device design and fabrication. 

The Qatar campus, which was established at the invitation of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, is familiar territory for Weichold.  He played a key role in the negotiations and planning that led to opening the campus in 2003.  Texas A&M President Robert M. Gates said, "He was instrumental during the preparation and subsequent negotiation of the TAMU Qatar agreement that established the branch campus over four years ago, so he has a clear understanding of the unique and exciting issues facing the developing institution."

Weichold will have many major initiatives to oversee in 2007.  TAMUQ will move from its temporary home in the Liberal Arts and Science Building, shared with Georgetown University and the Academic Bridge Program, to the new 565,000 sq. ft. engineering building.  The building is an all-inclusive university, housing faculty and staff offices, classrooms, laboratories, a student center, library, and computer labs.  The engineering building will also include a research center supported by graduate programs, both projects to commence next fall.  In an event designed to highlight partnership, innovation and empowerment, the new building will be celebrated in March 2007.

TAMUQ will celebrate perhaps the biggest accomplishment to date in December 2007, when students in the first class at TAMUQ will graduate with degrees from Texas A&M University.  It will be a year of hard work and, assuredly, many successes, and Weichold has the vision to lead the way.  

"I am excited by the prospects of this position and look forward to being part of a very unique educational enterprise...one whose promise extends well beyond providing a top engineering education," Weichold said. 

 Texas A&M University at Qatar hosts Environmental Chemistry Workshop for Qatari Professionals

ExxonMobil Qatar, Inc. partnered with the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, to host a tailored course (workshop), Environmental Chemistry I, specific to the Qatari audience held at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) from November 13-15, 2006. The course was conducted by Dr. M. Sam Mannan, Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Texas A&M University and Director of the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.  Dr. Mannan earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He served as Vice President at RMT, Inc., an engineering services company, before he joined Texas A&M University in 1997.

The course reviewed general Chemistry topics that are relevant to environmental engineering practices and covered topics including cycles of matter, basic principles of aquatic chemistry, electrochemistry, water pollutants, treatment of waste water and more. The course content was tailored for entry-level individuals, government, as well as industry personnel. At the end of the course, attendees received a certificate of completion and Continuing Education credits.  This course is the first in a series of courses planned for Environmental, Health, and Safety professionals.

One of the participants, Mr. Ali Jassim Al-Saigel of Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. said, "I would like to thank Texas A&M University at Qatar for organizing this course (for very reasonable fee) with a lot of information provided.  The "Environmental Chemistry" workshop helped me understand basic chemistry better, which will assist in solving some of the problems that I may face at my work.  It was a great opportunity to meet with other company delegates to discuss similar problems that we face at work and find solutions for them, now and in the future, and to keep contact."

Dr. Mannan was pleased to offer this course at TAMUQ and he said, "The participants represented a broad spectrum from the industry and the Supreme Council for Environmental Resources.  I was pleased to see the high degree of sophistication and quest for knowledge amongst the participants.  I am quite confident that the participants will be able to use the skills acquired in this course to improve the safety and environmental performances of their organizations."

Dr. Jim Holste, Academic Dean of TAMUQ said, "Texas A&M University at Qatar is very pleased to offer training opportunities to Qatari professionals as part of our intent to contribute to the State of Qatar by making the extensive expertise possessed by Texas A&M faculty available to local industry and Qatari ministries and councils."