New Interim Dean Named at Georgetown University in Qatar

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), a QF partner, has named Dr. Clyde Wilcox, Professor of Government and a member of Georgetown University faculty since 1987, interim dean of the university starting October 16, 2021.  

In his new role, Dr. Wilcox brings a depth of expertise and extensive knowledge of higher education in international settings. Beyond teaching, he has devoted his time to research and publishing and has lectured in more than 25 countries. He has also given talks for international visitor delegations and provided diplomatic training for the U.S. State Department, as well as diplomatic training for diplomats of other countries.

Dr. Wilcox holds a B.A. from West Virginia University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He will replace Dean Ahmad Dallal, who has accepted a position as president of American University in Cairo. “Dean Dallal has done an excellent job in setting a course for the campus,” he said. “As interim dean, my job is to continue that course, while responding to changing circumstances.”  

He also praised the GU-Q community’s resilience, adding that during the transition period to new leadership he looks forward to working together with faculty and staff to continue the university’s commitment to providing a world-class education. 

Dr. Wilcox holds a joint appointment in the Government Department at Georgetown’s campus in Washington, DC, and at GU-Q. His research and teaching interests center on American and comparative politics, including religion and politics, gender politics, interest groups, public opinion and electoral behavior, campaign finance, and science fiction and politics. A passionate scholar, Dean Wilcox has authored, coauthored, edited, or co-edited more than 30 books and hundreds of articles and book chapters on these topics, and connects his research endeavors to the classroom. 

“In my teaching, I try to go beyond facts to engage students in understanding both questions and the evidence we need to provide answers. Although much of my writing is for a professional audience, a good deal is also aimed at the average citizen, and at students. My research therefore provides me with useful examples of how scholars pose and answer questions, and the limits to our confidence in those answers.” His most recent research article uses the U.S. as a case study to analyze how federal systems cope with pandemics.

Dr. Wilcox began teaching in Qatar in 2014. He said he was drawn to Georgetown’s Qatar campus by the unique diversity of Education City. “I had been teaching at the DC campus for 27 years, teaching the same courses. It would have been easy to continue doing this until retirement, but I wanted to teach a more diverse set of students and to learn about the region.” It is his passion for embracing change and meeting the needs of a diverse faculty and student population that led him to the role of interim dean.

This article was originally published by Georgetown University Qatar. Please follow the link to read the full story.