YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA) is pleased to welcome Dr. Rula Kahil as an assistant professor to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).
Dr. Kahil received her Ph.D. in Social Justice Education and Philosophy of Education from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in Philosophy of Education from the University of Toronto, and an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the American University of Beirut. Her research interests include critical pedagogy and social justice; oppression, marginalization, and structural inequalities; emotions, shame, identity, and belonging; migration, displacement, and refugee experiences; art-informed, qualitative, and community-based research; and psychosocial and emotional learning for social change.
Prior to joining AUA, Dr. Kahil taught at the sociology department of the University of Toronto Mississauga. What excites her most about teaching at AUA is the potential for growth in both research and developing courses. She also believes that teaching at a graduate level is a great opportunity for students to receive constant feedback. “Because I teach at the graduate level, the classroom is smaller, and I can interact and connect with the students on a one-on-one basis, which is very important for growth,” she highlighted.
Dr. Kahil studies migrant communities and their adjustment as refugees or displaced populations, and says she wants to explore the migrant community in Armenia. “I knew that there is a huge migrant community in Yerevan, and that makes me long to do a similar kind of research here,” she noted.
Her teaching method is based on merging theory and practice. “I am a proponent of student-led learning and initiatives, and the most important thing for me in a classroom is to support and encourage it, as well as be there when students want to start their own initiatives under the umbrella of the course I’m teaching,” she emphasized.
Dr. Kahil stressed the advantage of teaching at AUA, since the University places a significant emphasis on teaching along with research, which aligns with her pedagogical approach. “My teaching approach is mainly critical pedagogy. What I like about this university is the fact that there is a huge focus on research, but also there is an attention to teaching,” she said.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.