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New York University Abu Dhabi Home

New Faculty

Academic Year 2023-2024

NYU Abu Dhabi leadership and faculty are researchers, scholars, and artists of extraordinary distinction within and beyond their disciplines, and at the same time exceptional teachers, dedicated 
to supporting and challenging their students and to transforming them into intellectual colleagues. In addition to a growing cohort of full-time faculty, the University also draws talent from across NYU’s global network and hosts visiting faculty from outstanding universities around the world.

Today NYU Abu Dhabi has a faculty of more than 300 experts who are drawn to the University by the quality and passion of our students, by a very favorable research environment, and, as importantly, by the institution’s resolve to contribute significantly to the region and to shape a better world through education and research.

  • Jinan Bastaki

    Associate Professor of Legal Studies

     

    Jinan Bastaki's research focuses on forced displacement, human rights, refugee law, and citizenship, emphasizing the real-world impact of legal frameworks. Bastaki gained recognition in 2018 when her essay on nationality-based detention of migrants won the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law's (IIHL) best essay prize. Her work has been featured in esteemed publications like the Journal of Refugee Studies and Refugee Survey Quarterly.

    Before her current role, she served as Associate Professor of International Law and Vice-Dean of Research and Graduate Affairs at UAEU. Bastaki's academic journey also includes a Visiting Scholar position at the University of Oxford's Center for Socio-Legal Studies in fall 2022, and she has contributed her expertise by teaching refugee law for the IIHL.

    PhD in Law, School of Oriental and African Studies, United Kingdom

    Previously: Associate Professor of Public International Law, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates

    Sandra Peters

    Associate Professor of Art and Art History

     
     

    Sandra Peters creates art that interacts with the architecture of exhibition sites, fostering dialogue that challenges viewers' perceptions and habits within a space. Her sculptures draw on historical sculptural and architectural themes, reconfiguring them to intertwine with glimpses of past cultural contexts. Peters' work engages the viewer's physical reality while exploring broader associations that impact their sense of place in the world. She explores these themes through various mediums, including sound installation, film, and performance. Peters' exploration of the cube form led to works like Pandora’s Box and Untitled (Blaue Blume). Works such as Tango and Zabriskie Point are influenced by architecture and cultural contexts, inviting viewers to engage through contemplation and movement. Her solo exhibitions have been showcased internationally, and her work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions. Peters holds degrees from various prestigious institutions and has taught at several universities, currently based in Berlin and Abu Dhabi.

    PhD in Fine Art, HfBK Dresden University of Fine Arts, Germany

    Previously: Associate Arts Professor of Arts Practice, New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Rashmi Sawhney

    Associate Arts Professor of Film and New Media

     
     

    Rashmi Devi Sawhney, a seasoned film, media, and cultural theorist, boasts over 15 years of experience across esteemed institutions like Trinity College (Dublin), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU, New Delhi), and India Foundation for the Arts (IFA, Bangalore). Her academic journey led her to Ireland, where she completed her PhD in Film and Cultural Studies and served as a tenured Lecturer at Dublin Technological University for 11 years. Upon returning to India in 2012, Sawhney delved deeper into South Asian research as the National Head of Arts Practice and Curatorship Programmes at IFA. Joining JNU's School of Arts and Aesthetics as Associate Professor in 2014, she later contributed to establishing an MA in Visual Aesthetics and Curatorial Practice at Srishti-Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

    Sawhney's interdisciplinary approach spans cinema, media, visual arts, and cultural practices, evident in her extensive publication record and involvement in curatorial projects and public outreach events, including co-founding VisionMix in 2015. She continues to make significant contributions, evident in her recent book, The Vanishing Point: Moving Images After Video, published in 2022. Sawhney also actively participates in trustee and advisory roles within the academic and cultural spheres.

    PhD in Film and Cultural Studies, University of Limerick, Ireland

    Previously: Associate Professor of English and Cultural Studies Christ University, India

    Jonathan Sharfman

    Lecturer of Writing

     
     

    Jonathan Sharfman is an accomplished researcher who holds a diverse background in heritage, archaeology, and maritime archaeology, with his research interests centered on the intersection of identity formation in emerging nations like the UAE and his home country, South Africa. Sharfman's work explores the challenges and opportunities in establishing cultural and national identities, emphasizing the role of communication and writing in this process. He brings extensive experience in interdisciplinary research, collaborative projects, and academic coordination, demonstrated by his involvement in heritage management initiatives and the development of academic programs. With a global perspective and a commitment to fostering cultural understanding, Sharfman seeks to contribute meaningfully to NYUAD's Writing Program and the university community.

    PhD in Maritime Archaeology, Leiden University, Netherlands

    Previously: Adjunct Lecturer in the Writing Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Hanine Shehadeh

    Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities

     
     

    Hanine Shehadeh, as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Humanities, delves into the colonial dynamics of new media, questioning whether these platforms perpetuate digital colonialism and exploring indigeneity and colonial subjugation in digital realms. She contributes to a project with the Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences at AUB, examining settler colonialism's interactions with climate change and environmental justice, particularly in Palestine. Shehadeh earned her PhD in Intellectual History from Columbia University, focusing on the history of the dishonorable Jew in European Christian antisemitic Zionism and Jewish Zionism, which earned her a nomination for Columbia University's Salo and Jeanette Baron Prize in Jewish Studies. Her research on affect formation in settler-colonial societies was recognized with Columbia University's Humanities War and Peace Initiative award.

    PhD in Intellectual History and Politics of the Modern Arab Region, Columbia University, United States of America

    Visiting from: Research Fellow, American University of Beirut, Lebanon

    Manuel Contreras

    Visiting Lecturer of Film and New Media

     
     

    Manuel F Contreras, a Colombian documentary filmmaker and producer, has garnered acclaim for his work in both independent and television productions. His debut feature documentary, Las Últimas Vacaciones (Boys of Buenaventura), received multiple accolades. As a researcher, Contreras delves into visual representation in film. He has held various roles, including head of programming at the Budapest International Documentary Film Festival (BIDF) and main programmer at the Déli-Doku Contemporary Latin American Documentary Film Festival of Budapest. Additionally, he has lectured for DocNomads at the Hungarian University of Theater and Film Arts and Metropolitan University in Budapest. Contreras' contributions extend across the documentary film landscape, showcasing his commitment to advancing the craft and understanding of visual storytelling.

    PhD in Arts, Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Hungary

    Visiting from: Part-time Lecturer, DocNomads, Hungary and Budapest Metropolitan University, Hungary

    Mary Syretha Gatchell

    Visiting Lecturer of Music

     
     

    Mary Gatchell, based in NYC, boasts a diverse skill set as a composer, singer, songwriter, oboist, pianist, conductor, music director, and educator. Originating from Epping, New Hampshire, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Theory and Composition and her Master of Music degree in Instrumental Performance in Jazz Piano from NYU.

    Gatchell has graced numerous renowned NYC venues, including Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, and Birdland, and has taken her original music to Europe and Africa. She's performed in stadiums like Barclays Center and Prudential Center with The Rolling Stones alongside NYC's Ghostlight Chorus. Gatchell is also part of the NYC-based band Strangeland. She's been principal oboist with the Leon Lacey Orchestra since 2008, performing at venues like Kings Theatre. As an educator, she taught at Nyack College from 2015 to 2022 and co-directed musical productions. Gatchell's extensive musical endeavors include international outreach and festival direction. She's released numerous albums and is currently working on her 13th album, What’s My Name? Destiny.

    MM in Jazz Piano Performance, New York University, United States of America

    Visiting from: Half-time Professor of Conducting, Music Theory, Ear Training, Musical Theatre, Acting, Nyack College, United States of America

    Özlem Özhabeş

    Visiting Lecturer of Theater

     

    Özlem Özhabeş, a graduate of Istanbul University's Department of Theatre Criticism and Dramaturgy, pursued her Master's in Theatre Directing at Middlesex University, with a study stint at the GITIS Academy in Moscow. She served as an actor and assistant director for Studio Oyunculari from 2001 to 2007. Currently a doctoral candidate in drama and theatre criticism at Istanbul University, she has been lecturing at Kadir Has University's Theatre Department since 2010, directing numerous student and professional productions.

    Özhabeş has been training in the Linklater voice method since 2014 and served as an acting instructor and department director at the Oltrarno Acting School in 2019. Her artistic research spans acting, voice studies, improvisation, translation, and directing. She has led projects supported by the European Union, Dutch and Swedish Consulates General, and is currently the executive director of the "ACT - Artistic Freedom and Children's and Youth's Perspectives in the Arts in Turkey" project backed by the Swedish Ministry of Culture. Presently, she serves as a visiting lecturer at NYU Abu Dhabi.

    MA in Theatre Directing, Middlesex University, United Kingdom

    Visiting from: Full-time Lecturer in Acting, Voice, Dramaturgy, Improvisation, Kadir Has University, Turkey