Khedidja R. Boudaba

Khedidja R. Boudaba serves as Senior Professor of Practice in Arabic and French at Tulane University's Middle East & North African Studies program, teaching language courses while contributing to interdisciplinary scholarship.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Linguistics and Anthropology from Tulane University (2010)
• M.A. in Romance Languages from University of New Orleans (2004)
• B.A. in Translation/Interpretation from University of Algiers (1981)

Dr. Boudaba's research centers on language and gender dynamics within print media, analyzing how journalistic discourse constructs gender identities through linguistic structures. Her sociolinguistic approach examines power relations in media representation, bridging anthropology and communication studies to investigate cultural narratives in Arabic and French contexts. This work reveals systemic biases in media framing while highlighting cross-cultural variations in gendered language use.

Prior to academia, she leveraged 11 years of journalism experience in Algiers (1981-1992) before relocating to the United States in 1994. She transitioned into freelance translation, interpretation, and journalism, later becoming a French teacher while completing graduate studies. Her career trajectory reflects deep practical engagement with language professions preceding her scholarly work.