Mayda Topoushian

Dr. Mayda Topoushian is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of International Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), specializing in media studies with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Concordia University, Montréal (2002)
• M.A. in International Affairs (Middle East and Africa) from Ohio University (1988)
• B.A. in Journalism from the Lebanese University, Beirut (1982)

Dr. Topoushian's research examines globalization, media, culture, refugees, human rights, social justice, and gender dynamics in the MENA region, with particular focus on new/social media's impact on Arab women's identity and human security challenges including state legitimacy and religious diversity. As a member of VCU's Middle East North Africa Regional Strategy Team, she has spearheaded initiatives to build academic partnerships between VCU and MENA institutions.

She is committed to developing students' cross-cultural competence through courses on globalization, MENA media coverage, politics, gender, and resistance movements, emphasizing 21st-century critical skills while promoting empathy, diversity, and inclusion in global citizenship development.