Paul Sedra

Paul Sedra is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Simon Fraser University (SFU), specializing in modern Egyptian history, Coptic-Muslim relations, and the social/cultural history of the Middle East. He previously taught at Dalhousie University and the University of Toronto, earned his PhD from NYU in 2006, and holds degrees from Princeton and Oxford. His research explores education’s role in Egyptian modernity, Coptic community dynamics, and Nasser-era cinema. Notable works include From Mission to Modernity (2011), analyzing 19th-century Egyptian educational reforms. Sedra’s op-eds appear in Mada Masr, Jadaliyya, and media outlets like Al-Jazeera and CBC. He supervises MA/PhD students on modern Egypt, Coptic-Muslim relations, and Middle Eastern cinema. Active in academic governance, he served on the Middle East Studies Association’s Academic Freedom Committee.

Education

• PhD, History & Middle Eastern Studies, NYU (2006)
• MPhil, Modern Middle Eastern Studies, Oxford (1999)
• BA, Princeton University (1997)

Research Interests

Sedra’s work bridges historical analysis and contemporary commentary. Key themes include:

• Educational reforms and state-building in 19th-century Egypt
• Coptic community’s evolving identity and intra-communal tensions
• Cinema as a tool for state ideology (1950s-60s Nasser era)
• Christian-Muslim relations in modern Egyptian politics

Media & Public Engagement

Regular contributor to Mada Masr, Jadaliyya, and CBC Radio. Analyzed Egypt’s political transitions post-2011 revolution, sectarianism, and Canadian Middle East policy. Featured in documentaries and international media discussions on Egyptian society.