QAIC Announces New Board of Directors

QAIC is honored to announce new members joining its Board of Directors, as well as the Board’s new Chairwoman, Peggy Loar replacing the interim Chair, the Honorable Douglas Smith. QAIC’s Board of Directors now consists of both Qatari and American professionals who will bring QAIC to the forefront of the arts and culture community involving the Arab and Islamic worlds and position our institution to expand its footprint across the United States. These perspectives, shaped by their experiences in a wide array of fields dealing with art, culture, and academia, will help propel QAIC’s renewed cultural mission forward.

Our new Chairwoman, Peggy Loar, is a museum professional with global experience in museum planning, and program development, museum architecture and design, and museum leadership. From 2008 to 2013, she served as the founding Director of the new National Museum of Qatar, in Doha, designed by Jean Nouvel, where she brought 30 years of experience in museum planning and management, exhibition design and educational programming to the Qatar Museums Authority.

Members of the Board:

Dr. Sheikha Al-Misnad is an academic who has occupied numerous positions in teaching, administration, and research for over three decades, including the presidency of Qatar University from 2003 to 2015. Ashraf Abu-Issa is a Qatari businessman and the Chairman of AbuIssa Holding. Dr. Khalid Ibrahim AI-Sulaiti is currently the General Manager of Katara Cultural Village Foundation and brings 20+ years of progressive experience in academia, marketing, and management positions spanning several sectors.  Sandra (Sandy) Bell Wilkins has had a career in fashion since 1968 and was the Chair of the Fashion Department at VCUQatar from 2005 to 2016.

Christopher Nixon Cox and A.T. Smith, both members of QAIC’s founding Board of Directors continue to serve the organization under its new mission.