London: Sudanese-British broadcaster and journalist Zeinab Badawi has been appointed as the president of SOAS University of London. The award-winning journalist is an alumnus of SOAS herself.
She was born in Sudan but grew up in London. Zeinab comes from a family of media professionals. Her father Mohammed-Khair El-Badawi worked for the BBC's Arabic Service.
Badawi had become a known face in the UK for her interviews with the world's most influential and powerful personalities on BBC Hardtalk. She also hosted Global Questions on BBC World TV and the BBC News Channel. The broadcaster took questions from the audience and asked them directly to world leaders.
She received her master's degree in Middle East history and anthropology at SOAS. She has also pursued philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University. SOAS later awarded her with an honorary doctorate.
She told Arab News that this is a significant time for starting the journey as the new president of SOAS. Badawi added that SOAS is increasingly asserting itself with great confidence on the UK and global stage. "I look forward tremendously to working with the academic community, staff, the student body, alumni, the supporters, partners and friends of SOAS."