Dr. Laila Parsons

Professor

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Biography

Laila Parsons is a Professor at McGill University with a joint appointment in the Institute of Islamic Studies and the Department of History and Classical Studies. She obtained her D.Phil. from St Antony’s College, Oxford University, in 1996, focusing on the Druze-Arab-Israeli conflict. After completing her doctorate, she worked at Harvard University and served as an Associate Professor at Yale University. Joining McGill in 2004, she received tenure in 2007 and was promoted to full professor in 2018. Parsons has directed various programs including the Middle East Studies Program and served as Graduate Program Director for the Institute of Islamic Studies. Her research concentrates on the 20th-century history of the Middle East, specifically focusing on the Druze and Jewish relations during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, as reflected in her publications. Notable works include "Druze Palestine Israel, 1947-1949" and "Commander: Fawzi al-Qawuqji Fight Arab Independence, 1914-1948." Apart from her publications, Parsons has received several awards for her teaching, including the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching. She also supervises MA and PhD students, focusing on topics related to the modern Middle East and its historical complexities.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2004-01-01 — Present

McGill University • Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Hold a joint appointment in the Institute of Islamic Studies and the Department of History and Classical Studies, teaching and conducting research on modern Middle Eastern history.

Associate Professor

2000-01-01 — 2004-01-01

Yale University • New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Worked in the Department of History focusing on Middle Eastern studies.

Lecturer, Associate Director

1996-01-01 — 2000-01-01

Harvard University • Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Lectured in Middle Eastern Studies and served as Associate Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

Awards

#

Distinguished Teaching Award

2014-01-01
#

Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching

2017-01-01

Courses

History of Palestine History of Modern Egypt Anti-Colonial Rebellions in the Modern Middle East Modern Middle East since the 1970s Empire in the Middle East New Directions in Palestine Studies British Occupation of Palestine

Requirements for McGill University

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.2
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:86
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
B.Sc. degree or equivalent M.D. degree
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • 2 Letters of Reference
  • CV
  • Personal Statement
  • Confirmation of Supervision
  • Research Project Proposal
Specialization Notes

Department: Department of Medicine. Program: Experimental Medicine.