Mahbuba Hammad of Cal State San Bernardino named to global 30 Under 30 list

Mahbuba Hammad, who holds four academic degrees from CSUSB and taught at the university’s Summer Arabic Language program for five years, is one of 30 literacy leaders named to the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) 2019 30 Under 30 list. The list celebrates rising leaders in the literacy field – a cohort of young innovators, disruptors and visionaries creating positive change in the global literacy landscape. The 29-year-old San Bernardino resident was recognized for her dissertation, “Factors Influencing Attitudes and Motivation Toward Reading Arabic: The Impact of Leveled Reading on The Experiences of Language Learners and Teachers,” which set her apart as one of the pioneering and handful of scholars in the United States and the Arab world to do a study on leveled Arabic reading. “I feel very humbled and very excited to be recognized for the work I am doing,” Hammad said.  Hammad was selected by Qatar Foundation International as a part of a small group of scholars representing the United States and Canada at a roundtable discussion designed to develop Arabic literacy standards for dual immersion programs in North America. Her interest in literacy was spurred at an early age; as an Arab Latina growing up in Chile and later in the United States, Hammad lacked narratives that reflected either of her identities. Her desire to close these gaps continues to guide her work. Hammad, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Arab language and literature, a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s in public health, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Cal State San Bernardino, currently teaches at two community colleges.