September 3, 2025
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is pleased to announce that three new faculty members will be joining the Trailblazer community for the College’s fall semester: Dr. Amr (Elkabbany) Ibrahim, Dr. Muge Karabag, and Professor Amanda Davis.
Read more about our new faculty members:
Amr (Elkabbany) Ibrahim, Ph.D., Pharm.D. joins MCLA’s Chemistry Department as a visiting
assistant professor. A medicinal chemist, his research focuses on the design and synthesis
of small-molecule antivirals and the use of structure-based drug design to interrogate
host–virus interactions, including V-ATPase modulation and TIM-1–mediated entry. His
expertise spans organic synthesis, SAR, computational modeling, and ADME profiling,
and he is committed to mentoring undergraduates through research that bridges chemistry
and biology. At MCLA, he will teach biochemistry and related courses while building
collaborations that provide hands-on, publication-quality experiences for students.
Dr. Muge Karabag joins MCLA as a visiting assistant professor of multimedia journalism.
She is a media scholar and practitioner with a background in broadcast journalism
and digital communication. Dr. Karabag previously worked as a reporter and news anchor
for television channels in Istanbul and served as an assistant university professor
in the Department of New Media and Communication in Turkey. Her research interests
include artificial intelligence, interspecies communication, AI and society, technology
and society, and the impact of digital applications on social behavior. Dr. Karabag
is also developing a digital services start-up focused on home-based solutions in
the U.S., exploring the intersection of technology, user experience, and everyday
life.
Amanda Davis is a part of MCLA’s Nursing Department, where she combines her love for
teaching with her years of hands-on nursing experience as a visiting assistant professor
of health professions. She earned her master’s in nursing education and has served
as the Simulation Coordinator for the MCLA Nursing Program, Nurse Leader for the North
Adams Public School System, and as a medical-surgical nurse. Passionate about end-of-life
care, oncology, and school nursing, she strives to prepare future nurses through engaging,
realistic simulations and a focus on compassionate, evidence-based practice. In both
lecture and clinical settings, she emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking,
and strong clinical judgment to help students develop both the skills and the heart
needed to provide exceptional patient care.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
