The University of Toledo’s Dr. Gaby Semaan has been elected the incoming president of the International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies (IAICS).
His three-year tenure as president will begin in January 2026.
Dr. Gaby Semaan is the director of the Middle East Studies and Arabic programs at UToledo.
The International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies explores interdisciplinary models of communication across languages and cultures through an academic journal and an annual conference. Since its beginnings as an initiative housed at Kent State University at Stark, it has grown into a global community of scholars from more than a dozen countries.
Semaan, a scholar of intercultural communication and director of the Middle East Studies and Arabic programs at UToledo, served as conference chair when UToledo hosted the association in 2022.
“This is exciting news for our department,” said Dr. An Chung Cheng, chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. “I believe his new role will not only elevate the reputation of our college and beyond but also foster valuable connections with scholars and professionals worldwide.”
Semaan spoke similarly.
“It is both an honor and a weighty responsibility to serve as president of IAICS, representing a community of scholars from more than 25 countries,” he said. “I also see this as an opportunity to further spread the name of our college and university at an international level.”
