MCLA Welcomes Three New Faculty Members for 2025-26 Academic Year

NORTH ADAMS — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced that three new faculty members will be joining the Trailblazer community for the college’s fall semester: Dr. Amr (Elkabbany) Ibrahim, Muge Karabag, and Amanda Davis.

Ibrahim 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.

Ibrahim’s 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.

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. She 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.

Karabag’s research interests include artificial intelligence, interspecies communication, AI and society, technology and society, and the impact of digital applications on social behavior. She is also developing a digital services startup focused on home-based solutions in the U.S., exploring the intersection of technology, user experience, and everyday life.

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 degre 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 a medical-surgical nurse.

Passionate about end-of-life care, oncology, and school nursing, Davis 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 heart needed to provide exceptional patient care.