Kamal Bahamdan (ENG’94) endows chair in early childhood well-being

The newly established Bahamdan Endowed Professorship for Early Childhood Well-Being marks a significant milestone in Boston University’s work in this field. BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development is a longtime leader in the research and teaching that support greater understanding of early childhood development and care.

“The Bahamdan Professorship recognizes the outstanding work of our faculty and our Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being,” says BU Wheelock Dean David Chard, “and enhances our reputation as a leader in the understanding not just of early learning, but of every aspect of life that impacts child development.”

Kamal Bahamdan (ENG’94), who endowed the chair, sees it as “an investment in the future of Early Childhood Well- Being and a chance to further develop and enhance the learning journey for students globally.” That has long been a central goal of the Bahamdan family, he says: “to enable the provision of a world-class education, anywhere in the world, in the modality that best meets the needs of each student.”

“I hope to see BU’s Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being at the forefront of research to establish and implement curriculum improvements.”

The Bahamdan Group, through its for-profit and nonprofit activities, educates more than 50,000 students—including 8,000 in early learning academies—in more than 175 schools in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. “We prioritize student outcomes across our schools and have witnessed the impact of research and innovation in curriculum, pedagogy, and learning systems,” says Bahamdan.

“I hope to see BU’s Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being at the forefront of research to establish and implement curriculum improvements, policy changes, and workforce development to make a real difference in the lives of young children, their families, and society,” he adds. “Wheelock is a global leader in the education space, and we believe the research and dissemination of knowledge from the institution will be transformative.”