Jad Khairallah holds a PhD in culture studies From the Catholic University of Portugal-Lisbon with a Master of Arts in Design from Notre Dame University-Lebanon. Khairallah’s work centers on exploring the intersection of shock, culture, and queerness, in the case of Lebanon. His thesis examines how individuals navigate continuous shocks and instabilities while exploring the concept of desensitization in Beirut. The research tackles the shocking power that non-normativity imposes on established cultural concepts, particularly concerning the queer body and the communicative practices of shock tactics prevalent in media, culture and the arts. Khairallah’s interdisciplinary approach encompasses queer theory, intersectional feminism, and Middle Eastern studies, as well as an interest in arts-based research.
— Jad Khairallah 2025
Transnational Gender and Sexualities | Race, Ethnicity, Racisms | Queer of Color Critique | Feminist Theory and Methods | Affect and Emotions | Art and Visual Culture
Educational Background
2016 - 2025 PhD in Culture Studies, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, in the Catholic University of Portugal (Universidade Católica Portuguesa) - Lisbon, Portugal. The Doctoral Program takes into direct consideration the ever increasing value the arts and culture represent to the understanding and the identity of nations and individuals, in an era marked by globalization, and rapid cultural dissemination.
2012 – 2015 Master of Arts in Design, in the Faculty of Architecture, Arts and Design from Notre Dame University - Lebanon, with a Master thesis that examined the transformative agency of visual culture in shaping aesthetic practices and perceptual orientations in response to contemporary unsettling digital imagery under the orientation of Doctor Dina Baroud.
2007 – 2011 Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, in the Faculty of Architecture, Arts and Design from Notre Dame University - Lebanon, with a final project that explored designing an Art Center that functions as an Art therapy center.
1992 – 2007 High school Diploma (French system) from Collège Notre Dame de Louaize – Lebanon.
Professional Experience
Private Arabic Instructor
2019 - current
ARABIC TUTOR for Portuguese and International students, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Designed curriculums and delivered personalized Arabic language courses, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and conversational fluency for diverse learner levels.
• Integrated cultural and historical contexts from the Arab world into lessons to deepen students’ understanding of language in relation to society, politics, and religion.
• Provided bilingual instruction in English and French, ensuring clear explanations and smooth transitions for learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Adapted teaching strategies to meet individual learning styles, using multimedia resources from everyday popular culture as well as interactive exercises to enhance engagement and retention.
CECC Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Cultura
2020 - 2025
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION MANAGER at the Research Centre for Communication and Culture (CECC) at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Developed and implemented communication strategies to promote research projects and academic initiatives.
• Managed the center’s online presence and publications, designing engaging content tailored to diverse audiences.
• Collaborated with researchers, faculty, and external partners to ensure clear and impactful dissemination of academic works and events.
• Organized events, lectures, and outreach events that fostered dialogue between academia and the wider community.
Erga Group
2011 - 2016
INTERIOR ARCHITECT at ERGA Group, Interior Design Department, Beirut, Lebanon.
• Led multidisciplinary collaboration with architects, engineers, and clients, demonstrating strong organizational and communication skills.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously, balancing design, execution, and client relations with precision and adaptability.
• Delivered presentations and proposals in English and French, showcasing advanced multilingual communication and public presentation skills.
• Applied design thinking and problem‑solving approaches while enhancing strategic thinking and strengthening my leadership skills.
International Paper Presentations
POLYPHONY AND SILENCE: COUNTER-HEGEMONIC WRITING PRACTICES, MIGRATION, MULTILINGUALISM - Leuven, Belgium
Khairallah, J. (2025, May). Lebanese Queer Voices: A Revolution for Political Correctness?
INTER- AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL 2024 WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EURO-PEAN SUMMER SCHOOL IN CULTURAL STUDIES (ESSCS) - Bodensee, Switzerland
Khairallah, J. (2024, September). Shock Me if You Can! An Exploration of Queerness in Beirut.
X LISBON SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE - Lisbon, Portugal
Khairallah, J. (2020, July). Countering Beirut and Queering the Environment.
IX LISBON SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE - Lisbon, Portugal
Khairallah, J. (2019, July). Shocking Masculinity – On the Subversive Use of The Lebanese Male Body: The Case of Moe Khansa.
VISUALIZING THEORY CONFERENCE, THE SEVENTH ANNUAL INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON CRITICAL THEORY - New York, USA
Khairallah, J. (2018, May). A Critique of Shock in a Postmodern Land.
VII LISBON SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE - Lisbon, Portugal
Khairallah, J. (2017, June). Escaping the Ugly Reality.
4TH GLOBAL CONFERENCE MONSTROUS GEOGRAPHIES - Lisbon, Portugal
Khairallah, J. (2015, March). A Plague upon our Virtual Land.
Guest Speaker
WORLDOVERHERE – CURIOUSMONKEYLX
WOH in-person dialogues on social transformation focusing on a panel of creatives in Lisbon l Lisbon, Portugal
FEBRUARY 2023
O FESTIVAL OLHARES DO MEDITERRÂNEO WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL – CINEMA SÃO JORGE
With a special Program about Lebanon, a commentary followed the film screening of Beirut: Eye of the Storm (Mai Masri · LB, FR · Doc · 2021 · 75’) l Lisbon, Portugal
NOVEMBER 2022
XI LISBON SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE – ONLINE
As part of the conference, the presented talk was titled Alternative Knowledge in the Making: An Experimental Dialogue Between Academic Research and Artistic Investigation l Lisbon, Portugal
JUNE 2021
HANGAR CENTRE FOR ARTISTIC INVESTIGATION & 4CS – HANGAR
The talk was titled Plurality as Practice – Re-envisioning the Role of the Researcher in a Destabilized World l Lisbon, Portugal
NOVEMBER 2020
POWER OF THE WORD I / PILGRIMAGE / HAJJ – CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN MUSEUM
A participatory curatorial project at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, involving Arabic and Persian speakers who join curatorial and educational staff and guest researchers to study the Middle East collection l Lisbon, Portugal
NOVEMBER 2019
Languages
Arabic: fluent (speaking, reading, writing)
English: fluent (speaking, reading, writing)
French: very good (speaking, reading, writing)
Portuguese: basic (speaking, reading, writing)