The MEC welcomes Tiziana Leone as new Director

We are pleased to welcome Tiziana Leone, Professor in Health and International Development, as the new Director of the LSE Middle East Centre.

Professor Leone's research combines demography, development and global health, to look at women's ageing process through the lens of reproductive histories: tracing how reproductive experiences shape women's health in later life, and how conflict and disasters compound these effects. She uses limited data to construct longitudinal histories, in particular focusing on the Levant region and the occupied Palestinian territory where she has worked for over a decade. A social statistician by training, she previously worked at the UN Statistics Division and has advised the WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF on maternal and child health measurement.

At the Middle East Centre, Professor Leone will work closely with Deputy Director Robert Lowe and the rest of the team. She comments: 'I'm delighted to take on this role and excited for the opportunities ahead. The Middle East Centre's depth of research and engagement with the region make it a truly stimulating environment to work in, and I look forward to collaborating further with colleagues within LSE and beyond.'

Professor Susana Mourato, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), added: 'I am delighted to welcome Tiziana to this role. Her record in health and international development research, combined with her deep understanding of LSE's interdisciplinary strengths and existing engagement with the region, makes her superbly placed to lead the Centre into its next chapter. I look forward to working closely with her.'