William Quandt, a Middle East expert at the University of Virginia, has been named the James Clark Welling Visiting Professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

The position, which was created by University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg and named in honor of GW’s president from 1871 and 1894, is a two-year term. The mission of the professorship is to bring internationally recognized scholars in varying fields to campus where they will deliver annual lectures and meet with students and faculty.

“(Quandt’s) research and insider’s knowledge of peace processes and Middle East politics will help the GW community gain even greater perspective on our foreign policy in this critical region,” said Trachtenberg in a press statement.

Quandt, who holds a doctorate in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recently served as a consultant for the Iraq Study Group and is the former Middle East Studies Association President. Quandt also served twice as a National Security Council staff member for the Middle East. His latest publication is “Peace Process: American Diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Since 1967.”