Helen Malko in Egypt

Helen Malko joined the Stanford Humanities Center as the Associate Director in January 2023, coming from the American Center of Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan. Before joining ACOR, she worked at Columbia University in the City of New York, where she managed various academic programs and projects in the Department of Art History andArchaeology and the Middle East Institute. She was the Program Manager for the Mellon Fellowship Program for Emerging Displaced Scholars at Columbia’s Global Center in Amman.

Helen holds a PhD in archaeology and anthropology from Stony Brook University and an MA and BA in the history and archaeology of the ancient Middle East from Baghdad University.  She has been awarded multiple fellowships at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Columbia University (Department of Art History and Archaeology and the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies). Her research centers on archaeology and cultural heritage of the Middle East, cultural representation in museums, and cultural memory.

Helen Malko’s fascination with ancient history and culture is deeply rooted in her upbringing, where literature and history were cherished. Her personal and professional journey of exploration has led her to some of the most significant world heritage sites in the region, including Luxor, the Pyramids, and Aswan. Her first visit to Egypt in 2021 was a transformative experience, igniting a love for the country and its people that drew her back two more times. She is eager to share her connection with Egypt and its rich heritage with our travelers.

• Associate Director of the Stanford Humanities Center

• Associate Director for Fellowships and Programs, American Center of Research in Jordan, 2021 to 2023

• Program Manager, Columbia Global Centers| Amman, 2019 to 2021

• Program Director, Middle East Institute at Columbia University, 2017-2019