Professor Mahmoud Dawood Al-Samra is a holder of PhD in Arabic from the School of African and Oriental Studies University of London (1958), and BA in Literature from Fouad Al-Awal University, Cairo (1950). He was awarded a number of decoration and prizes: Mahmoud Al-Samra: Critic, Intellectual, and Human (a book of merit in his honour) by his honors, published by Shoman Foundation (2001); Medal of Al-Hussein for Innovation and Distinction, Amman (2002); Medal of Jordanian Al-Kawkab, First order, Amman (1993); Medal of Excellence in Education, Amman (1993) Medal of Jordanian Al-Kawkab, Second Order, Amman (1991); Medal of Al-Quds for Culture awarded by Palestine Liberation Organization (1991); Swedish Medal (1989); Medal of Independence, First order, Amman (1974); Raven Award from the University of London (1958).
Professor Al-Samra has over 250 books, research papers, articles, compositions, and manuscripts to his credit. He is a member of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Cairo, the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus, Iraqi Academy of Sciences in Baghdad. He was Chairman of the Jordanian Writers Society (1981-192), Vice-President of the Jordanian Academy of the Arabic Language, and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of African Studies.
Professor Al- Samra was president of the University of Petra (formerly University for Women) (1993-2003), Honorary Professor, University of Jordan (1992), President of the Council of Trustees of the Jordan University for Women (1992-1994), Minister of Culture (1993), President of the University of Jordan (1989-1991), Vice-President of the University of Jordan (1973-1989), Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Jordan (1968-1973), Vice-President of Al-Arabi Magazine (Kuwait) (1958-1964).
