Under the leadership of the President, the Division of the President oversees AURAK’s strategy, policy development, reputation, compliance, and advancement within the local, national, regional, and international communities.
The Office of the President manages the President’s internal and external activities, engagements, special projects, agreements, reporting, and documentation.
Dr. David A. Schmidt was appointed by the AURAK Board of Trustees on 21st August 2023 to the position of President. Dr. Schmidt brings to AURAK 33 years of broad-based experience as an executive academic leader and faculty member, spanning a wide range of public, private, and international institutions.
Dr. David A. Schmidt was appointed by the AURAK Board of Trustees on 21st August 2023 to the position of President.
Dr. Schmidt is a seasoned administrator with over 33 years of broad-based experience as an executive academic leader and faculty member, spanning a wide range of public, private, and international institutions.
Before joining AURAK, he served as President of the American University in Dubai (AUD), and Vice Provost for International Affairs and Professor of Global Studies and Human Geography at Middle Tennessee State University. He has held various leadership positions and played a vital role in transforming a range of public, private, and state institutions, representing the landscape of higher education, including the University of the Pacific, the University of Wisconsin System, and Yale University.
Dr. Schmidt holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin. He has written extensively on post-WWII women’s rights and education issues in Japan and South Korea.
He is a recipient of the AIEA (Association of International Administrators) Presidential Fellowship, the Korea Foundation Research Fellowship, and the Mombushō Fellowship. He also participated as a fellow in Harvard University’s IEM (Institute for Educational Management).
Dr. David A. Schmidt, a seasoned academic leader with over 33 years of experience, has assumed the role of President at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), a prominent institution in the UAE. His extensive background spans a diverse range of educational settings, encompassing both public and private institutions and international collaborations.
Prior to his appointment at AURAK, Dr. Schmidt served as the President of the American University in Dubai (AUD). He successfully guided the university through the SACSCOC re-accreditation process and implemented innovative strategies that led to substantial enrollment growth.
Dr. Schmidt's vision for AURAK is rooted in his belief in the importance of collaborative leadership and global engagement in the face of the transformative changes affecting higher education. He is committed to leveraging his administrative acumen to guide the university toward its goals and build upon its remarkable achievements.
Drawing from his extensive international experience, Dr. Schmidt embraces a forward-thinking approach that encourages students, faculty, and staff to embrace cross-cultural learning and collaboration opportunities. With a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin, he has a solid academic foundation that has been enriched by his roles at various institutions and his extensive research on women's rights and education in Japan and South Korea.
As a recipient of prestigious fellowships and a Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management (IEM) participant, Dr. Schmidt is well-prepared to steer AURAK toward continued excellence. His leadership is poised to contribute significantly to the university's growth, international reputation, and commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
As President of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Dr. David A. Schmidt has the critical role in leading the development, maintenance, and sound execution of the university.
Dr. Schmidt, as Ex Officio to the Board of Trustees, achieves this by:
President
K 366
+971 7 246 8802
Dr. Schmidt is a seasoned administrator with over 33 years of broad-based experience as an executive academic leader and faculty member, spanning a wide range of public, private, and international institutions. Before joining AURAK, he served as President of the American University in Dubai (AUD), and Vice Provost for International Affairs and Professor of Global Studies and Human Geography at Middle Tennessee State University. He has held various leadership positions and played a vital role in transforming a range of public, private, and state institutions, representing the landscape of higher education, including the University of the Pacific, the University of Wisconsin System, and Yale University. Dr. Schmidt holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin. He has written extensively on post-WWII women’s rights and education issues in Japan and South Korea. He is a recipient of the AIEA (Association of International Administrators) Presidential Fellowship, the Korea Foundation Research Fellowship, and the Mombushō Fellowship. He also participated as a fellow in Harvard University’s IEM (Institute for Educational Management).
Dr. Schmidt is a seasoned administrator with over 33 years of broad-based experience as an executive academic leader and faculty member, spanning a wide range of public, private, and international institutions.
Before joining AURAK, he served as President of the American University in Dubai (AUD), and Vice Provost for International Affairs and Professor of Global Studies and Human Geography at Middle Tennessee State University. He has held various leadership positions and played a vital role in transforming a range of public, private, and state institutions, representing the landscape of higher education, including the University of the Pacific, the University of Wisconsin System, and Yale University.
Dr. Schmidt holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from the University of Wisconsin. He has written extensively on post-WWII women’s rights and education issues in Japan and South Korea.
He is a recipient of the AIEA (Association of International Administrators) Presidential Fellowship, the Korea Foundation Research Fellowship, and the Mombushō Fellowship. He also participated as a fellow in Harvard University’s IEM (Institute for Educational Management).
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Success / Provost / Professor - Psychology
H 301 F
+971 7 246 8700
Professor Stephen C. Wilhite currently serves as vice president for academic affairs and student success, and provost, at the American University of Ras Al Khamiah. Prior to assuming this position, he served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Widener University in the United States from 2011 to 2017, and during that time also served as the interim president of the university. As provost at Widener, Prof. Wilhite co-led the university’s strategic planning process and the successful application for re-accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Professor Stephen C. Wilhite currently serves as vice president for academic affairs and student success, and provost, at the American University of Ras Al Khamiah.
Prior to assuming this position, he served as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Widener University in the United States from 2011 to 2017, and during that time also served as the interim president of the university. As provost at Widener, Prof. Wilhite co-led the university’s strategic planning process and the successful application for re-accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Vice President – Operational Excellence and Financial Management
F - 1st Flr.
+971 7 246 8901
Mr. Basheer Daoud serves as the Vice President of Operational Excellence and Financial Management at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). He has over 30 years rich experience in finance, internal audit, public accounting and enterprise risk management including 18 years in senior management roles gaining these experiences from across different countries specifically in UAE, Canada, Oman and Yemen. Before joining AURAK, he held a senior leadership position as the Executive Director of Finance at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) with many key achievements including where he led efforts to establish and manage investment strategy for endowments, created financial modeling for future financial planning, negotiated and restructured key government receivables, led and implemented transformation plans for Finance and Procurement that are based on people, processes and technology, put in place and implemented numerous financial policies and procedures. Before being appointed as the Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Basheer served as the Director of Internal Audit at AUS where he demonstrated his proficient understanding and implementation of IFRS, US GAAP, COSO framework, IIA Core Principles for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. Mr. Basheer held key positions in various industries including a large steel manufacturing company in Canada, global energy and chemicals company in Yemen and big four audit firm in Oman and UAE. Mr. Basheer holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the American University of Sharjah and Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Jordan. He is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) earning both certifications from the U.S.
Mr. Basheer Daoud serves as the Vice President of Operational Excellence and Financial Management at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). He has over 30 years rich experience in finance, internal audit, public accounting and enterprise risk management including 18 years in senior management roles gaining these experiences from across different countries specifically in UAE, Canada, Oman and Yemen.
Before joining AURAK, he held a senior leadership position as the Executive Director of Finance at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) with many key achievements including where he led efforts to establish and manage investment strategy for endowments, created financial modeling for future financial planning, negotiated and restructured key government receivables, led and implemented transformation plans for Finance and Procurement that are based on people, processes and technology, put in place and implemented numerous financial policies and procedures. Before being appointed as the Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Basheer served as the Director of Internal Audit at AUS where he demonstrated his proficient understanding and implementation of IFRS, US GAAP, COSO framework, IIA Core Principles for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
Mr. Basheer held key positions in various industries including a large steel manufacturing company in Canada, global energy and chemicals company in Yemen and big four audit firm in Oman and UAE.
Mr. Basheer holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the American University of Sharjah and Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Jordan. He is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) earning both certifications from the U.S.
Associate Professor of Architecture Design, History and Theory. Advisor to the President for Campus Development
K – 364
+971 7 246 8704
Cofounder and principal designer at GDAR (Group for Design and Architectural Research) which was established in Amman on 1991 and has offices in Palestine, UAE and Morocco. Tawfiq holds a Masters Degree in Architecture from MIT 1989 and a BS from the University of Jordan1983.
Cofounder and principal designer at GDAR (Group for Design and Architectural Research) which was established in Amman on 1991 and has offices in Palestine, UAE and Morocco. Tawfiq holds a Masters Degree in Architecture from MIT 1989 and a BS from the University of Jordan1983.
Chief Strategy and Excellence Officer
H - 2nd Flr.
+971 7 246 8818
Interim Associate Provost for Enrollment Management / Director, Marketing & Communications
D - 1st Flr.
+971 7 246 8806
Office of the President
Office of Institutional Strategy and Excellence
30 August 2023, Wed
American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) appoints experienced academic leader Dr. David A. Schmidt as new President
More Details15 August 2023, Tue
AURAK joins handful of world’s universities with ‘QS 5 Stars Plus’ rating
More Details03 August 2023, Thu
American University of Ras Al Khaimah gears to host 8 countries at the Middle East Startup Awards in January 2024
More Details02 August 2023, Wed
American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) gears for new intake for Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programme.
More Details02 August 2023, Wed
The study, co-authored by researchers from 2 universities, says several factors are deterring media houses from moving from digital journalism to “algorithmic journalism”
More Details30 August 2023, Wed
American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) appoints experienced academic leader Dr. David A. Schmidt as new President
More Details15 August 2023, Tue
AURAK joins handful of world’s universities with ‘QS 5 Stars Plus’ rating
More Details03 August 2023, Thu
American University of Ras Al Khaimah gears to host 8 countries at the Middle East Startup Awards in January 2024
More Details02 August 2023, Wed
American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) gears for new intake for Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programme.
More Details02 August 2023, Wed
The study, co-authored by researchers from 2 universities, says several factors are deterring media houses from moving from digital journalism to “algorithmic journalism”
More DetailsExperience the vibrant atmosphere of our Open Day at AURAK! Join us to explore our campus, discover our academic programs, and interact with faculty and staff. Get a firsthand look at our state-of-the-art facilities, engage in informative sessions, and gain valuable insights into the unique learning opportunities at AURAK.
Register NowAURAK is coming to you with our Information Day event. Join us as we bring a taste of our university to your doorstep. Discover the range of academic programs, learn about our admission process, and meet representatives from AURAK who will provide all the information you need to make an informed decision about your education. Take advantage of this chance to explore the possibilities and benefits of studying at AURAK in your city.
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