AUD Governing Board discusses future plans and expansions

The selection and formation of the Governing Board came following the granting last year of separate unit accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Members of the Board are Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Mr. Elias Bou Saab, Mr. Justin Copper, Dr. Lance de Masi, Dr. Stephen Franklin, Mr. Joseph Ghossoub, and Dr. Ghassan Salameh.

During the meeting, Dr. Steve Franklin, Board Chairman, praised His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his vision of higher education, commitment to providing educational opportunities to the youth, that is epitomized in the latest initiative of conferring scholarships to outstanding students of the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Communication (MBRSC), and unparalleled support to the University's ongoing quest for academic excellence as a premier institution of higher education in the GCC region. He also elaborated on the true model of a successful American Education Institution offering an unsurpassed quality of education that AUD exemplifies, confirmed by the University's Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for the third time earlier this year.

The agenda of the Board meeting included the election of officers and the ratification of AUD's new Mission and Purpose-related Goals as developed by students, faculty, and staff. The Board also reviewed and approved the 2008-2009 Strategic Plans and was given a thorough illustration on the prospective library and student dormitories' expansions by AUD President Dr. Lance de Masi.

AUD Executive Vice President Elias Bou Saab presented the Board with an overview on the MBRSC and outlined AUD's External Relations and Affiliations. In addition, the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between AUD and the University of Southern California, to assist in the setup of the MBRSC, was officially approved by the Board to move forward into a full agreement. The Board

Members also debated the new academic programs, to be rendered as part of the AUD curricula, encompassing Humanities and Social and Middle Eastern Studies.

In his role as Associate Dean and tenured Professor for the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, Chairman of the Governing Board Dr. Franklin managed all Executive Education programs and twice received the #1 Teaching Evaluation by Students; he brings to AUD's Governing Board hands on expertise.

Dr. Ghassan Salameh, Professor of International Relations, Institut D'Études Politiques (Paris) and Former Lebanese Minister of Culture, is a distinguished academic and public servant whose experience spans both the Middle-East and Europe; he serves as the Chair of the Academic and Student Services Committee. Dr. Salameh is joined by Justin Cooper, Senior Advisor to President Bill Clinton, who will assist AUD in moving its External Relations forward.

Dr. Habib Al Mulla, renowned lawyer is the Vice Chairman of the Board; Former IAA World President and CEO of The Holding Group Joseph Ghossoub, heads the Finance and Facilities Committee.

"We are confident that our Board, whose members are diverse in background, talent, and expertise, will be of great benefit to AUD in charting the way forward; and we are very appreciative of the time and effort being committed to by each Board member."

comments Dr. Lance de Masi, President of AUD.