Prof. Abdulrahman AI-YoubiProf. Abdulrahman Bin Obaid AI-Youbi is the President of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) since 2016 and a Professor of Chemistry at KAU since 2000. He earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Essex University, UK in 1986. He is also the President of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of KAU since 2015. Throughout his career, Prof. AI-Youbi has been an active researcher in his specialization, a passionate teacher and an academic administrator. He has participated in many research projects and has published more than 150 papers in ranked scientific journals. He supervised many graduate students. He held some Academic Administrative posts such as Chairman of the Chemistry Department, Vice-Dean of Faculty of Science (1992 -1999) , Dean of Faculty of Science (1999-2002), Vice President (2002- 2009), Vice President for the Academic Affairs (2009-2016), Acting President (2015-2016) (all at KAU), and Acting President of Jeddah University (2015-2016). As President of KAU, Prof. AI-Youbi has devoted his position to strengthening excellence in academics and research, with a dedication to developing an innovative culture. Through President AI-Youbi’s leadership, KAU has remained the top university, not only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but also in the Arab World. His current focus is expanding KAU lead, building on its long-standing strengths in education, research, entrepreneurship and the Kingdom Community Services.President AI-Youbi participated in more than eighty committees, boards, teams and workinggroups at the university level as well as at the Ministry of Education level. In particular, he participated in the committees that have established the new universities in the Kingdom, namely, Taiba University, Jazan University, Tabuk University, and the Northern Border University. He also attended many scientific conferences in the Kingdom and abroad. Prof. Adnan ZahedProf. Adnan Zahed works as Consultant to the President of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) since 2016, and the Secretary- General of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of KAU since 2010. He was a KAU Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research (2009-2016), and worked before that as Dean of Graduate Studies (2007-2009), and Vice Dean at Faculty of Engineering (1997-2007). Prof. Zahed is a full professor at the Chemical Engineering Department at KAU since 1996. Prof. Zahed also worked in the industry as General Supervisor (Consultant) in Saudi Badrah Company (Jeddah, KSA)(1995-1996), Deputy General Manager at Savola Food Company in Jeddah (1993-1995), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Deputy CEO of Tasali Company (Jeddah, KSA). He holds B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals KSA (1976), and M.S and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California (Davis), USA (1982). He has published six books and more than 60 papers in international conferences and refereed journals, in addition to more than 75 technical reports written for the bodies who funded his projects. He also a Co- Author of several University Guides such as Graduate Studies Guide, Applicable Theses Guide, Thesis Writing Guide, Graduate Studies Procedure Guide, Faculty of Engineering Prospectus and Annual Report of Research Activities in the Faculty of Engineering. Prof. Zahed was included in Marquis Who's Who in the World 2006. He participated in more than 80 committees at departmental, faculty and university level at KAU. In addition, he participated in four academic accreditation meetings in USA, and in more than 25 local and international conferences, symposia and forums. Prof. Zahed visited a number of American Universities within the delegate of the Saudi Ministry of Education.WILLIAM G. TIERNEY, PH.D.William G. Tierney is co-director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education, University Professor and Wilbur-Kieffer Professor of Higher Education, at the University of Southern California (USC). He founded and has directed the Pullias Center for 24 years overseeing faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. He also has served as Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs, Rossier College of Education, USC. Among other duties he has served as an academic dean at a Native American community college, a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, a Fulbright Scholar in Central America and Australia, and Scholar-in-Residence in Malaysia. He recently completed a year’s sabbatical as a Fulbright Scholar in India. His recent books include: Rethinking Education and Poverty; The Impact of Culture on Organizational Decision-making, Trust and the Public Good: Examining the Cultural Conditions of Academic Work, and Understanding the Rise of For-profit Colleges and Universities. He has received the Distinguished Research Award from the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) and from Division J of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). He is a former president of ASHE, is a Fellow and former president of AERA, and is an elected member of the National Academy of Education, a disciplinary society of 200 individuals recognized for their outstanding scholarship and contributions to education. He earned a Master's degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
