Faculty Senate | American University of Sharjah
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Welcome to the AUS Faculty Senate

Our Mission

The Faculty Senate of American University of Sharjah is an elected body of faculty having fundamental responsibility in the area of educational policy directed toward the effective operation of the university. The exercise of this responsibility is guided by the vision expressed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed AlQasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and President of AUS, and the mission articulated by the officers of the institution.

 

  • Promote a climate of academic freedom for the university community

  • Advance the instructional mission of the university by maintaining an optimal learning and teaching environment

  • Define and establish standards and procedures of accountability concerning professional faculty ethics and responsibilities, and promote adherence to those standards and procedures

  • Recommend policy on curricula, promotion and other matters that affect faculty
  • Aid the university in making judgments on questions of policy, development and operations, and thereby assist the university in its continuing quest for excellence
  • Foster the professional development, economic well being and quality of life of the faculty
President's Message
Faculty Senate 2026–2027
Faculty Handbook
Senate Schedule
Contact Us

President's Message | 2026–2027

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It is my distinct honor to greet you as this year’s President of the Faculty Senate.

Guided by the vision expressed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah and AUS founder, the Faculty Senate, as our Faculty Organization Plan (FOP) describes, “is an elected body of faculty having fundamental responsibility in the area of educational policy directed toward the effective operation of the University” (p. 6).

More specifically, the senate is charged with assisting the university in its continuing quest for excellence by offering policy and procedural recommendations as developed through our representative structure of nine committees: the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) and eight standing committees focused on every aspect of the faculty’s relationship to the university, from childcare to research and professional development.|-BREAK-|

Rooted in a respect for academic freedom, that is, the belief, as our Faculty Handbook defines it, that “the common good depends upon an uninhibited search for truth and its open expression” (p. 27), this shared governance model of administration recognizes that, in order for AUS to thrive as a uniquely balanced world-class institution of higher learning, each faculty member must enjoy—of course, within the bounds of professional behavior— the full freedom to question and offer alternatives to our governing policies and procedures.

To be sure, contributing to and managing such a diversity of perspectives is complex and often laborious work. However, the time and energy spent are well worth it, because when everyone matters—when everyone’s voice is empowered to make a positive difference—we are stronger. And while inclusive, problem-identifying and solving strength of this sort is always a good thing, it is especially important now, at this critical moment with technological innovations like Generative AI accelerating us with much promise and considerable peril through the fifth stage of the information revolution.

To meet that and other challenges, I look forward to listening to your concerns, thoroughly exploring all the possibilities, and tirelessly advocating for our collaboratively cultivated solutions. In short, as I opened, I am deeply honored for this opportunity to serve you as this year’s President of the Faculty Senate.

Eric L. De Barros, PhD
Associate Professor of English
President of the Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate 2026–2027

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AUS Faculty Senate Membership Academic Year 2026–2027

Elected Member

Term in Office

College/School

Seat

Senate Executive Committee

Eric De Barros

2025–2027

College of Arts and Sciences 

Language and Humanities  

President

Feryal Qudourah

2026–2028

College of Arts and Sciences 

Language and Humanities 

  

Meis Al-Kaisi

2026–2028

College of Arts and Sciences 

Language and Humanities 

  

Ghada Alobaidi

2025–2027

College of Arts and Sciences 

Math and Sciences

SEC

Mujo Mesanovic

2026–2028

College of Arts and Sciences 

Math and Sciences

  

Ahmad Rafiqi

2025–2027

College of Arts and Sciences 

Math and Sciences

  

Gokhan Savas

2026–2028

College of Arts and Sciences 

At large

Secretary

Ozgur Kaya

2025–2027

School of Business Administration 

At large

  

Ali Khawaja

2025–2027

School of Business Administration 

At large

  

Vacant

2026–2028

School of Business Administration 

At large

  

Emin Gahramanov

2026–2028

School of Business Administration 

At large

SEC

Taha Landolsi

2025–2027

College of Engineering 

At large

  

Mohamed Abdelgawad

2026–2028

College of Engineering 

At large

Vice President

Rami Afif As'ad

2025–2027

College of Engineering 

At large

  

Md. Maruf Mortula

2026–2028

College of Engineering 

At large

  

Mohamed Mamdouh

2026–2028

College of Architecture, Art and Design 

Art and Design

  

Vacant

2025–2027

College of Architecture, Art and Design 

Architecture

  

Vacant

2025–2027

College of Architecture, Art and Design 

At large

  

Camilo Cerro

2026–2028

College of Architecture, Art and Design 

At large

SEC
Senate Executive Committee 2026–2027

Member 

College/School

Senate Title

SEC Role

Tod Laursen

AUS

Chancellor

Ex-officio

Matthias Ruth

AUS

Provost

Ex-officio

Eric De Barros

College of Arts and Sciences 

Senator

President

Mohamed Abdelgawad

College of Engineering 

Senator

Vice President

Gokhan Savas

College of Arts and Sciences 

Senator

Secretary

Camilo Cerro

College of Architecture, Art and Design 

Senator

SEC-CAAD Representative

Ghada Alobaidi

College of Arts and Sciences 

Senator

SEC-CAS Representative

Emin Gahramanov

School of Business Administration 

Senator

SEC-SBA Representative
Senate Standing Committees 2026–2027
Academic Affairs Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: James Griffin, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Instruction, [email protected]

Past Chair: Magdi El-Emam, [email protected] (CEN-Civil Engineering)

Research and Professional Development Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Steven Griffiths, Vice Chancellor for Research, [email protected].

Past Chairs: Habib-Ur Rehman, [email protected] (CEN-Electrical Engineering), and Imed Nsiri [email protected] (CAS-Arabic and Translation Studies)

Budget and Finance Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Ali Alsuwaidi, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, [email protected]

Past Chair: Issam Louchichi, [email protected] (CAS-Mathematics)

Senate Affairs Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio:

Past Chair: Christopher Kaltenbach, [email protected] (CAAD-Art and Design)

Faculty Welfare Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Amal AlGhammai, Executive Director, Employee Services Directorate, [email protected] 

Past Chair: Ozgur Kaya, [email protected]. (SBA-Economics)

Faculty Evaluation and Standards of Performance Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Matthias Ruth, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, [email protected]

Past Chair: Eric De Barros, [email protected] (CAS-English)

Student Admissions, Recruitment, and Retention Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Ali Shuhaimy, Executive Director, Enrollment Management, [email protected]

Past Chair: Rami Afif As'ad, [email protected], (CEN-Industrial Engineering)

Sustainability Committee

Committee Members:

Ex-Officio: Omar Alnuaimi, Director, Sustainability, [email protected] 

Past Chair: Kristina Katsos, [email protected]. (CAS-INS)

Senate Standing Rules
Faculty Organization Plan

Faculty Handbook

As the primary governance document for faculty affairs, the Faculty Handbook defines the institutional framework for faculty roles, appointments, academic freedom, scholarly activities, research responsibilities, performance evaluation, promotion, contract renewal, grant support, joint appointments, consulting and intellectual property. It recognizes scholarly inquiry and research as central faculty responsibilities and links scholarly activities to performance-based decisions, including promotion, retention, compensation, and contract renewal or extension.

The Faculty Handbook also provides for joint academic appointments, through which faculty may hold research responsibilities across two or more academic units, including departments, colleges, institutes and centers. This structure supports interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research where such work naturally arises from collaboration across academic units and is relevant to the faculty member’s discipline, research agenda and scholarly contributions.

Faculty Handbook

Senate Schedule

SEC and Senate Schedule of Meetings | Academic Year 2026–2027

Fall 2026 | First Day of Classes: Monday, August 24, 2026

SEC

Senate

Day and Date

Time

Location

Orientation Session | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 4:30–6:30 | G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #1

 

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #2

 

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Senate #1

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #3

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Snapshot Gathering #1

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

5:00–6:30

G42 (Lecture Hall B)

SEC #4

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Senate #2

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Snapshot Gathering #2

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

5:00–6:30

G42 (Lecture Hall B)

SEC #5

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Senate #3

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #6

 

Tuesday, November 17, 2026

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

Fall 2026 Faculty Assembly | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 | 5:00–6:30 | Lecture Hall A
Spring 2027 | First Day of Classes: Monday, January 11, 2027
SEC Senate Day and Date Time Location

SEC #7

 

Tuesday, January 12, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #8

 

Tuesday, January 26, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Senate #4

Tuesday, February 2, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Snapshot Gathering #3

Wednesday, February 10, 2027 *

5:00–6:00

G42 (Lecture Hall B)

SEC #9

 

Tuesday, February 16, 2027 *

5:00–6:00

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

SEC #10

 

Tuesday, March 2, 2027 *

5:00–6:00

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

Eid Al Fitr Break (March 8–11, 2027)

 

Senate #5

Tuesday, March 16, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Snapshot Gathering #4

Wednesday, March 24, 2027

5:00–6:30

G42 (Lecture Hall B)

SEC #11

 

Tuesday, March 30, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

Spring Break (April 5–8, 2027)

SEC #12

 

Tuesday, April 13, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Senate #6

Tuesday, April 20, 2027

5:00–6:30

G41 (Faculty Senate Room)

 

Snapshot Gathering #5

Wednesday, April 28, 2027

5:00–6:30

G42 (Lecture Hall B)

Spring 2027 Faculty Assembly | Thursday, April 29, 2027 | 5:00–6:30 | Lecture Hall A

* Indicates Ramadan timings

Contact Us

Senate President | Dr. Eric De Barros
Associate Professor, Department of English
06 515 2498 | [email protected] | [email protected]

 

Senate Vice President
Kristina Katsos
Senior Instructor
International Studies
06 515 2436
[email protected]

Senate Secretary 
Dr. Christopher M. Kaltenbach
Associate Professor 
Department of Art and Design
06 515 2819
[email protected]

 

Senate Administrative Assistant
Hadeel El Rahal
Senior Administrative Assistant
Department of English
06 515 2374
[email protected]

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