AUS announces appointment of first Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professorship in International Studies

American University of Sharjah (AUS) has announced the appointment of Dr. Giacomo Chiozza to the Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professorship in International Studies. An expert in world politics and statistical modeling, Dr. Chiozza is Associate Professor in Political Studies in the AUS Department of International Studies.

The prestigious professorship was established as part of a generous gift of AED5 million made by Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg, which also included the establishment of the Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Young Leaders Scholarship Fund at AUS.

With its commitment to academic excellence, AUS has become an important center for research and teaching, drawing generous donor support to establish a number of chairs in a variety of fields.

Speaking on the appointment, Dr. Chiozza said:

“It’s a great honor to serve as the first Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professor of International Studies at AUS. Our university is a vibrant community of scholars and students committed to the pursuit of knowledge in an open, compassionate and tolerant atmosphere. The generous gift of Al Gurg family recognizes our university and our commitment to the study of politics and society.

“I especially thank Dr. Raja Al Gurg for her vision, her dedication, her generosity and her commitment to AUS. The Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professorship will help me share the achievements of our diverse campus with scholars and students of international studies worldwide. I am proud to contribute to the mission of our university to engage the world and to never stop thinking about the future,” he said.

Echoing Dr. Chiozza’s sentiments and appreciating the magnanimity of the support, Dr. Mahmoud Anabtawi, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said:

“We are very grateful to Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg and Dr. Raja Al Gurg for their generous gift to the university and for their vision and commitment in supporting teaching and research in international studies. 

“Dr. Chiozza is an award-winning author and is an excellent choice for this position. His research has included studying anti-Americanism and public opinion, the role of leaders in war, and the effects of ideas on monetary policymaking in Japan,” said Dr. Anabtawi.

Prior to joining AUS, Dr. Chiozza taught at the University of California, Berkeley; Vanderbilt University; and the Victoria University of Wellington. His teaching areas include international security, international organizations, international law and US foreign policy.

From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Chiozza was a senior editor at International Studies Quarterly, the flagship journal of the International Studies Association. Among his accolades are the 2012 Joseph Lepgold Book Prize from Georgetown University for the best book on international relations. Dr. Chiozza is the author and co-author of books published by Cornell University Press, Cambridge University Press and Johns Hopkins University Press. He holds a BA from the Università degli Studi di Milano in Italy and a PhD from Duke University, USA.

AUS has earned an enviable reputation for the quality of its international studies program and the graduates it produces. Alumni from the Department of International Studies work in and hold leadership positions in the governmental sector and international business. Increasingly, many of its graduates have gone on to graduate studies at some of the most prestigious institutions in North America and Europe.

Part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the department hosts diverse courses, weaving together strands from the social sciences and the humanities with political science and history. This wide-ranging palette of courses roots the students in their time and place while preparing them to handle the challenges of the contemporary world.

For more information about the Department of International Studies, please visit www.aus.edu/department-of-international-studies.