His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), chaired a meeting of the American University of Sharjah (AUS) Board of Trustees and expressed satisfaction at the progress made by the university thus far. The meeting was held on the AUS campus today, March 10.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan said that the university was treading the path charted by its mission. He said that the future plans and development of the university will therefore reflect its commitment to pursuing academic excellence. The Sharjah Ruler also thanked the members of the board for their services and dedication to the university.Following the meeting, Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS, thanked His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan for his support to AUS. "We are indebted to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi for his continuous support and guidance. Our achievements and success could not have come without his leadership," he stated.

Dr. Hochstettler said that during the meeting the board discussed important matters and passed resolutions that will enable the university to continue its successful path in achieving its mission and strategic objectives.

The School of Business and Management's name change to the School of Business Administration was approved by the board to better align with the function of the school and the university's vision and mission. In addition, the board approved the renaming of the Department of Marketing as the Department of Marketing and Information Systems.

The board expressed appreciation to Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg for his valued contribution to the AUS Endowment Fund, which will go towards establishing the Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Young Emirati Leaders Scholarship Fund as well as the Sir Easa Saleh Al Gurg Professorship in International Studies.

It also conveyed its appreciation to The Makhzoumi Foundation for its highly valued contribution towards establishing the Makhzoumi Foundation Scholarship Fund for Entrepreneurship in Industry. 

Members of the AUS Board of Trustees are: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Board and President of AUS; Dr. Ali Abdullah Al Shamlan, Former Minister of Higher Education, Kuwait; Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger, President, College of Saint Benedict, Minnesota, USA; Mr. Joseph L. Brand, Senior Partner, Patton Boggs LLP, Washington, DC, USA; Professor Lord Alec Broers, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Dr. Anthony George Coates, Director of the Museum of Biodiversity, the Bridge of Life, Republic of Panama, and Senior Scientist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution, USA; Mr. Charles Cotton, Director of Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge, UK; Mr. Abdul Jalil Yousuf Darwish, Chairman of UAE Enterprises Group; Dr. Leroy S. Fletcher, Regents Professor Emeritus and Thomas A. Dietz Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M University, USA; Dr. Roderick S. French, Chancellor Emeritus, AUS; Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, AUS Acting Chancellor; Mr. Hamid D. Jafar, Chairman and CEO, Crescent Petroleum Company, Sharjah; Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, President, American University, Washington, DC, USA; Mr. Varouj Nerguizian, Executive Director and General Manager, Bank of Sharjah, UAE; Baroness Onora O'Neill of Bengarve, CBE PBA FMedSci, Member of the British House of Lords, UK; Dr. S. Georgia Nugent, President of Kenyon College, Ohio, USA; Mr. Riad T. Sadek, Chairman of Al Habtoor Leighton Group, Dubai; and Mr. Maroun A. Semaan, President and CEO, Petrofac International Ltd., Sharjah. The meeting was also attended by senior AUS officials and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qassimi, President of the AUS Student Council. Dr.Kevin Gray, President of the AUS Faculty Senate, also attended as the representative of the Faculty Senate. Both Sheikh Mohammed Al Qassimi and Dr. Kevin Gray made presentations to the Board on behalf of their respective constituencies.