In addition to hosting numerous distinguished visiting professors, AUC draws on the rich experience of world-renowned scholars through a number of endowed professorships. Endowments are contributions from individuals or companies that are put into interest-generating trust funds to provide permanent funding for professorships. These lasting gifts diversify learning opportunities beyond the limits of the normal budget.

Endowed professorships at AUC honor established scholars and make it possible for the university to recruit and retain outstanding teachers and researchers in fields ranging from engineering and international business to Egyptology and comparative religion. Endowed professors draw on a wealth of experience and expertise, and through teaching, public lectures and academic publications, provide AUC’s students and the community at large with new insights and a richer academic environment.

Current Endowed Professors at AUC

Eskandar Tooma is a British Petroleum Associate Professor of Finance at the Department of Management at The American University in Cairo and member of the American Economic Association (AEA) and the American Finance Association (AFA).  He is also the Secretary General of the African Finance Association.

Professor Tooma combines academic experience with practical exposure through assuming a variety of public and private professional posts. He was senior advisor to the Capital Market Authority for 2.5 years, as well as a member of a variety of committees including the CASE30 Index Committee, Market Advancement Committee at the Cairo and Alexandria Stock Exchange and an advisor and member of the Derivatives and Commodities Exchange Committee with the Ministry of Investments. Dr. Tooma is a co-owner and board member of Premium International for Credit Services as well as a board member of Regina Food Industries.

Professor Tooma is currently advising leading real estate and development groups on financial and restructuring issues. He sits on the boards of one of the largest real estate funds in the region and is a financial advisor to Orascom for Housing and Development (OHD).