President
Francis J. Ricciardone
A former career diplomat, Francis J. Ricciardone most recently served as Vice President of the independent U.S.-based Atlantic Council and Director of its Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East.
President Ricciardone had previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau.
Born in Boston, Ricciardone graduated from Malden Catholic High School and summa cum laude from Dartmouth College. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Italy and a guest scholar at the United States Institute of Peace. Ricciardone taught at international schools in Italy and Iran, and speaks and reads Arabic, Italian, Turkish and French, as well as elementary Farsi.
University Cabinet
University Cabinet is one of AUC leadership pillars that is dedicated to creating a University environment that promotes excellence in teaching, research, creative expression and service.
Associates Program
Established in 1981 and formerly known as the Presidential Internship Program, the Presidential Associates Program (rebranded October 2018) provides recent university graduates the opportunity to work at the highest levels of an international university, experience life in Cairo, and learn Arabic.
Former Presidents
From AUC’s first president Charles Watson in 1919 to former President Christopher Thoron (1969 – 1973), who established the University as a creditable institution by securing official recognition for academic degrees, AUC looks back through its presidential history and major accomplishments that led the University to thrive as Egypt’s global university.
NEWS@AUC
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Egyptology Enthusiast: An Old Soul in New Cairo
Historically and until today, AUC has served as a popular destination for international students interested in learning Arabic, studying Egypt’s long and diverse history, or just looking for an adventure. One of AUC’s current international students is Jayme Reichart, an American pursuing a master's in Egyptology and currently working as a teaching assistant for Lisa Sabbahy, assistant professor of Egyptology, and Fayza Haikal, professor of Egyptology.
Welcoming New Student Scholars, Honoring Achievers
Recognizing its distinguished scholars, AUC held a ceremony welcoming its 120 newest scholarship students, who hail from 26 Egyptian governorates and multiple countries, including Somalia, Yemen and the West Bank. The event also honored returning scholarship students who demonstrate an excellent academic record and was an opportunity for new students to network with scholarship alumni and learn from their experiences.
AUC’s New Legal Guide Sunanda Holmes
Law and compliance are the backbone of any institution. This is why AUC brought in Sunanda Holmes, the University's first General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. President Francis Ricciardone introduced Holmes to the AUC community declaring, "Dr. Holmes will bring unique and extraordinary experience and expertise to help AUC advance from very good to truly great as we enter our centennial year."