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Appointment of Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ as Dean of GAPP

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  3. Appointment of Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ as Dean of GAPP

August 16, 2026

Dear AUC Community,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ as Dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP), effective September 15, 2026. This appointment is the culmination of an extensive international search that attracted an outstanding pool of candidates from around the world.

Dr. Al-Ississ joins AUC at an important moment in the evolution of GAPP. The University remains firmly committed to investing in and strengthening the School’s role as a premier hub for policy research, leadership development, and public engagement in Egypt, the region, and beyond. Under his leadership, we look forward to expanding GAPP’s impact through innovative academic programs, strengthened partnerships with governments, international organizations, and civil society, and a deeper commitment to generating knowledge that informs policy and contributes to sustainable development.

As Egypt and the wider region confront unprecedented opportunities and challenges, AUC sees GAPP as playing an increasingly important role in shaping future leaders, advancing evidence-based policymaking, and contributing meaningful solutions to issues of governance, economic development, social inclusion, and regional cooperation. We are confident that Dr. Al-Ississ’s unique blend of scholarly distinction, regional influence, and practical leadership experience will help elevate GAPP’s standing and expand its contribution to public service and societal progress. He is exceptionally well positioned to advance this ambitious vision, bringing the depth of experience, intellectual breadth, and leadership capacity required to guide GAPP through its next phase of growth and impact.

Dr. Al-Ississ brings to this role an extraordinary combination of academic distinction, intellectual leadership, and public service at the highest levels. He holds a PhD in Public Policy, a Master in Public Administration and International Development, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies, and a BA in Economics, all from Harvard University. His interdisciplinary expertise and scholarly accomplishments have established him as one of the region’s leading voices on public policy, economic development, governance, and political economy.

Dr. Al-Ississ joins us from a decade of service in the most senior policy positions in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he served as Senator, Minister of Finance, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of State for Economic Affairs, and Economic and Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II. He is also a valued member of the AUC community. During his earlier tenure at AUC, he served as a faculty member in the Department of Economics and as Associate Dean of GAPP, earning tenure in 2016 in recognition of his academic excellence and significant scholarly contributions.

His academic career is equally distinguished. Beyond AUC, Dr. Al-Ississ has held appointments at Harvard University, where he taught in the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration program and served as a Visiting Scholar in 2014. His research and publications span critical issues of public policy, governance, economics, and social transformation in the Middle East.

This academic foundation has shaped a career of consequential public service. In government, Dr. Al-Ississ led national economic reform, macro-fiscal stabilization, and institutional development. He led Jordan IMF programs and secured Jordan’s first sovereign rating upgrades from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s in more than two decades. In recognition of this work, The Banker, a Financial Times publication, named him Finance Minister of the Year 2024 for the Middle East.

That standing extends well beyond Jordan. His expertise has been sought by leading international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum. Few scholars possess such a rare ability to bridge rigorous academic inquiry with practical policymaking at the highest levels of government. His track record of advancing evidence-based policy, economic reform, and institutional development reflects precisely the kind of visionary leadership that will enable GAPP to continue to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the search committee, chaired by Dr. Ghada Barsoum and including Ambassador Aly Erfan, Dr. Amr Adly, Dr. Jason Beckett, Dr. Rasha Abdulla, and Dr. Zeinab Amin. Their dedication, thoughtful deliberations, and unwavering commitment throughout the year-long search process have been invaluable. I also wish to thank Ambassador Aly Erfan for his leadership and service as Interim Dean. I am indebted for Aly’s graciousness to agree to lead GAPP at this critical time.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ back to AUC. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to advance GAPP’s mission and strengthen its role as a leading contributor to Egypt’s development and the prosperity of the broader region.
 
Sincerely,
Ehab Abdel-Rahman
Provost