Leadership Transition at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
September 10, 2025
Dear Members of the AUC Community,
I write to share that Noha El-Mikawy will conclude her term as dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) on June 30, 2026. The University is grateful for her service and leadership over the past years and we will immediately begin the search process for the next dean of GAPP. Further details about the search and opportunities for community engagement will be shared in due course.
Since joining AUC in August 2022, El-Mikawy has led GAPP with a clear commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, civic engagement and regional relevance. Her tenure has been marked by strong alignment between the school’s mission and AUC’s strategic priorities, particularly in enhancing student-centered learning, expanding research with regional and international impact and fostering a culture of academic integrity and inclusion.
Under her leadership, GAPP secured significant research funding, including major grants for projects such as Pathways Beyond Neoliberalism, The Egyptian Economy Handbook and Pathways to Hope, a follow-up project to the AUC centennial report Al-Mostaqbal. These initiatives have not only elevated the school’s research profile but also deepened its engagement with pressing regional and global policy challenges. El-Mikawy also played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Public Policy Hub and expanding the Executive Education Program, both of which have become important platforms for student development and public service.
Her efforts to strengthen GAPP’s international partnerships have resulted in new collaborations with institutions such as Fudan University and the China-Arab Network of Schools of Public Affairs. She has also enhanced the school’s visibility through active participation in global academic and policy networks and by hosting high-level dialogues and conferences that brought together scholars, practitioners and students.
As we begin the process of identifying the next dean of GAPP, we extend our sincere appreciation to El-Mikawy for her contributions to the University and to the broader academic and policy communities. We look forward to building on the foundation she has laid and to continuing GAPP’s mission of preparing principled and effective leaders for the region and the world.
Sincerely,
Ehab Abdel-Rahman
Provost