Prof. Amir Zeid
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Summary
Accomplished academic leader with a Ph.D. in Computer Science, specializing in AI and Software Engineering. Proven success as a founding dean, launching and leading major academic institutions in the MENA region. Achieved 90% of strategic goals through six accreditation cycles, enhancing student retention and operational efficiency. Committed to research innovation and global engagement as a published author, TEDx speaker, and founder of the AUK Center for Research in Informatics Sciences and Engineering (RISE).
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certificate
Work history
Professor and Dean, Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare
Gulf Medical University (GMU)
, United Arab Emirates
2025.11 - Current
- Spearheading four academic programs in Applied AI and Healthcare Management, which enhanced the college's curriculum and attracted a diverse student body.
- Leading strategic planning initiatives for the college's expansion, helping to identify growth opportunities and align resources effectively.
- Managing efforts to establish university collaborations with international partners, fostering global relationships that enriched educational offerings and research opportunities.
Founding Director, Thumbay Incubation Center
Gulf Medical University (GMU)
, United Arab Emirates
2025.11 - 2026.06
- Leading the establishment of the Thumbay Incubation Center, focusing on Applied AI and Healthcare Management, which positioned GMU as a hub for innovative research and development in these critical fields.
- Participating in strategic planning initiatives for creating an international research center at GMU, helping to define our goals and ensuring alignment with global standards and practices.
- Engaging with stakeholders to gather insights and support, which strengthened partnerships and enhanced the center's reputation within the academic and healthcare communities.
- Developing programs that foster collaboration between students, researchers, and industry professionals, which created valuable networking opportunities and drove impactful projects.
- Overseeing the allocation of resources and management of operations, ensuring the center operated efficiently and effectively to achieve its mission and objectives.
- Secured regulatory compliance with meticulous attention to legal guidelines.
Dean (Chief Academic Officer)
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2023.05 - 2025.10
- Pioneered a Bachelor of Design degree program, developed in collaboration with top-tier institutions (MIT/Parsons), leading to a 10% increase in student retention and solidifying the institute's position as an industry leader.
- Secured prestigious Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) status by overseeing the rigorous accreditation process, directly elevating the institute's reputation and ensuring 100% compliance with national educational standards.
- Managed a strategic operational budget of $1.5 million with a 5% variance, successfully allocating 100% of planned program funding to maximize resource efficiency and ensure sustainability.
- Spearheaded institutional growth by leading executive recruitment and expansion initiatives, resulting in 5 new international partnerships and significantly increasing the institute's global reach and profile.
Founding Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS)
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
Kuwait City
2019.09 - 2023.06
- Directed academic and operational oversight for 5 undergraduate degrees (including Engineering and Sciences) serving ~900 students, maintaining an 85%+ student retention rate and ensuring 100% adherence to a $2 million annual budget.
- Achieved a 90% completion rate of the college's strategic goals by leading the development and implementation of the college's strategic plan and representing the unit in the President's Cabinet.
- Secured and maintained full academic compliance by successfully leading the college through 2 accreditation cycles (local and ABET International), which directly managed a team of 31 faculty and staff.
- Spearheaded program expansion and resource generation by fundraising $700,000 to launch a multifunctional engineering lab and leading the development of two new programs: a multidisciplinary B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering and a graduate program in Computer Science.
Conference Co-Chair
IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON)
Kuwait City
2021.05 - 2023.05
- Spearheaded and secured $60,000 in funding through targeted fundraising efforts for the successful execution of the annual conference.
- Directed and managed all local organizational logistics for the conference, successfully coordinating 50 volunteers and overseeing 300 attendees.
- Ensured successful execution of all conference goals by directing and overseeing five specialized subcommittees.
Location Lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge Kuwait
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
Kuwait City
2018.07 - 2023.05
- Orchestrated and secured $70,000 in funding for the event through targeted fundraising efforts.
- Directed the technical organization and logistics for the event, successfully managing 220 attendees and coordinating 30 volunteers.
- Ensured seamless execution of projects by closely collaborating with NASA Space Apps organizers.
TEDxAUK Curator
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
Kuwait City
2017.09 - 2023.05
- Orchestrated and led the curation of two major TEDxAUK events, successfully managing logistics for approximately 300 attendees and coordinating 50 volunteers.
- Secured $100,000 in dedicated fundraising to successfully host TEDxAUK, enabling the delivery of high-quality content and outreach to a broader community audience.
- Cultivated a diverse pool of talent by identifying and training 20 speakers who pioneered innovative approaches, fostering connections and inspiring growth across various educational settings.
- Drove community engagement and shared learning by carefully selecting speakers, artists, and audience members for immersive live experiences.
Founding Director, Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE)
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
Kuwait City
2014.09 - 2020.09
- Directed the Center's strategic direction, overseeing the design and coordinating execution of key initiatives to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
- Generated external revenue by successfully securing $250K in funding for informatics research projects and establishing 5 critical industry partnerships to foster collaboration.
- Drove research output and project viability by actively collaborating with team members on the conception, development, and submission of scientific papers and grant proposals.
Associate Professor of Computer Science
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
Kuwait City
2012.09 - 2019.09
- Secured departmental compliance for the Computer Science program's ABET accreditation, evidenced by 100% compliance with ABET standards and a successful accreditation visit with zero major findings.
- Contributed directly to student success and academic governance by teaching an average of 6 undergraduate courses annually and serving as Chair of the Academic Policies Committee, successfully reviewing and revising 5 key academic policies.
- Demonstrated exceptional commitment to pedagogy and institutional service, maintaining an average student satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5 across all taught courses and achieving a 95% attendance rate across over 20 university committees.
- Drove student achievement through external competition, mentoring 37 student teams in the Microsoft Imagine Cup over six years, which directly resulted in winning 5 regional and national titles.
Research and Development Consultant
Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS Academy Project)
Kuwait City
2016.03 - 2018.03
- Established a fully operational four-member research & development team within 3 months, successfully defining key research areas directly aligned with the Academy's strategic goals.
- Drove educational technology adoption by evaluating 12 adaptive learning platforms against custom criteria and successfully leading the selection and implementation of 2 core technology tools.
Visiting Research Scholar
Dartmouth College
Hanover
2013.06 - 2013.08
- Pioneered research in the field of gender issues in computing, directly resulting in 3 peer-reviewed publications to advance knowledge in this area.
- Established a foundational network by successfully developing and maintaining numerous partnerships with research and development labs to facilitate critical collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Systems Analyst/Consultant
Scanagri Finland-ECIM Project
Cairo
2005.11 - 2006.07
- Drove operational efficiency by researching and implementing 10 specific enhancements across 10 key workflows, resulting in a documented 30% reduction in average process cycle time within one year.
- Elevated team technical proficiency by delivering 10 comprehensive training sessions on UML and Software Engineering principles to 5 team members, achieving an average participant score of 95% on assessments.
- Maximized post-training impact, leading to an 85% reduction in design-related bugs during testing and increasing the utilization of UML diagrams in project documentation by 90% in subsequent projects.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
American University in Cairo (AUC)
Cairo
2001.09 - 2005.08
- Secured departmental accreditation compliance by contributing significantly to the ABET process and achieving a 100% compliance rate in all reviewed standards.
- Drove competitive student success by coaching the ACM Programming Team to a 1st place victory in the Arab Regional competition against 37 competing teams.
- Demonstrated teaching excellence and broad pedagogical range by instructing 10 diverse undergraduate and graduate courses and maintaining an exceptional average student satisfaction rating of 4.7 out of 5.
- Fostered advanced research and mentorship by successfully supervising the completion of 5 M.Sc. theses and 10 undergraduate theses.
Senior Business Analyst
Vodafone
Cairo
2000.12 - 2001.08
- Spearheaded and successfully delivered 3 internal Middleware software development projects within one year, resulting in a 75% reduction in data processing time for key applications.
- Drove technical reusability and efficiency by developing 2 core middleware components that were subsequently adopted by 2 other development teams.
Systems Analyst
General Dynamics Land Systems
Cairo
1992.04 - 1993.09
- Spearheaded the automation of the freight forwarding system, directly resulting in a 70% increase in overall productivity.
- Overhauled 5 critical internal systems for Cairo operations within two years, significantly improving both operational efficiency and system functionality.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Computer Science
Carleton University
Ottawa, Canada 1994.09 - 2000.12
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Computer Science
The American University in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt 1986.09 - 1991.06
Skills
- Strategic Leadership: An expert in providing strong leadership, effective decision-making, and strategic planning, with extensive experience in launching new academic institutions in the MENA region
- AI and Coaching Expertise: Provides expert consulting and training in AI-powered solutions, with a unique blend of technical acumen and professional coaching methodologies
- Operational and Financial Acumen: Skilled in efficient budget management, resource allocation, financial oversight, and student-focused initiatives like recruitment, retention, and academic advising
- Teaching and Innovation Excellence: Demonstrates a commitment to excellence and creativity in teaching, engaging a wide range of audiences effectively
- Accreditation and Academic Excellence: A proven track record of leading extensive accreditation processes (both national and international), including faculty development, program assessment, and curriculum design
- Knowledge of regulatory standards
- Entrepreneurial innovation
Accomplishments
- Pioneered Academic Institutions: Launched and led two major academic institutions, serving as Founding Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and leading the validation of the College of Informatics at the British University in Egypt. Founded the AUK Center for Informatics, Sciences, and Engineering (RISE) in 2014, creating a hub for research and innovation.
- Mentored Top-tier Talents: Guided AUK teams to win Microsoft Imagine Cup regional contests for eight consecutive years (2009-2017).
- International Recognition: Recipient of the U.S. Department of State's prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) grant in 2018 for 'Science and Entrepreneurship.' Also awarded the Dartmouth-AUK Research Fellowship and a grant from the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Recognized as 'The Most Innovative Lecturer' at AUK in 2012.
- Curated Global Events: Led and curated highly-regarded international events, including TEDxAUK and the NASA Space Apps Challenge in 2018, bringing global educational platforms to Kuwait.
Certification
- Certified Professional Coach, The International Coaching Federation (ICF), 2019-04
- ABET IDEAL, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 2012-07
Languages
English: Native
Arabic: Native
Timeline
Professor and Dean, Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare
Gulf Medical University (GMU)
2025.11 - Current
Founding Director, Thumbay Incubation Center
Gulf Medical University (GMU)
2025.11 - 2026.06
Dean (Chief Academic Officer)
Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI)
2023.05 - 2025.10
Conference Co-Chair
IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON)
2021.05 - 2023.05
Founding Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS)
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
2019.09 - 2023.06
Location Lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge Kuwait
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
2018.07 - 2023.05
TEDxAUK Curator
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
2017.09 - 2023.05
Research and Development Consultant
Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS Academy Project)
2016.03 - 2018.03
Founding Director, Center for Research in Informatics, Sciences and Engineering (RISE)
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
2014.09 - 2020.09
Visiting Research Scholar
Dartmouth College
2013.06 - 2013.08
Associate Professor of Computer Science
American University of Kuwait (AUK)
2012.09 - 2019.09
Systems Analyst/Consultant
Scanagri Finland-ECIM Project
2005.11 - 2006.07
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
American University in Cairo (AUC)
2001.09 - 2005.08
Senior Business Analyst
Vodafone
2000.12 - 2001.08
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - Computer Science
Carleton University
1994.09 - 2000.12
Systems Analyst
General Dynamics Land Systems
1992.04 - 1993.09
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - Computer Science
The American University in Cairo
1986.09 - 1991.06
Awards
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), U.S. Department of State, 2018-03, Carrier of AUK Spirit Award for motivational spirit and support, 2018-05, Most Innovative Lecturer, AUK, 2014-05, Imagine cup coach of winning team in Kuwait, 2012-04, Advisor of the year, AUK, 2010-05, Bibliotheca Alexandrina researcher award in IT, 2005-01, Young Egyptian Researchers Award, Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt, 2004-05, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 1997-05, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) research grant for Ph.D., 1995-09
Invited Talks/Workshops Delivered
- Design Thinking Using Play: Unnecessary Inventions, AI-Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Form (Organized by Dubai Culture), 2024 Dubai
- Exploring Future Applications of ChatGPT, Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC), 2023 Kuwait
- To Coach or not to Coach(Keynote), IEEE GCC SYP Congress, 2019 Kuwait
- Restoring the Innovation Map, TEDxAlShuwaikh 2017 Kuwait
- Ethical Hacking, In Fishackathon 2016 Kuwait.
- Cloud Computing: Past, Present and Future. In the Middle East Cloud & Big Data Conference, November 2014
- Gender issues in Computing. In AUK Lecture Series, February 2014
- Invited speaker in the 2nd International Hackathon for Social Good in the Arab world NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus), 2013
- Gender Issues in computing in the Middle East. A talk at Dartmouth College, Summer 2013
- Invited Speaker in Arab Women in Computing Workshop, NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus) 2012
- Invited speaker in the first International Hackathon for Social Good in the Arab world NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus), 2011
- Introduction to Cloud Computing, Seminar at Dartmouth College, August 2010
International Event Organization/Curations
- Conference Co-Chair, IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 2021-05 to 2023-05
- Location Lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge Kuwait, American University of Kuwait (AUK), 2018-07 to 2023-05
- TEDxAUK Curator, American University of Kuwait (AUK), 2017-09 to 2023-05
Awards
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), U.S. Department of State, 2018-03, Carrier of AUK Spirit Award for motivational spirit and support, 2018-05, Most Innovative Lecturer, AUK, 2012-05, Imagine cup coach of winning team in Kuwait, 2012-04, Advisor of the year, AUK, 2010-05, Bibliotheca Alexandrina researcher award in IT, 2005-01, Young Egyptian Researchers Award, Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt, 2004-05, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 1997-05, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) research grant for Ph.D., 1995-09
Publications
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8101-2105
Invited Talks/Workshops Delivered
- Design Thinking Using Play: Unnecessary Inventions, Al-Qouz Creative Entrepreneurship Form (Organized by Dubai Culture), 2024 Dubai
- Exploring Future Applications of ChatGPT, Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC), 2023 Kuwait
- To Coach or not to Coach(Keynote), IEEE GCC SYP Congress, 2019 Kuwait
- Restoring the Innovation Map, TEDxAlShuwaikh 2017 Kuwait
- Ethical Hacking. In Fishackathon 2016 Kuwait.
- Cloud Computing: Past, Present and Future. In the Middle East Cloud & Big Data Conference, November 2014
- Gender issues in Computing. In AUK Lecture Series, February 2014
- Invited speaker in the 2nd International Hackathon for Social Good in the Arab world NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus), 2013
- Gender Issues in computing in the Middle East. A talk at Dartmouth College, Summer 2013
- Invited Speaker in Arab Women in Computing Workshop, NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus) 2012
- Invited speaker in the first International Hackathon for Social Good in the Arab world NYU (Abu Dhabi Campus), 2012
- Introduction to Cloud Computing, Seminar at Dartmouth College, August 2010