Dr. Enea Mustafaraj is an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from EPOKA University, Albania. His expertise lies in structural engineering and construction materials, with key research interests including the retrofitting of unreinforced masonry structures, development of sustainable materials, and fiber-reinforced mortars. Dr. Mustafaraj has authored 26 journal articles, 2 books, 3 book chapters, and 15 conference papers. He serves as Editor of the Journal of Building Pathology and Rehabilitation and regularly reviews for several leading international journals. He has supervised 13 graduate and over 55 undergraduate students, contributing significantly to research-led teaching. In addition to his academic roles, he coordinates the Builders of the Future student club, promoting practical engagement and innovation in civil engineering education.
Dr. Erion Luga is an assistant professor at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He is specialized in sustainable construction materials and civil engineering. He holds an Integrated Degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania (2009), a Master of Second Level in Civil Engineering from Epoka University, Albania (2011), and a PhD in Construction Materials from Erciyes University, Turkey (2015). Over the years, he has served as a research assistant, lecturer, Head of the Civil Engineering Laboratory, Director of the Center for Research and Development in Applied Sciences, and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering. His research focuses on the innovative use of industrial and municipal wastes as well as local materials such as fly ash, GGBFS, plastic waste and waste glass for sustainable concrete and mortar production. Dr. Luga integrates experimental research with practical applications and promotes learner-centered, interactive teaching methods while actively contributing to university-wide sustainability and development initiatives.
Dr. Ersin Elbasi is a professor in the Department of Information Systems and Technology at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He holds an M.Sc. in Computer and Information Science from Syracuse University, NY, USA, and an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. His research interests include multimedia security, artificial intelligence, event mining in video sequences, and medical image processing.
Dr. Esra Tuncay serves as an assistant professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East, Kuwait, specializing in communication, public relations, and digital media analysis. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Relations and Publicity from Istanbul University, an MBA in Organizational Behavior from Marmara University, and a B.A. in English Language Education. Her interdisciplinary expertise is enriched by international training in big data analytics, creative writing, and child development in the United States and Türkiye. Dr. Tunçay has over two decades of academic experience, teaching at leading universities including Istanbul Gelişim University, Istanbul Bilgi University, and Istanbul Arel University. Her research focuses on digital communication, sentiment analysis, hate speech in media, and political communication. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to edited volumes on public diplomacy and digital discourse. Her teaching blends theory with data-driven insights, preparing students for contemporary communication challenges.
Dr. Ethem Canakoglu is an associate professor of industrial engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East in Kuwait (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management from Koç University, and M.S. and B.S. degrees from Boğaziçi University. His expertise includes stochastic dynamic programming, data-driven decision-making, financial engineering, and energy systems optimization. He has published 30 Scopus-indexed articles and holds an h-index of 14. A recipient of the Goodeve Medal from the OR Society, he publishes in journals such as INFORMS Journal on Computing and European Journal of Operational Research. His research includes robust optimization, risk management, and sustainable energy planning, including hydrogen infrastructure and microgrids. Dr. Çanakoğlu has led projects funded by the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK) and continues to explore the integration of machine learning with optimization to solve complex decision problems under uncertainty.
Dr. Ewa Toloczko is an Assistant Professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in Kuwait. Her academic career began in 2004 at the University of Bialystok in Poland, Department of English Studies, where she served for eleven years as a lecturer teaching undergraduate courses aligned with her specialization in Applied Linguistics. Her courses included Academic Writing, Learning Styles, and Integrated Language Skills. In 2012, she began her PhD studies at the University of Warsaw, specializing in Applied Linguistics, and defended her dissertation on critical incidents in teaching while working at AUM. Her research interests revolve around expertise in language teaching, teacher cognition, and cognitive psychology.
Dr. Fadi Jaber is an assistant professor of communication in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait, where he teaches courses in intercultural communication; communication, information, and society; and public speaking. Dr. Jaber holds a Ph.D. in Translation Studies and a Master’s in Communication - Media Studies, both from the University of Ottawa in Canada. Dr. Jaber was a part-time professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Ottawa and in the School of Social Communication at St. Paul university where he taught courses in media theory, intercultural communication, public speaking, and social communication. Dr. Jaber’s research interests include media representation and framing, media theory, intercultural communication, and organizational communication. Dr. Jaber has presented at numerous academic conferences and published many research studies in peer-reviewed academic journals.
Dr. Fadi Raad is an assistant professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, and serves as the Coordinator of the Photography Club. He earned a Ph.D. in Arts and Art Sciences from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in 2016, following earlier studies at the National Institute of Fine Arts in Beirut and in Paris. He has over seven years of experience in higher education, mainly at the Lebanese University.
His current interdisciplinary research explores the disruptive impact of AI technologies on visual arts and their influence on the creative process. This reflects his broader interest in the evolving relationship between technology and traditional artistic practices. He is also an active artist with exhibitions in France and Lebanon.
Dr. Fadia Al-Hajj is an associate professor of economics at the College of Business Administration, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a PhD in Economic Sciences from Aix-Marseille University, France (2017), and has over 10 years of teaching and research experience across Lebanon, France, and Kuwait. She also serves as Institutional International Projects Coordinator.
Dr. Fahmi El-Sayed is a professor of electrical engineering and deputy dean of academic affairs at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, a position he has held since 2023. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Calgary, Canada.
Dr. El-Sayed’s research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, digital signal processing, Software Defined Radio (SDR), power amplifier and integrated circuit design, and current mode amplifiers. He holds two U.S. patents and has published extensively in leading IEEE journals and international conferences.
He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Zagazig University and served in postdoctoral and research roles at the University of Calgary. He joined AUM in 2015, and has extensive experience in accreditation and quality assurance, including serving as ABET Coordinator, IDEAL scholar, and overseeing accreditation processes for multiple engineering and computing programs.
With over 21 years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience across three countries, Dr. El-Sayed is deeply committed to technical education. He maintains active professional engagement through IEEE membership, workshops, conferences, research collaborations, and continuous learning to remain at the forefront of technological innovation.