Dr. Rezart Demiraj is an associate professor of accounting at the College of Business Administration, American University of the Middle East (AUM) in Kuwait, where he has served since 2018. He holds a PhD in Accounting from the University of Tirana, Albania, and has over 15 years of academic experience, including a decade as an assistant professor at the University of Tirana. His teaching and research interests include cost and management accounting, financial accounting and reporting, accounting information systems, corporate finance, financial statement analysis, and sustainability. Dr. Demiraj previously served as assistant to the executive director and IFAC contact person at the Albanian Institute of Certified Accountants. He also holds the designation of certified accountant in Albania and maintained a professional accounting practice prior to relocating to Kuwait. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences in the field of accounting.
Dr. Rifat Ozdemir is a professor of industrial engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his Ph.D. from Istanbul University and has held faculty positions at Istanbul Kültür University and the American University of the Middle East (AUM), where he served as department chair from 2021 to 2024.
His teaching expertise includes production systems, ergonomics, operations research, and quality management. He has supervised over 100 senior design projects and several graduate theses. During his tenure as Department Chair, Dr. Ozdemir led curriculum enhancement initiatives, lab modernization efforts, and accreditation activities.
His research interests focus on ergonomics, production optimization, and service systems, with publications in top-tier journals. He also serves as a reviewer for several leading international journals. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Ozdemir has guided student teams to success in international competitions.
Assistant Professor Dr. Roula Barake has extensive experience in clinical nutrition, academic leadership, and Public Health research. She holds a PhD and MSc in Human Nutrition from McGill University, Canada, and a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Teaching Diploma in Health Sciences from the American University of Beirut. Dr. Barake has led initiatives in academic program development, interdisciplinary teaching, and healthcare quality improvement. Her research spans public health nutrition, metabolic disease, diabetes, salivary biomarkers, and maternity and infant health, with numerous publications in high-impact journals. She has held key positions at Dasman Diabetes Institute and contributed to global partnerships, including with the University of Dundee. A reviewer and guest editor for several scientific journals, Dr. Barake remains actively engaged in knowledge dissemination, curriculum innovation, and advancing health sciences education.
Dr. Ruba Al-Omary is an assistant professor of Architectural Engineering, at the College of Engineering and Technology, AUM Kuwait. She specializes in urban planning, heritage conservation, and the socio-spatial dynamics of redevelopment and gentrification in Middle Eastern cities.
She holds a Ph.D. in Architecture and Urban Planning (IDAUP, Cycle 35) from the University of Ferrara, Italy. She also earned a Master’s degree in conservation and management of cultural resources from Yarmouk University, Jordan, and a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Prior to joining AUM, Dr. Al-Omary served as assistant professor and chair of the Department of Architectural Engineering at Amman Arab University. She also lectured at Jordan University of Science and Technology, where she supported teaching and research in architectural and urban design for nearly a decade.
Her research focuses on sustainable urban design, state-led gentrification, and the conservation of cultural heritage. She has presented her work at international conferences in Italy, Austria, and Egypt, and has published in Springer and other peer-reviewed venues. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the ACOR Fellowship, the University of Sharjah’s Women in Research Grant, and the MIUR Ph.D. Scholarship in Italy.
Dr. Al-Omary remains engaged in international academic networks through Erasmus+ mobility, interdisciplinary workshops, and collaborative research initiatives.
Dr. Sabahudin Vrtagic is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Fatih University, Istanbul, followed by a Master of Science and a PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Burch University, Sarajevo. His expertise lies in computational methods, machine learning, and data science applied to engineering and physics. Dr. Vrtagic’s research focuses on predictive modeling for financial markets, smart sensor systems, and real-time data analysis. He actively engages in interdisciplinary projects that combine artificial intelligence with applied physics and engineering challenges. In addition to his research, he mentors graduate students and conducts workshops on advanced computational techniques. Dr. Vrtagic is dedicated to bridging theoretical knowledge with practical innovation through data-driven and collaborative academic efforts.
Saden Al-Abbasi is an architect, who is currently working as a lab instructor within the Architectural Engineering Department at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a Master of Architecture degree (MArch) from the University of Liverpool and a BA (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Westminster, United Kingdom. During her postgraduate studies, she contributed as a teaching assistant, while during her undergraduate program she facilitated workshops on CNC milling and 3D printing and led a pavilion design project.
Prior to joining AUM in 2025, Saden practiced as an architect with Tamdeen Group, where she contributed to a diverse portfolio of large-scale projects encompassing educational facilities and commercial developments, emphasizing the integration of architecture and landscape design. Her professional experience also includes training placements with Gulf Consult in Kuwait and Gensler’s Dubai office through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development program. She holds multiple certifications across various engineering disciplines.
Her academic and professional interests focus on urban planning and digital fabrication, with a particular dedication to landscaping within Kuwait’s distinctive environmental and cultural context. She is committed to addressing the challenges presented by the desert climate and investigating the relationship between built environments and natural landscapes.
Dr. Saeed Qaisar is an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at AUM. He earned his Ph.D. from Grenoble Alpes University, France. With over 15 years of international academic experience, his research includes signal and image processing, AI, embedded systems, privacy and security, and smart healthcare systems. He has over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has been ranked among the top 2% of scientists by Stanford University.
Dr. Sahar Nakhl is an assistant professor of Nutrition within the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pathophysiology from Saint Joseph University and the Lebanese University, along with MSc and BSc degrees in Human Nutrition. Dr. Nakhl has taught at several institutions in Lebanon and currently teaches at AUM. Her research focuses on vitamin D, cardiovascular health, and maternal-infant nutrition. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences, including the European Society of Cardiology. Her expertise spans clinical nutrition, public health, and chronic disease prevention. She has also served on academic committees and admissions boards.
Dr. Sahar Yazd is an assistant professor of statistics in the College of Engineering and Technology at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Statistics/ Econometrics from the University of Adelaide, Australia. In parallel with her academic role, she is also a senior project manager at "Guidelines and Economics Network International" in Australia. Dr. Sahar has extensive expertise in micro-econometric analysis and large-scale panel survey data, including the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA). She has co-authored policy reports for the New South Wales Ministry of Health brokered by the Sax Institute and authored peer-reviewed publications on health, water scarcity, and climate change. Her current research centers on the Sustainable Development Goals in social sciences.
Dr. Sait Revda Dinibutun is an associate professor at the College of Business Administration, American University of the Middle East, Kuwait. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a specialization in human resource management and organizational behavior. Dr. Dinibutun has over 20 years of academic experience and has been serving at AUM since 2014. His teaching focuses on HRM, organizational behavior, management, and leadership. His research interests include employee well-being, burnout, leadership styles, sustainability, and knowledge management. He has published several peer-reviewed articles in Q1 - Q3 journals indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus, and has presented his work internationally. He also coordinates multiple courses and is actively involved in curriculum development and academic advising. Dr. Dinibutun's contributions are well-recognized by students and peers alike, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and impactful scholarship.