Dr. Syed Zaidi holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems (E-Governance) from London Metropolitan University, UK. He is currently serving as an associate professor of management information systems at the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait. With over 23 years of extensive academic experience, Dr. Zaidi has previously held academic positions in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and India. Throughout his career, he has been actively engaged in both academic and administrative roles across various institutions.
He has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in MIS, Information Systems, and computing disciplines. His research interests focus on digital transformation, emerging technologies, mobile learning, mobile payments, and the application of artificial intelligence in business. Passionate about bridging the gap between technology and business, Dr. Zaidi has published his research work in reputable academic journals and regularly serves as a reviewer for several scholarly publications e.g. IEEE Access, Springer, and Taylor & Francis.
Dr. Taha Beyrouthy is the Dean of Engineering and Technology and a Professor of Computer and Electrical Engineering at the American University of the Middle East (AUM). He brings experience in academic leadership, engineering education, and applied research, with a strong commitment to student-centered learning and technology-enabled teaching and learning environments. He holds a PhD in Microelectronics from Grenoble Institute of Technology (France), a Master’s degree in microelectronics, and completed his engineering education at IMT Atlantique. Dr. Beyrouthy held academic and industrial research positions in France, including roles as a research team lead at the TIMA Laboratory in Grenoble and as a Senior ASIC Designer at EASii-IC, focusing on power-efficient and secure digital systems. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications in micro- and nano-electronics, robotics, artificial intelligence, AI-enabled STEM education, and applied physics. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and contributes to the academic community through conference leadership roles and peer review for international journals. In his role as Dean of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Beyrouthy leads academic planning and curriculum development, with an emphasis on project-based learning, the integration of digital technologies into engineering education, and alignment with industry and societal needs. He has also contributed to strengthening quality assurance frameworks aligned with international accreditation standards, including ABET, and to developing strategic international collaborations.
Dr. Taida Hefford is an associate professor of art and design at the American University of the Middle East, Kuwait, where she teaches undergraduate courses in drawing, painting, photography, and digital art. In addition to her teaching, she mentors the Art Club, supporting student creativity through extracurricular visual arts initiatives.
She holds a Ph.D. and MFA in Fine Arts from Joshibi University of Art and Design, Japan, with research focusing on contemporary visual culture, print media, and photography. She began her academic journey with a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Sarajevo.
Dr. Hefford has received several distinguished fellowships and awards, including the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship and the Weiser Fellowship at the University of Michigan. Her work has been exhibited internationally across Europe, Asia, and America.
Her interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional and digital media, emphasizing materiality, process, and perception in both her studio practice and teaching philosophy.
Dr. Tamara Oshchepkova is an associate professor in the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. She received her teaching qualification and Ph.D. in Linguistics from universities in Russia and holds an international Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Between 1998 and 2015, she worked in educational establishments at various levels, taking on roles such as language instructor, Assistant Professor of Linguistics, and head of the Department of English.
In 2007, she was granted the academic rank of Associate Professor, confirmed by the Federal Education and Science Supervisory Board. She has also pursued numerous professional development activities, receiving additional qualifications in management, teacher training, teaching Russian as a foreign language, and materials design. She served as the head of the non-governmental organization Omsk English Language Teachers Association.
In 2015, she joined the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait, where she currently teaches academic writing, study skills, and communication courses. She is also the co-author of the textbook English for Academics, published by Cambridge University Press.
Dr. Tamer Dag is an associate professor of computer engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait.
He earned his B.S. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
Before joining academia, Dr. Dag worked as a Senior Software Engineer at Lucent Technologies, where he was involved in the design and implementation of high-performance network protocols and telecommunications systems.
His research interests include wireless sensor networks, image processing, and machine learning, with a focus on autonomous network optimization, intelligent data analysis, and deep learning-based image classification. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles in international journals and conference proceedings, and has served on technical program and organizing committees for several international conferences.
Dr. Tarek Khalifa is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He received his B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Tripoli University, Libya, followed by his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Waterloo, Canada.
His research interests include network security, sensor and power grid networks, and the application of machine learning in the medical domain. Dr. Khalifa is committed to integrating advanced research with teaching, supporting students in the development of secure and intelligent systems.
Tareq El-Mezieni is a laboratory instructor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He brings over seven years of international experience in electrical engineering across Kuwait and Australia. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering and a Master's degree in Engineering Management, combining technical expertise with strategic leadership and project management capabilities.
Throughout his career, El-Mezieni has contributed to various projects involving electrical systems design, installation, and maintenance, with an emphasis on compliance with international standards, energy efficiency, and practical innovation. His professional experience spans multiple sectors, including construction, infrastructure, and education.
At AUM, he integrates real-world engineering practices into hands-on instruction, aiming to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry application. Passionate about mentoring, he fosters critical thinking and applied problem-solving among students. His interdisciplinary background and global perspective enhance his contributions to curriculum development and the advancement of engineering education.
Dr. Tariq AlZoubi is an associate professor of physics at the College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait, with over 14 years of combined academic and industrial experience across Germany, Austria and the Middle East. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kassel, Germany and his M.Sc. from the University of Stuttgart, specializing in nanostructured materials and experimental solid-state physics. His research bridges experimental nanotechnology and simulation-driven design, focusing on cutting-edge applications in material science, cancer nanomedicine, optoelectronic, and solar cell devices. Dr. AlZoubi has authored over 68 publications in top-tier journals. He serves as a reviewer for leading scientific journals and as committee member for several international conferences. Dr. AlZoubi previous roles include faculty appointments at the German Jordanian University and R&D at Infineon Technologies. His ongoing research contributes to global efforts in sustainability, health, and nanotechnology.
Thana Al-Shakhs serves as an assistant professor within the Liberal Arts Department at the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in Kuwait. She previously held academic positions at Louisiana State University (LSU) during her Ph.D. studies, and at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU) in Riyadh.
She was awarded fellowships to participate in the Digital Humanities Summer Institute at the University of Victoria, British Columbia (2017), and the Institute for World Literature at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (2015).
Dr. Al-Shakhs holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature with a minor in English from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (2019). Her dissertation explored transcultural poetics and the role of performance, with a comparative study of muwaššah poetry and contemporary exophonic poetry. She also holds an M.Phil. in Arabic Language and Literature from King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Her research interests include cultural studies, performance studies (including cinema studies), transcultural poetics, and digital humanities.
Dr. Tonguc Cagin is an associate professor at the College of Business Administration, American University of the Middle East (AUM), Kuwait. He earned his PhD in Stochastic Processes from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, in 2015. Consequently he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in mathematical modeling of infectious diseases at the Gulbenkian Science Institute in Portugal and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK.
Before joining academia full-time, Dr. Cagin worked in the corporate sector in Lisbon, Portugal, with roles in logistics (CHEP), digital advertising (Accenture–Google), data science (Closer), and IT services (Fujitsu). He joined AUM in 2019 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2024.
His research interests include functional analysis, fuzzy groups, stochastic processes, and their medical applications. He has co-authored more than 20 publications and is currently expanding his research into the mathematical and statistical modeling of musical compositions.