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Reappointment of Professor Lotfi Gaafar as Dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering

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  3. Reappointment of Professor Lotfi Gaafar as Dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering

January 21, 2025

Dear AUC Community,

I am pleased to announce that the reappointment of Lotfi Gaafar, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, as Dean of the AUC School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE) has been approved by the AUC President for a second four-year term, effective July 1, 2025.

This renewal reflects his significant contributions to the implementation of strategic vision at the school, fostering interdisciplinary research, and optimizing organizational structures toward efficiency and impact.

Gaafar achieved outstanding progress during his first term. Under his leadership, AI has been effectively introduced into several courses and programs. Community-based and project-based learning activities, along with hands-on experiences for students, have increased significantly. Most undergraduate programs in SSE are reaccredited now and the NAAB accreditation process for ARCH has begun.

He has also worked toward improving the research infrastructure by launching the High-Performance Computing Cluster and setting up an SSE store from which high-demand research items can immediately be delivered. Among other things, joining the Afretec network has positively affected research, teaching, student activities, extended education, women empowerment, and community engagement. The steady growth in research productivity and external grants that started in 2014 continued under his leadership. New professional diplomas and customized programs have been developed to meet the rising demand in extended education, resulting in a constant increase in revenue from extended education. Community engagement and student activities have picked up appreciably with initiatives such as the Eltoukhy Learning Factory for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as well as the SSE Virtual Reality Lab. SSE participated very actively in COP 27, and several students won prestigious awards during this time. Gaafar and SSE faculty are also involved in the AUC expansion plan.

These achievements highlight Gaafar's dedication to advancing the school's strategic vision and fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.

I would like to thank all those who informed the reappointment review process with their thoughtful comments and deep performance analysis.

I am grateful to Dean Gaafar for his bold vision to enhance the efficiency of SSE, his record of accomplishment, and his willingness to continue serving in this role. Please join me in congratulating him on his reappointment and in thanking him for his hard work on behalf of the SSE and AUC.

Sincerely,
Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Provost