AUC Welcomes Richard Brow as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs
With a master’s degree in Middle East studies and extensive experience working with NGOs and higher education institutions in the region, such as the American University of Beirut (AUB), Richard Brow is no stranger to Cairo, nor to the Middle East.
He is, however, new to AUC — joining last month as the new vice president for institutional advancement and alumni relations.
“Everyone has been extremely welcoming,” he said. “I’m immediately struck by the warmth and hospitality of Egyptians and, of course, by the depth and richness of their culture.”
Brow will be responsible for advancing AUC’s mission through fundraising, building strategic philanthropic partnerships and engaging with AUC’s alumni — not just as donors, but as advisors, ambassadors, volunteers and employers.
“I’ve known about AUC ever since I began studying the Middle East as an undergraduate student and through my years in Lebanon, when I worked with Ahmad Dallal, in his capacity as Provost of AUB,” he said. “When the opportunity presented itself to bring my skill set to AUC and work with President Dallal on implementing his vision for the University, I jumped at the chance.”
Advancing Onward
“My immediate priority is to get to know AUC, in all of its diversity,” Brow said, explaining that this means meeting with leadership, faculty, alumni and donors, among others. “I hope to meet as many alumni as possible — there are more than 40,000 of them located all over the world — to understand what their AUC experience was like.”
On top of this, Brow will work closely with his new colleagues in the Office of Institutional Advancement. He is keen on developing his team and hopefully, to achieve things for AUC that were previously thought impossible.
“There's a talented team here that I want to invest in and grow,” he said. “Advancement is not a profession that people think of when they go to university, but at each institution I’ve worked at, there have been staff members who have become real leaders in the field. I hope to do the same with the advancement staff at AUC.”
Getting Hooked
A Canadian, Brow was raised in Montreal, Quebec. He holds a BA in political science from Concordia University and a master’s in Middle East area studies from SOAS University of London.
“Growing up, the Middle East was always in the news and it intrigued me,” he said. “As I studied the region, with all of its complexity — the richness of the culture, the history, the politics — I got hooked.”
Brow has worked for nongovernmental and higher education institutions in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America. A transformative early career experience was in the Middle East program at the Carter Center, where he worked with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and traveled with him to the region. He also served in development and communications roles at prestigious universities in London, including SOAS, the London School of Economics and University of the Arts London.
More recently at AUB and the Aga Khan University in Pakistan and East Africa, Brow focused on implementing best practices in institutional advancement within the institutions, while adapting these practices to the context of the local cultures. His formula seems effective — at AUB, Brow built a team that delivered the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history, and in the Arab region.
“Every institution works within a different cultural and philanthropic context,” he explained. “I look forward to implementing similar practices at AUC, but of course, adapting them to the culture of Cairo, Egypt and the region.”
In Your Own Words
What is your favorite activity?
I’m an avid cyclist and kayaking enthusiast. Since I travel a lot, I have a folding bicycle and a folding kayak. I've taken the kayak all over the world, including Venice, Sweden, France and Canada. Now in Cairo, I am tempted to join the other kayakers on the Nile. However, I am not sure about cycling in the streets of Cairo.
What do you like to read?
I read a lot of nonfiction — Middle East politics, world affairs, and so on. I’m currently reading a wonderful history of cycling in all its diversity. I’m also reading Whatever Happened to the Egyptians? by the late AUC professor Galal Amin, after a colleague recommended it to me.
What is your favorite Egyptian food?
My very first weekend in Cairo, I had Om Ali. It brought back memories of my earlier trips. I don't know if it's my favorite, but it's an Egyptian dessert I enjoy tremendously.
What is your greatest inspiration?
In a previous role, I was visiting Gaza to conduct interviews for potential scholarship recipients. I met a student who had applied to do a master’s in London. I asked her what her life was like in Gaza, and how she maintained her optimism and spirit despite all the hardships.
She told me that when she’s feeling down, she goes to the sea, looks out at the horizon and thinks about what her life might be. Then I asked her what if there’s a curfew, as there often is in Gaza. She told me that she goes to the roof of her house and looks at the stars.
Her optimism and her hope, despite all of the challenges she faced, profoundly inspired me. (Needless to say, we gave her a scholarship!) This continues to drive me forward in the work that I do in higher education.
Finally, what world problem(s) are you passionate about?
In terms of world problems, climate change has to rank at the top. I would like to advance any research or awareness that makes a contribution to addressing climate change.
Working in higher education, I'm passionate about giving talented young people who may otherwise not have the chance to come to university, the opportunity for higher education.
Within that, I'm especially interested in empowering women. Research shows that if you invest in educating women, it will have a transformative and positive effect not only on their lives, but also on their families, their communities, and the wider world.
Scholarships truly change lives.
