Dr. Hariclea Zengos joined AUI as Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) on August 1, 2025, bringing over 30 years of academic leadership experience. Dr. Zengos was previously the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (2022-2025). Before that, she was the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at Northwestern University in Qatar (2017-2021) and held several administrative positions at the American College of Greece (1989-2017). Dr. Zengos is a distinguished scholar of contemporary world literature in English; her research explores migration, displacement, and identity politics in postcolonial texts. She holds a Ph.D. in English (Tufts University), an M.A. in English (Clark University), an M.Ed. (Harvard University), and a B.A. in English (American College of Greece). Her expertise spans NECHE accreditation—gained through her tenure at the similarly accredited American College of Greece—alongside strategic planning, curriculum innovation, online education, and research advancement. Dr. Zengos will collaborate closely with outgoing VPAA, Dr. Christopher Taylor, to ensure a seamless transition and will play a pivotal role in launching AUI’s new strategic plan this September.
