President / Vice Chancellor / CEO

The Board of Trustees of Zayed University (ZU) seeks exceptional candidates for the President/Vice Chancellor/CEO role. Zayed University is a national and regional leader in educational innovation. The University offers globally recognized bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for men and women. The President/Vice Chancellor/CEO will be expected to provide overall leadership of the academic program and oversee the further development of this flagship national public institution. The President/Vice Chancellor/CEO will build on the university’s well-established reputation for academic quality, foster community engagement, and continue to grow ZU’s research and innovation portfolio to advance knowledge and solve problems of national and global significance.

Founded in 1998 and proudly bearing the name of the Founder of the Nation – the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, this flagship public institution has a critical role in the UAE’s higher education landscape. The mission of ZU is to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic advancement of the UAE and beyond through education and research, inspiring open and robust inquiry, a reverence for learning, and a commitment to service. 

Zayed University has two modern campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that welcome both national and international students. Originally founded to provide higher education for women, Zayed began admitting male students in 2008. Over its history, the student-centered institution has produced over 25,000 graduates who have gone on to major leadership roles in the public and private sectors in the UAE, the GCC region, and across the globe. The University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 students in a broad range of undergraduate programs and in select graduate programs accredited both by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The University was recently ranked 19th in the 2024 QS World University Arab Rankings. Zayed hosts 20% of all Emirati undergraduates enrolled in UAE federal institutions. With 572 distinguished faculty members representing 62 countries, ZU continues to foster innovation in the classroom and through scholarly work, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary education and research.

The President/Vice Chancellor/CEO position is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the University and reports to the Board of Trustees, chaired by Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment of the United Arab Emirates and formerly Minister of State for Youth Affairs. The President/Vice Chancellor/CEO oversees a senior leadership team that includes the Provost, the Chief Administrative and Financial Officer, the Chief Strategy Officer, Deans, and Directors. 

Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence below.Electronic submission of materials is encouraged.

Sean Farrell is leading this search with Ivan Ceballos and Drew Chang.