A leading scholar in linguistics and visionary in higher education, Joseph E. Aoun is the seventh President of Northeastern University. Under his leadership, the university has evolved into a global system with 13 campuses across North America and the UK. He expanded its co-op program to over 140 countries, increased research funding sevenfold, and recruited more than 800 faculty members.
His book, Robot-Proof (MIT Press, 2024), outlines a bold framework for education in the AI era, emphasizing “humanics,” experiential learning, and lifelong education. Aoun previously served at USC and holds a Ph.D. from MIT, with degrees from Paris VIII and Saint Joseph University. He has received France’s Legion of Honor, the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award, and the Peter J. Tanous Founder’s Award. He is a fellow of the AAAS, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a former Chair of the American Council on Education.

Fouad Abd-El-Khalick is the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UMass Amherst. He has spent over two decades advancing research, teaching, and service at leading public research universities. A champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, he has built programs that expand access and ensure success for students, faculty, and staff. 
Before joining UMass Amherst, he served as dean at UNC Chapel Hill, where he boosted research funding, launched new programs, and expanded diversity and philanthropy. At the University of Illinois, he held senior leadership roles and earned multiple teaching and research honours.
A Fellow of the AAAS, Abd-El-Khalick is a leading scholar in science education, particularly the nature of science. He has edited top journals and served on the executive board of NARST, which awarded him its highest honor in 2022. In 2021, he was named the Kuwait Prize Laureate in Education by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.

President of the American University of Beirut (AUB) since 2015, Fadlo R. Khuri has led the university through Lebanon’s crises—economic collapse, the Beirut explosion, the pandemic, and war—while elevating its global standing. Reappointed through 2030, he restored tenure, tripled financial aid, diversified enrollment, and empowered inclusive leadership. 

His initiatives include the $805M BOLDLY AUB campaign, AUB Online, AUB Mediterraneo in Cyprus, refugee education and healthcare, and the Keserwan Medical Center. A renowned oncologist with 750+ publications, Khuri held key roles at Emory and MD Anderson and earned global honors. Under his leadership, AUB rose from #801 to #381 in US News and from #501 to #250 in QS Rankings. He serves on global scientific committees and joined the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025.

Minister of Education of Lebanon, Rima Karami-Akkary brings deep expertise in educational leadership and reform to her role. Prior to her appointment, she was an Associate Professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB), specializing in Educational Administration, Policy, and Leadership. She advises the Educational Management and Leadership program and holds degrees from AUB and Portland State University, with a focus on K–12 administration and school reform. 

She leads the TAMAM Project, a school-based reform initiative launched in 2007, now active in 67 schools across 8 Arab countries. TAMAM has received funding from several regional organizations and was awarded the 2021–2022 UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for teacher development. Karami-Akkary has published extensively on leadership, professional development, and school reform. She also consults with schools across Lebanon and the Arab region. She serves on executive committees for Shamaa, LAES, and coordinates the education sector for Khaddit Beirut.