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AUK welcomed two new members to its senior administration, Dr. Jeanine Romano, Assistant to the President for Institutional Research and Assessment and Mr. Rusty Bruns, Director of the Information Technology Department.

Dr. Jeanine Romano joined AUK on August 18, 2011, from the American University of Sharjah, where she was the Director of Institutional Research from 2007-2010. Prior to going to the UAE, she worked at the University of Tampa from 1996 through 2007 both as a mathematics faculty member and in Institutional Research and Assessment. In addition, she taught several courses in measurement and research design in the College of Education at the University of South Florida. She has participated in over 44 research conference presentations for several organizations. Her work has been published in the Journal of Experimental Education, Journal of Educational and Psychological Measurement, Journal of College Student Development and Internet and Higher Education. She is a founding member of the newly formed Middle East North Africa Association of Institutional Research (MENA-AIR). She has been nominated for the Florida Educational Research Association's distinguished paper award six times and has won this award both in 2004 and 2006. She was also the recipient of the 2007 Florida Association of Institutional Research Best Paper award. Dr. Romano has a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Measurement and Evaluation from the University of South Florida.

Mr. Bruns joined AUK on September 18, 2011 after spending 15 years at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC as the university's Chief Information Officer. Prior to that, he was a full-time adjunct professor (15 hours) at Trident Technical College in the Business and Technology Department and is a retired U.S. Naval Officer. Mr. Bruns holds a bachelorâs degree in Education from Southern Illinois University, a master's (dual major) in Business and Management Information Systems from Webster University and is currently working on his dissertation for his D.B.A. at Northcentral University. He is married to wife Sandra and has two sons.

AUK is happy to welcome Mr. Bruns and Dr. Jeanine as they will make a great addition to the AUK community.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 3rd October 2011

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2011

AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson received the Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to Kuwait H.E. Manyepedza P. Lesetedi on a visit to AUK on Thursday September 30th. The Ambassador met with the President to discuss the possibility of a collaboration between AUK and the Republic of Botswana in an effort to provide more educational opportunities for the citizens of Botswana. The meeting also covered a wide array of topics including the political, economic and social climate of Sub-Saharan Africa

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 2nd October 2011

Photography by the Office of Public Affairs (C) 2011

As the University nears its ten year anniversary, it is reflecting upon successes and challenges in order to plan strategically for the decade ahead. The AUK Board of Trustees has approved a review of the current Mission Statement as the initial step of AUK's Strategic Planning process. To this end, AUK President Dr. Winfred Thompson appointed a Mission Review Committee comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and Board members and charged it with the review of the University's Mission Statement and Values.

During the Fall 2011 semester, the Committee will conduct a community-wide review of the University's Mission Statement and Values in light of the growth and development of the University and its aspirations for the future. The Committee will also solicit input on developing a Vision Statement. The Committee will seek to involve the entire University community with the intent to recommend changes if deemed necessary, as participation by and feedback from members of the AUK community are essential to the success of this process.

Over the course of the next two months the Committee will be asking for feedback from the AUK community. Opportunities for participation will be made available through surveys, focus groups, and open forums. AUK students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others will be contacted and asked to complete an online confidential survey. To further solicit feedback focus groups will be conducted in early October, as will AUK Community Open Forums. Each Open Forum will provide a venue for an open dialogue amongst all community members to share their thoughts and feelings on the Mission Statement and Values of AUK.

Two open Forums will be conducted on the following dates:

1. Tuesday, October 4th 2011 2.00-3.30pm in the AUK Multi-Purpose Room
2. Wednesday, October 5th 2011 6.00-7.30pm in the AUK Multi-Purpose Room

Speaking to the importance of the University's Mission Statement, Dr. Thompson said, "It defines our origin and has framed our goals and objectives since the founding." He added that as AUK approaches its decennial anniversary, it is necessary to determine the Mission's appropriateness and ensure that University departments and divisions are indeed in line with the Mission and Values of the University.

For more details on this process you may go to the AUK website at the following: http://www.auk.edu.kw/about_auk/strategic_plan.jsp

Released by the PR & Marketing Department on the 27th September 2011

AUK welcomed its 23rd Dartmouth intern since 2005, Shloka Ranjan Kini, a third year student at Dartmouth College from the town of Schererville, Indiana, a suburb of Chicago. She will be working in the Information Technology Office, the Writing Center and with Computer Science Faculty. She will also be serving as a teaching assistant in our guitar classes at AUK. At Dartmouth, she is majoring in Computer Science and plans to pursue pre-medical studies. She has participated in several Rockefeller Center programs while at Dartmouth, such as the First Year Fellows program, a program which allowed her to intern in Washington D.C. for a summer, and the Management Leadership Development Program. She has served as a teaching assistant in the Computer Science Department for their Introduction to Computer Science (Java) course. She has also conducted research through the Women in Science Project with Professor Pellacini in the Computer Science Department. More recently, she has served as a Program Assistant at the Rockefeller Center, helping with the management of their new database and serving as a graphic designer in their Policy Research Shop.

Currently, she is very involved in the school's radio station, WDCR, and has her own weekly radio show, which currently features theme-driven Oldies Western and Bollywood songs. At Dartmouth, she has participated in a variety of other student activities, but her true passion lies with performance. Shloka plays the piano, guitar, and alto saxophone, and has played with various bands; she has also been a singer and a dancer from a young age.

Previously, she has been Valedictorian of her high school class, a National Merit Scholar, and was nominated as Governor of Indiana through the Hoosier Girls State program as well as winning national prizes for her proficiency with Microsoft Office Applications and Database Applications. She is a first generation American of Indian parents, and she is looking forward to spending the fall term in Kuwait. Shloka will be at AUK until the middle of November 2011.

Released by the PR & Marketing Department on the 20th September 2011

Photography by the AUK Public Relations & Marketing Department (C) 2011

Associate Professor of English Language & Literature at AUK Dr. Ghazi Q. Nassir authored a new book titled Samuel Johnson's Attitude Toward Islam: A Study of His Oriental Readings and Writings to be released October 31, 2011 by the Edwin Mellen Press.

The main purpose of the book, Samuel Johnson's Attitude Toward Islam: A Study of His Oriental Readings and Writings, is to demonstrate how Samuel Johnson's Irene, Rasselas and his other short Oriental tales (four in the Rambler and three in the Idler) share, with previous Oriental writings, a common focus on Islam, Arabs, their culture, and political systems. Johnson's assessments of and observations on Islam and Arab cultures in both his writings and conversations clearly prove that he looked at them less objectively. His treatment of the Orient was highly biased. The book seeks to furnish students of Eighteenth Century English Literature, Johnsonian scholars and orientalists with some useful observations on Johnson's Orientalism, as a whole, as well as on particular works in light of what is now known of Samuel Johnson's life, personality, psychological profile, and the intellectual and literary milieu in which he wrote.

The author's main concern is the attitude and the opinions of Johnson, more than the sources that were available to him. By the same token, the use that he made of these sources is a strong indication of his attitude. Generally speaking, when an author like Johnson, who is famous for his fantastic memory, deletes or adds information, this allows readers to see that he purposely knew the information was wrong, and absurd. Moreover, Johnson spoiled the effect of his Orientalism with his strong sense of the Westâs superiority over the East. However, his lack of sympathy with and understanding of Islam and the Muslim culture destroys the integrity of the main characters of both Irene and Rasselas. In fact, Johnson was temperamentally hostile to Islamic culture, particularly to the Prophet Mohammed and Muslims. In general, all Johnsonâs letters, conversations, and writings indicate that his opinions and attitudes about the Orient, its customs, its civilization, and its religion were not flattering. Similarly, his ideas about Mohammed and Islam were dictated by old inherited prejudices. Following the tradition of old polemics, he regarded Mohammed as a false prophet, an enthusiast who manipulated his religion to gratify his sexual desires. His followers were merely dupes or lustful and lazy people.

Released by the PR & Marketing Department on the 19th September 2011

Photography by the AUK Public Relations & Marketing Department (C) 2011

With a new incoming Freshmen class and a student body fresh from summer, AUK's Office of Student Life held its Annual Welcome Week from September 11-14, to promote interaction among students and provide opportunities to learn about the resources, support structures and activities available on campus. Welcome Week is designed to thrust new students into University life, and give students the opportunity to meet with staff and faculty.

This year's events kicked-off with a 'Welcome Back Barbeque' on September 11th, where the University welcomed its new Freshmen Class of 2015. This event saw 250 students, faculty and staff share in the commencement of the new 2011-12 Academic year.

Students, especially Freshmen, had an opportunity to get to know their professors, instructors and staff members at the 'Faculty and Staff Meet & Greet' on September 12th. Approximately 150 students, staff and faculty socialized, giving students a chance to familiarize themselves with the AUK community as well as their future professors, in an effort to enhance their academic success.

Highlighting the week was the 'Involvement Fair' on September 13th, where an array of activities was on display for students to choose from throughout the academic year. Students were introduced to all the clubs and organizations available to them on campus, as well as athletic teams and recreational activities. The 'Involvement Fair' also introduced students to all the different departments at AUK and their functions, ensuring that students have all the information necessary for a successful year.

The Hangout Tent, is a great place for students to relax, play games and get to know their fellow students, which is why 'Welcome Back to the Hangout' was a great event for Freshmen and Transfers. Students were given the opportunity to know more about the Hangout Tent and its activities and events throughout the academic year. 'Welcome Week' concluded with a fun activity outside of campus. Students were invited to Bowling @ 360 Mall Bowl Room giving them a chance to interact with each other outside a university setting.

'Welcome Week' was a great success this year with many Freshmen and Intensive English Students taking part in many of the events held. These events are meant to ensure a smooth transition into academic life for all students, whether IEP, Freshmen or Transfers, and ensure students that AUK is their home away from home.

Released by the PR & Marketing Department on the 18th September 2011

Photography by the AUK Public Relations & Marketing Department (C) 2011

AUK welcomed its third pair of graduate interns, Lamees Galal and Genevieve Sullivan, who will spend eight weeks of their summer completing graduate internships within the Division of Administrative and Student Affairs. Lamees will be at AUK until July 16 working in the Office of Admissions, and in the Office of the Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs. Genevieve will be at AUK until July 28 working in the Office of the Registrar and in the Office of Student Life.

Lamees Galal, originally from Syracuse, New York, enjoyed learning about the Arabic culture and language while spending many summers visiting her family in Egypt. Some of her fondest memories include visiting The Great Pyramids of Giza and snorkeling in the Red Sea. Lamees attended St. John's University in Queens, New York, where she studied Finance as an undergraduate. She enjoyed attending school in New York City, decided to get involved on campus and became a student worker at the university library for all four years. Also, she became a resident assistant for three years where she was able to make connections with her residents and assist in their transition to college. Additionally, Lamees was able to obtain a marketing internship at MTV Networks in Times Square. Through her position as a resident assistant, Lamees decided to pursue a career in student affairs. Lamees is currently attending Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She is studying Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education. Her assistantship is in Housing and Residence Life as an Assistant Residence Hall Director in an international living learning community.

Lamees chose to come to AUK because, "family members of mine have previously worked in Kuwait and the Gulf region. From their stories, I knew it would be a great experience. With this internship, I'm excited to apply what I learned about student development theory in a different culture. I look forward to working in Admissions, the Vice President's Office, and practicing my Arabic!"

Genevieve Sullivan, originally from South Bend, Indiana, began her path to a career in higher education with experiences at her undergraduate institution as the student director of Community Outreach and Resources at the University of Mary Washington. Through this it was clear that she had a passion for engaging students in volunteerism, and after obtaining a degree in Geography Genevieve moved to Chicago, IL to begin working at a large non-profit, Chicago Cares. While working at Chicago Cares she was able to plan large-scale volunteer projects for companies and corporations, honing her event planning skills; but it was clear that she was to become a student affairs administrator. The University of Denver accepted Genevieve Sullivan in August 2010, complete with a Student Life Fellowship. This program emphasizes practical experience along with instruction to obtain a Master of Arts in Higher Education. The Fellowship allowed Genevieve to work planning volunteer programs for undergraduate students in the office of campus activities as well as find a love for Greek Life as a House Director of the Alpha Phi sorority.

When asked why she chose AUK Genevieve said, "When I heard about the internship at AUK, I thought it would be a perfect experience. This internship allows me to study abroad, learn about a culture other then my own, and learn how to work in several different areas at a University. I am thrilled to have been selected to participate in this unique opportunity."

As the program began in 2009, Lamees & Genevieve are the third pair of Graduate Interns to participate and this summer are helping the program celebrate its recognition as the award recipient for the NASPA International Education Knowledge Community 2011 Best Practice Award for International Exchange Programs.

Released by the PR & Marketing Department on the 19th June 2011

Mishref, Kuwait, June 16, 2011: The Graduation Ceremony of the Class of 2011 at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) took place at Kuwait International Fairgrounds (KIF) at 10 am on Thursday, June 16. The ceremony commenced with the Kuwaiti national anthem and a recitation of the Holy Quran. Graduates then began to march towards the stage waving to their friends and families as they took their seats. AUK President Winfred Thompson then welcomed students, and their families to the ceremony as well as AUK Chair Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah along with several board members and numerous dignitaries and diplomats.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Thompson addressed how the region and the Arab world are at the cusp of a new chapter in history, facing uncertain times and an unknown future, but "What I can hope-and even, I think, predict-is that your education at AUK will help you to better face the challenges of your life, fulfill your plans for the future, and reward the hopes and dreams of your parents and your families".

The President then introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, a Kuwaiti clinical psychologist and creator of THE 99, the first group of comic superheroes born of an Islamic archetype. Dr. Naif's speech focused on three major points, education and innovation, balancing one's life and entrepreneurship, all told through personal anecdotes. Dr. Naif explored the reality of our present situation in the Arab world and encouraged graduates to work towards a better future. "I have spent the last two years trying to balance my life out. I am still a work in progress. You too will be works in progress your whole life. Working too much was my drug and I numbed myself. I implore you, don't let complacency be yours. We need you to create jobs, not just consume them. You are the future." He concluded his speech on an inspiration note, letting the graduates know that "anything is possible; anything at all."

Click here for the Graduation 2011 Slideshow

Vice President of Administrative and Student Affairs Dr. Carol Ross-Scott then introduced the Class of 2011 Valedictorian, Laila Al-Daghestani. Laila rose to the podium to deliver her speech, which was both moving and insightful. She spoke of the uncertainty of the future and the challenges that lay ahead for her and her fellow graduates saying, "Graduation is about so much more than a simple ceremony; it is a rite of passage. At this turning point, we come to the end of a long and trying journey, and we brace ourselves for the entirely new and infinitely more challenging one that lies ahead. It is our job, as the generation soon to be handed the reins of leadership, to bring upon progress to our world. To do that we must find the right path leading towards a better tomorrow." Laila, on behalf of the Class of 2011, ended her speech by thanking parents, families, professors, teachers, advisors and friends that have helped the graduates in their journey.

Laila is graduating with a BA degree in Communication and Media and a minor in History, and has earned the highest cumulative grade point average of this graduating class.

Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Nizar Hamzeh recommended the conferral of degrees to President Thompson who then conferred upon the 471 graduates their respective degrees. Graduates were then presented with their bachelor's degree diploma by President Thompson, Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa and Dr. Nizar Hamzeh, and in keeping with the academic tradition, the graduates were asked to move their tassels from right to left, thereby marking their official graduation from AUK.

The ceremony also included the traditional cutting of the Class of 2011 cake, and professional photography was provided for all graduates and their families and friends.