New chancellor appointed at American University of Sharjah

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), has approved the appointment of Dr. Susan Mumm as the new chancellor of AUS. Dr. Mumm will assume her duties in August 2021.

In a message to the AUS community, the Sharjah Ruler said that the new chancellor was identified after an extensive international search. The university's Board of Trustees approved Dr. Mumm’s appointment upon the recommendation of the board's Chancellor Search Committee.

"Dr. Mumm has extensive experience in higher education and is an accomplished historian. She is well prepared to lead AUS through the next phase of development,” said His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan. "We also want to express our sincere appreciation to Prof. Kevin Mitchell for remarkable commitment to the university during his period of service as Chancellor. Prof. Mitchell, who has served AUS and held various administrative roles since 1999, will return to his faculty appointment in the College of Architecture, Art and Design.

Dr. Mumm began her academic career at York University in Canada, and she has also served as a faculty member and Head of Department at the Open University in the United Kingdom. Most recently, she served as Principal of Brescia University College, part of the University of Western Ontario system.  Prior to that, she was Dean of Arts and Science at Queen’s University of Kingston. She previously served in senior leadership roles at Massey University in New Zealand, and Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada. Dr. Mumm holds a DPhil in History at the University of Sussex and an MA in History and a BA in English (Honours) and History (High Honours) from the University of Saskatchewan. She was a Commonwealth Scholar and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. 

Dr. Mumm thanked His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for the trust and confidence placed in her, and stated her commitment to contributing to achieving the vision that His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan had established for AUS. “It is the greatest honour of my career to be appointed to this leadership role at AUS”, said Dr. Mumm.  “I look forward to joining such a vibrant, highly respected, and ambitious institution that has earned a reputation for excellence in the region and beyond.”  Dr. Mumm’s priorities will include advancing the mission of AUS, continuing to enhance the student experience and fostering the university’s research agenda.