Board Members

Mr. Omar Khader, a 2011 Fulbright alum, earned his MBA from Georgetown University. After working in investment banking and advisory in New York and Amman, he joined the EBRD, where he led sustainable infrastructure projects in Jordan. He now works in private equity focused on sustainable infrastructure.

Mr. Anthony Pusatory is a humanitarian and development specialist with 12 years of experience in the Middle East. A University of Colorado and Columbia University graduate, he holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler and is a US Army Special Operations veteran focused on innovative, impactful development.

Mr. Jed Dornburg is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with 20 years of State Department experience. He has served in Washington, Yemen, Tunisia, Indonesia, and the UAE, focusing on diplomacy, strategic communications, and international programs. He holds a master’s from Sophia University in Tokyo.

Prof. Thafer Assaraira is President of Jordan’s Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission. He holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from Ohio University and previously served as President of Mu’tah University. He has extensive expertise in higher education, accreditation, and quality assurance.

Prof. Khaled Hyari is President of Hashemite University and a Professor of Civil Engineering. He previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and specializes in construction management, infrastructure, and research and teaching.

Francesca Ricciardone is Economic and Climate Prosperity Program Manager at Open Society Foundations in Amman. She has over 15 years of experience in labor and economic rights and policy across the Arab region, including Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Qatar. She holds an MA from AUC and a BA from Tufts University.

Ms. Sarah Rashid is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer who served at the U.S. Mission to the UN and U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg. She led humanitarian and development programs across the Middle East and began her career teaching in Aqaba in 2009. She holds an M.A. from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill.

Prof. Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli is President of the German Jordanian University and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering specializing in microfluidics and bioMEMS. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Jordan and a Habilitation from TU Braunschweig, with research experience at MIT and Tufts. He has published 90 papers.