Board of Directors
H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh
Chairman, RIT Dubai Board of Directors
H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh is the Director-General of the Government of Dubai's Department of Finance (DOF) since 2009. He also chairs the Board of Directors of the Dubai Financial Support Fund, and a member of the Executive Council of Dubai, as well as a member of the Dubai's Strategic Affairs Council.
H.E. Mr. Al Saleh is a member of a number of highly esteemed boards, including Dubai's Supreme Fiscal Policy Committee, Dubai World, the Federal Tax Authority as well as the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC).
In a presidential decree issued in December 2018, H.E. Mr. Al Saleh was appointed as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Arab Emirates Central Bank. Previously, H.E. DOF's Director General has held many leadership and financial positions in a number of government entities at the local and federal levels, including the Senior Executive Director for Financial and Administrative Affairs at Dubai Customs. He also chaired a number of committees, notably the VAT Committee at Dubai Customs. He also oversaw and participated in a number of other regulatory and strategic committees, including the Executive Credit Policy Committee and the Indirect Taxation Working Group.
H.E. Mr. Al Saleh is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in the United Kingdom and holds an MBA degree from the American University of Sharjah.
H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni
Director General of the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) and Vice Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA).
Dr. Al Zarooni was appointed in 2000 as the Director General of the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA). He was appointed Vice Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) in 2002 and still leads both entities.
Dr. Al Zarooni brings with him more than 20 years of executive management experience in building free zones. In 2011, Dr. Al Zarooni was appointed as the Chairman of the Dubai Free Zone Council, which was established to unify the rules and regulations that govern free zone companies and serve as a one-stop point for global investors. In 1995, Dr. Al Zarooni joined the Department of Civil Aviation as the Director of Administration & Research, where he was a key figure in establishing the Free Zone Division. Prior to joining the Department of Civil Aviation, Dr. Al Zarooni served at the Ministry of Education for 8 years. Dr. Al Zarooni was also appointed as the Director-General of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) in 2006 and later on, he was assigned as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of DAE in mid-2010.
Additionally, Dr. Al Zarooni serves on the boards of several governmental entities; these include the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Dubai Economic Council along with the Economy and Trade Committee.
Dr. Al Zarooni holds a doctorate in Economic Geography from Durham University – UK (1994) as well as a bachelor's and a master’s degree from Emirates University in Economics.
Passing his knowledge and experience to the new generation, Dr. Al Zarooni is a lecturer at the UAE University.
H.E. Mr. Essa Abdul Fattah Kazim
Chairman of Borse Dubai and Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Director of Dubai International Financial Center.
Mr. Kazim began his career as a Senior Analyst in the Research and Statistics Department of the UAE Central Bank in 1988 and then moved to the Dubai Department of Economic Development as Director of Planning and Development in 1993. He was then appointed as Director-General of the DFM from 1999 to 2006.
He is currently a Member of the Higher Board of Directors of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and the Board of DIFC Authority, Member of Dubai Council for Economic Affairs, Board Director of NASDAQ Dubai, Member of the Board of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Board Director of NASDAQ OMX and Member of the Board of Governors of Hamdan Bin Mohammed E-University.
Mr. Kazim holds an honorary Doctorate from Coe College, a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Iowa, a master’s degree in Total Quality Management from the University of Wollongong, and a bachelor's degree from Coe College.
H.E. Mr. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori
Director General of the Dubai Digital Authority.
He is the Chairman of the Digital Government of the UAE Government since July 5, 2020, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, since July 2015, the Emirates Foundation for Advanced Science and Technology, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Space Agency, and a member of the Board of Directors. Management of the “Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy” since June 30, 2021, and the “Emirates Technology Solutions Company”, and a member of the “Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence” and the “Emirates Council for the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.
He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Specialized Telecommunications Corporation “Nidaa”, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Security Industry Regulatory Corporation”, and a member of the High-Level International Committee on Broadband for Digital Development. The committee is one of the joint international committees of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). And UNESCO, which is concerned with achieving digital development goals worldwide.
Mr. Hamad holds advisory positions in many government agencies, including: Advisor to the Director General of Information Systems at the Dubai Police General Headquarters, Technical Advisor at the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and General Supervisor of Information Systems at the Endowments and Minors Affairs Foundation.
He served as Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority between 2015 and 2021, Deputy Director General of the Authority for the Information and E-Government Sector between 2013 and 2015, and Director General of the UAE Smart Government between 2014 and 2015, where he contributed to the management and implementation of many projects and initiatives. At the national level, he also held the position of Information Systems Advisor at the Dubai Government Public Prosecution between 2008 and 2010.
Other positions that Mr. Al Mansouri held at the state level include: Director General of the “Mohammed bin Rashid Smart Learning Program” during the pilot phase, director of “Electronic Portal Programs” at the state level, member of the Supreme Committee for Information Systems in the “Ministry of Labour,” and head of the electronic connectivity project.
He supervised the manufacture and launch of the Khalifa Sat satellite, which is the first Emirati satellite manufactured entirely in the country and by 100% Emirati engineers. He was also at the head of the team charged with supervising the launch at the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
He won the Prime Minister’s Medal for Best General Manager in the fifth session of the “Mohammed bin Rashid Award for DistinguishedGovernment Performance.”
He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Middlesex University in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Darshan Hiranandani
Managing Director of the Hiranandani Group.
Mr. Hiranandani also plays a key role in the Hirco Group – Niranjan Hiranandani’s development arm for Indian projects. He has been instrumental in the implementation of high-tech facilities in Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, which won the Ramakrishna Bajaj award for the best hospital in India. He is also actively involved in the prestigious SEZ development project as a representative of the Hiranandani Group.
Mr. Hiranandani has a sound educational background and has completed his MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Finance after completing B.S. (Business) in Management Information Systems.
Dr. Prabu David
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, RIT NY
Dr. Prabu David is Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology, New York. As provost, he serves as the chief academic officer overseeing 11 colleges and 5 international campuses. Among other responsibilities, his office handles curriculum development and assessment, student retention and success Initiatives, faculty and staff recruitment and retention, academic support programs, academic affairs, and faculty affairs.
His top leadership priority is to nurture a strong sense of community and belonging in the workplace that leads to the success of students, staff and faculty. In addition, he has advanced a new budget model and highlighted the role of AI as a critical component of the academic mission of the university.
His current research is aimed at developing human-centered AI that is ethical and trustworthy. His recent publications examine acceptance of facial recognition technology, algorithmic bias, AI governance, and privacy.
Previously, he was dean of the College of Communication at Michigan State University, where he expanded their research portfolio, implemented curriculum innovations, improved faculty and student success, advanced DEI initiatives, and led the college to a top 10 international ranking in QS and top 3 position in Shanghai ranking.
His other experiences include serving as Associate Dean of the Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University and as Director of Undergraduate Studies at the School of Communication at Ohio State University.
He earned his BS in Physics from Loyola College in Chennai, India, MA in Journalism from Ohio University and PhD in Mass Communication from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His interests include walking, hiking, bicycling, and dabbling in design projects.
Dr. James Watters
Senior Vice President and Treasurer, RIT NY
As Senior Vice President Finance & Administration and Treasurer for Rochester Institute of Technology, a private R2 Carnegie classified university with 20,000 students. Dr. Watters is responsible for the university’s $1.1 billion-dollar operating budget, the direct investment of $ 400 million of working capital, administering the investment process and hiring of investment managers for $1.3 billion of endowment assets, and managing and issuing $390 million of public debt. He is the senior executive that leads more than 900 full-time staff and several hundred part time staff charged with responsibility for the financial, physical, human capital and information assets of the university.
A representative sample of departments in this area of responsibility include financial services and planning, controller and treasury, human resources, legal services, university housing to 7,000 students and $30 million dollar food service operation, information technology, risk management and insurance, internal audit, public safety, ERM, compliance and ethics, institutional research and facilities management, design and construction. On an annual basis, Dr. Watters oversees the financing and construction of $100 million of projects.
He oversees the investment decision making process for the RIT Venture Fund, an early-stage investment vehicle for entrepreneurs connected to the university.
Dr. Watters serves as Vice chairman of RIT’s global subsidiary operating campuses in Dubai, Croatia, Kosovo, and China, and is Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for RIT Croatia, board member of RIT Dubai and responsible for negotiating business models and real estate transactions for RIT’s global campuses. He has served as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Applied Sciences and the E. Philip Saunders College of Business for various graduate business courses.
Presently, Dr. Watters serves as an independent director of Broadstone Net Lease (BNL), Chair of the BNL Nominating and Governance Committee, Member of the Executive Compensation Committee. BNL is a publicly traded REIT on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, he serves as an independent director on the board of Canandaigua National Bank and Trust Corporation and serves on the Wealth Management Committee and Executive Compensation Committee.
Ms. Kathleen Davis
Vice President for Enrollment Management and Associate Provost, RIT NY.
Kathleen Davis is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Associate Provost at RIT NY, where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance new undergraduate and graduate student recruitment, admissions, and enrollment success. With a passion for fostering inclusive educational environments, Kathleen is dedicated to ensuring that RIT attracts and supports a diverse student body, preparing them for success in an increasingly globalized world.
Before joining RIT, Kathleen served as the Vice President for Enrollment and Retention Management at Saint Louis University, in St. Louis, Missouri, from 2018 to 2023. During her tenure at SLU, she implemented innovative enrollment strategies that significantly helped grow undergraduate and graduate enrollment, and she made a significant contribution to retention initiatives.
Prior to Saint Louis University, Kathleen led the enrollment management division at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, where she successfully enhanced the institution's visibility and appeal to prospective students. Her experience also includes various admissions roles at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine (ME), St. John’s University (NY), New York University Polytechnic (NY), and Clarkson University (NY).
A native of New England, Kathleen holds an MBA from Clarkson University (NY) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Russell Sage College (NY). Her strong educational background, combined with her commitment to transformational leadership in higher education, positions her as a key figure in shaping the future of enrollment management at RIT.
Dr. Yousef Al-Assaf
President, RIT Dubai
Dr. Yousef Al-Assaf completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Sussex University, UK, in 1984 and his Ph.D. from Oxford University in 1988. Dr. Al-Assaf was a founding member and chair of the industrial engineering department at the University of Jordan, where he also worked as the outreach manager. He was a founding member of the electrical engineering and computer engineering programs at AUS since 1998. He was appointed as the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering (CEN) at AUS in 2004 and has served as the Dean of the college since 2005 till his appointment as President of Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai. Dr. Al-Assaf's research focuses on using soft computing to model and control various industrial and medical systems.
Applications include materials modeling and classification, prostheses control, industrial quality control, and optimization. Dr. Al-Assaf's industrial experiences are in the areas of industrial instrumentation and control (PLC, SCADA, DCS, microprocessor, and PC-based controllers). He has designed and developed various automated control systems for various industries including fertilizer, textile, and sheet-cutting establishments.