Mohammad Qayoumi
Encyclopedia
Mohammad H. Qayoumi is an engineer and professor who was appointed president of San Jose State University
on March 23, 2011 . Previously he has served since 2006 as the fourth president of California State University, East Bay
. He has worked in university administration for more than 30 years and has a background in both engineering and business. Qayoumi was born in Afghanistan
and is the first person of Afghan descent to head a major U.S. university.
In June 2010, Qayoumi contributed a photo essay to Foreign Policy
magazine about Afghanistan in the 1960s, which led to an interview on the NPR
program Morning Edition (aired June 18, 2010).
in 1975. He holds four degrees from the University of Cincinnati
: a Master of Science in nuclear engineering (1979), a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering (1980), an MBA (1984), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (1983). He is a licensed professional engineer and a certified management accountant. He is also a tenured professor of engineering at Cal State East Bay. He is also now the new president of San Jose State University.
and the United Arab Emirates
. From 1979 to 1986, he held positions at the University of Cincinnati including staff engineer, director of technical services, and director of utilities and engineering services. In 1986, he took a position as Associate Vice President for Administration at San Jose State University
. He served as vice chancellor for administrative services at University of Missouri-Rolla from 1995 to 2000. He then moved to California State University, Northridge
, where he served as Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, as well as a tenured professor of engineering management until 2006.
Under his leadership, the university adopted new long-range academic and strategic plans in 2008 with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and on modeling and teaching sustainability; however, the strategy has not successfully positioned Cal State East Bay becoming science, technology and math based education due to the fact that Cal State East Bay is much toward social sciences and business based education. And in 2009, he announced the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign to help underwrite this change in institutional emphasis while maintaining and increasing student access, particularly among underserved populations.
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
on March 23, 2011 . Previously he has served since 2006 as the fourth president of California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay
California State University, East Bay is a public university located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The university, as part of the 23-campus California State University system, offers over 100 areas of study...
. He has worked in university administration for more than 30 years and has a background in both engineering and business. Qayoumi was born in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and is the first person of Afghan descent to head a major U.S. university.
In June 2010, Qayoumi contributed a photo essay to Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel.Originally, the magazine was a quarterly...
magazine about Afghanistan in the 1960s, which led to an interview on the NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
program Morning Edition (aired June 18, 2010).
Degrees and Academic Background
Qayoumi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from American University of BeirutAmerican University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
in 1975. He holds four degrees from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
: a Master of Science in nuclear engineering (1979), a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering (1980), an MBA (1984), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (1983). He is a licensed professional engineer and a certified management accountant. He is also a tenured professor of engineering at Cal State East Bay. He is also now the new president of San Jose State University.
Professional Experience
Before coming to the United States, Qayoumi worked as an engineer in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. From 1979 to 1986, he held positions at the University of Cincinnati including staff engineer, director of technical services, and director of utilities and engineering services. In 1986, he took a position as Associate Vice President for Administration at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. He served as vice chancellor for administrative services at University of Missouri-Rolla from 1995 to 2000. He then moved to California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, where he served as Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, as well as a tenured professor of engineering management until 2006.
As President of Cal State East Bay
Upon taking office at CSUEB in 2006, Qayoumi identified his top priorities as enrollment growth; improved financial stability and transparency; increasing tenure track faculty; and enhancing facilities and campus physical maintenance. He has overseen development of a new physical master plan for CSUEB’s Hayward campus.Under his leadership, the university adopted new long-range academic and strategic plans in 2008 with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and on modeling and teaching sustainability; however, the strategy has not successfully positioned Cal State East Bay becoming science, technology and math based education due to the fact that Cal State East Bay is much toward social sciences and business based education. And in 2009, he announced the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign to help underwrite this change in institutional emphasis while maintaining and increasing student access, particularly among underserved populations.
As President of San Jose State University
President Qayoumi was selected in March of 2011 as the new president of San Jose State.Selected Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- Senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
- California State University/University of California Energy Advisory Board, 2000–present
- Silicon Valley Leadership GroupSilicon Valley Leadership GroupThe Silicon Valley Leadership Group, founded in 1978 by David Packard of Hewlett-Packard, represents more than 340 of Silicon Valley's most respected employers on issues, programs and campaigns that affect the economic health and quality of life in Silicon Valley, including energy, transportation,...
- Bay Area Council Board of Directors, 2006–present
- Contra Costa Business Council Board of Directors
- East Bay Economic Development Alliance Board of Directors, 2006–present
- WASCWASCWASC may refer to:* WASC , a radio station licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States* Web Application Security Consortium* West African School Certificate* Western Association of Schools and Colleges...
Review Team Leader, Southern California University of Health Sciences, 2007–present - Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award examiner and senior examiner, 2000–03
- Senior advisor to the Minister of Finance of Afghanistan, 2002–05
- Central Bank of Afghanistan, member of the board of directors, 2004–07