Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) at The American University in Cairo – Cairo

Company Description:

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is the leading English-language higher education institution in North Africa and the Middle East. Accredited in the United States and rooted in the center of the intellectual and cultural life of the Arab world, the University has offered exceptional liberal arts and professional education for over a century. Situated on an award-winning 260-acre green campus in New Cairo, Egypt, the five schools and nine centennial labs of AUC are committed to making substantial contributions to Egypt and the global community in a variety of fields by fostering a culture of leadership, lifelong learning and service among its graduates.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) lies at the heart of the learning experience that AUC offers. Through its nine departments - Applied Linguistics and Educational Studies; Arab and Islamic Civilizations; Arts; English and Comparative Literature; History; Philosophy; Political Science; Psychology; and Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology - HUSS forms the backbone of AUC's liberal arts tradition. The renowned national and international faculty collectively engage in the interpretive work of making sense of the unseen and the unknown, situating human experience within historical and cultural contexts and critically examining the values and ideas that define humanity in their commitment to original research and excellence in teaching.

Job Description:

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of HUSS who sets its vision and strategy. The Dean provides leadership in academic programs, budgeting, internal and external relations, student, faculty and staff matters and strategic planning within the School. The Dean works closely with the President, Provost and other senior University leaders including other School Deans and Department Chairs to advance the values, vision and mission of the human and social sciences in particular and AUC in general.

Requirements:

AUC is seeking an inspiring Dean who will be a visionary leader for HUSS spearheading its future development. This Dean will maintain a supportive environment for research productivity and enhance the international reputation of HUSS while fundraising and managing the School's financial and human resources. This Dean should have a distinguished academic record, the highest ethical standards, excellent decision-making skills and an inclusive leadership style. With a terminal degree in hand, this Dean should be an established scholar who is recognized in their field for their strong publication record and experience in leading an academic unit and/or managing an academic environment. This Dean should also demonstrate a thorough understanding of the latest developments in digital humanities and AI and have experience working in these fields and/or developing strategies across multiple operational levels.

Additional Information:

Screening of applications begins on February 8, 2026. Applications will be accepted until a qualified applicant pool is achieved or the position is filled.

Application Instructions:

AUC is supported in its global search for this appointment by the executive search firm Perrett Laver. For further information and the candidate brochure with the full appointment details, please visit Perrett Laver's Vacancies page quoting reference 8190. To discuss this role in confidence, please contact Angela Licata at Angela.Licata@perrettlaver.com.

To apply for this position based in New Cairo, Egypt, please submit the following documents via AUC's Interview Exchange site:

(a) CV; (b) a letter of interest addressing the required qualifications; and (c) a completed AUC Personnel Information Form (PIF).