Newsletter - August 2025

Dr. Randall Rhodes Reappointed as President of the American University of Kurdistan

The Board of Trustees of AUK announced the reappointment of Dr. Randall Rhodes as President. Since joining in 2020, Dr. Rhodes has led the University through enrollment and programmatic growth, strengthened the American-style infrastructure, and championed a culture of excellence and transparency commensurate with U.S. accreditation. The Board of Trustees looks forward to working with Dr. Rhodes during the institution’s second decade.

Fall 2025 New Student Orientation Kicks Off a New Academic Year at AUK

AUK kicked off the new academic year with its New Student Orientation, welcoming our newest Leopards to campus! The day featured inspiring remarks from AUK leadership, campus tours, and a lively introduction to student life. Peer Mentors played a key role, guiding freshmen as they transition to campus life. Fun activities, AUK Store vouchers, and student leadership opportunities rounded out the day, setting the tone for an exciting semester ahead.

Impact Hub Duhok: Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Innovation has a new home at AUK! On August 10, the campus celebrated the grand opening of Impact Hub Duhok — the first Impact Hub in Iraq — on the second floor of the Mustafa Barzani Building. This coworking and innovation space is designed to bring students, entrepreneurs, and startups together to collaborate, learn, and grow. Members gain access to space, workshops, and global Impact Hub connections with mentors and coaches around the world. It’s a perfect launchpad for Kurdistan’s next generation of changemakers!

AUK Launches First Master’s Program with AI Student Orientation

AUK welcomed its first-ever Master’s cohort this August with an orientation for the students entering the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence! Twenty students joined faculty and staff for an introduction to the program, campus resources, and AUK’s state-of-the-art AI Lab. Students met their faculty, toured the facilities, and learned about academic and support services. This inaugural cohort started classes on August 30. It’s an exciting step forward for graduate education in Kurdistan.

Innovation Challenge Bootcamp 2025

Innovation was in full swing this summer at AUK! The Innovation Challenge Bootcamp 2025 brought together 42 bright minds from across Iraq to tackle real-world problems in GreenTech, EdTech, TourismTech, AgriTech, FinTech, and HealthTech. After two weeks of intense collaboration, the teams pitched their ideas at PitchFest. The AgriTech team won the competition with their project titled “MooTag,” a smart livestock health monitoring system. Second and third places went to EdTech and FinTech. All teams earned access to Impact Hub Duhok for additional mentorship.

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Taimur Sharif

AUK is excited to welcome Dr. Taimur Sharif as the new Dean of the College of Business.

“As a transformational leader, I will continue to develop and nurture an innovative team and support system for the design and delivery of student-centered and industry-focused curricula; enhance student engagement as co-creators and provide enrichment opportunities; deliver personalized and experiential learning services; and above all, develop learners as responsible citizens reflecting socio-economic and environmental awareness and commitments.”

Alumni Spotlight: Hasan Kareem

Meet Hasan Kareem, a proud AUK graduate from the Class of 2021! After earning his B.A. in Oil and Gas Management, Mr. Kareem pursued his M.Sc. in Global Supply Chain Management at Nottingham Trent University in the UK; he served as Class Representative, representing nearly 200 classmates. Today, Mr. Kareem is part of the management team at Liverpool Football Club and co-founder of Blaank Fulfillment, a 3PL startup supporting e-commerce logistics.