Dr. Safwan M. Masri is Professor at the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University, and Director of the Columbia University Middle East Research Center. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King’s Academy, and is also Chairman of Queen Rania Teacher Academy.

Professor Masri joined the Decision, Risk, and Operations Faculty at Columbia Business School in July 1988, and was appointed Vice Dean of Columbia Business School in January 1993. He served as Vice Dean, MBA Program Director, and Faculty Director of the Samberg Institute for Teaching Excellence through December 2005.

Professor Masri earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University in 1982; his Master of Science in Industrial Engineering also from Purdue in 1984; and his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University in 1988.

Dr. Masri was a Visiting Professor at INSEAD in 1990 and 1991. He has also held teaching positions at Stanford University and Santa Clara University. Professor Masri was honored with the Singhvi Professor of the Year for Scholarship in the Classroom Award in 1990, the Robert W. Lear Service Award in 1998, and the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence in a Core Course in 2000. He has also been honored with the 2003 American Service Award from the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC).

Professor Masri is Trustee of International College and of the National Children’s Museum in Jordan, and is Director of a number of non-profit organizations and a former Director of the Arab Bankers Association of North America (ABANA). Professor Masri has also served as Director of ARAMEX International Corporation and the Nuqul Group of Companies.

Professor Masri’s areas of expertise include Middle East business and economy with an emphasis on reform in the education and economic sectors; supply chain management; technological change management in the financial services industry; and manufacturing flexibility and its impact on firm performance.