(Washington, D.C.) - The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. Susan E. Saxton, who assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) on January 2, 2024. Dr. Saxton brings more than 25 years of expertise in education and business, focusing on transformational leadership and corporate strategy, and will play a pivotal role in supporting MEI's growth. Her responsibilities will include managing the institute's operations and overseeing the development and rollout of its next multi-year strategic plan.
"We are very fortunate to have Dr. Saxton join our team,” said MEI President and CEO Paul Salem. “Her exceptional background and experience are precisely what MEI needs as we embark on an exciting new chapter.”
Dr. Saxton was selected following a robust recruitment process that attracted many outstanding candidates and included interviews with a member of MEI’s Board of Governors in addition to executive leadership.
“Dr. Saxton's appointment is a testament to MEI's commitment to excellence and innovation,” said board chairman, General (Ret.) John Abizaid. “Her proven track record in educational and business transformation aligns perfectly with our strategic goals, setting us on a path to remarkable achievements in the coming years.”
Previously, Dr. Saxton was the Founding President of the American University of Bahrain in the evolving GCC market. Dr. Saxton held senior leadership positions within the Laureate Education network including Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Academic Officer, and Senior Vice President for the Global Products and Services Division; Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences; and Chief of Staff for the ImagineAfrica Alliance, a public-private partnership supported by the Clinton Global Initiative. In these positions, Dr. Saxton played a key leadership role in the acquisition and expansion of campuses as well as the restructuring, transformation, and scaling of institutions. She also served as Chief Strategy and Development Officer for the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in The Hague, Dean of Students and Vice President of Strategy and Product Development at Kaplan University, and Founding Dean of the School of Business and Technology at Capella University.
Dr. Saxton has participated on multiple Boards including the American Chamber of Commerce (Bahrain), Glion Institute (Switzerland and UK), African Initiative for Agribusiness Research (Kenya), and Santa Fe University of Art and Design (New Mexico US). She served as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow (Middle East Affairs) for the Atlantic Council and is a member of the Climate Action Committee for MENA 2050. She holds two Ph.D.s in Organization and Management and Human Services; an LLM in International Business; an M.S.B.A. in Finance; and a BA in Mathematics.
For more information please contact Scott Zuke, director of communications, at szuke@mei.edu.