School Board

Dr. Al Khalafalla is a public policy expert with special expertise in the Middle East and Africa. He is the President of American Global Consulting and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI), an American non-profit organization with close ties to the U.S. Congress. While serving as President of American Global Consulting, Dr. Khalafalla has developed extensive ties with business and political leaders across the Middle East and Africa to advance economic development through education and training programs. Prior to leading HDI, Dr. Khalafalla led training and development programs at Virginia Commonwealth University for 10 years. In addition, he held numerous other leadership positions including President of the American Global Institute (AGI), President of the Bahrain American Council and IBN Cultural Center, and Vice Chair of A More Perfect Union at the University of Richmond.
Dr. Khalafalla has been recognized as a strong and passionate advocate for international peace. He received a Humanitarian Award from the Governor of Virginia is 2009 for his international humanitarian endeavors. In 2012, Dr. Khalafalla was honored by the U.S. Congress for organizing a series of Congressional Delegations to the Middle East which increased dialogue and engagement. In 2016, Ahfad University awarded an honorary doctorate to Dr. Khalafalla for his contribution to higher education, and in 2018, he received the Order of the Niles First Class. Dr. Khalafalla’s international initiatives have also been recognized by the University of Louisiana, the Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Bahrain, and the University of Richmond.
He regularly appears in the media and has delivered keynote addresses at Bahrain’s International Symposium, the International Law and Religion Symposium, and to diverse audiences across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Dr. Khalafalla’s opinion pieces have been published in the Daily Caller, Washington Times, Fox News, the Tribune, and Alayam, among others. He is also frequently called on to comment on Africa and the Middle East on broadcast media, including Alhurra, NBC, and al-Jazeera. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana, an MBA from the University of Maryland System, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Khalafalla is the author or co-author of a number of articles on immigration, the Middle East, international relations, interfaith dialogue, and religious tolerance. He is married and has two children.
At the Swiss School of Management, Dr. Khalafalla holds the important position of Chairman of the School Board, Senior Advisor, Member of the Academic Senate, and Head & Dean of GCC Operations.