Former US University Provost becomes founding Academic Director of AUI Global in North Africa

Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco (AUI) has appointed Jeremy Owens as the founding Academic Director of AUI Global - its exciting new online education initiative.

AUI is an independent, not-for-profit, English-medium institution of higher education, established by Royal Decree in 1995. Grounded in a US-modelled liberal arts and sciences tradition, the University is recognized for its emphasis on experiential learning, academic excellence, employability, and global citizenship.

AUI Global, the University’s newly established virtual campus, has been created to extend AUI's academic mission beyond its residential campus high in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Scheduled to launch this Fall, AUI Global will offer credit-bearing degree programs and professional certificates delivered through virtual and hybrid modalities, developed in alignment with AUI’s academic standards, accreditation framework, and liberal arts mission. For more information, visit www.auiglobal.africa  

Jeremy Owens comes to AUI from Southern New Hampshire University, where he was until recently Associate Vice President for University Partnerships. He has deep experience in online pedagogy and learning technologies, having previously been Provost and Director of Online Operations at Daniel Webster College in Nashua, and Dean of Academic Affairs for Remington College in Florida.

As founding Academic Director, Jeremy will serve as the chief academic officer of AUI Global, with responsibility for academic leadership, curriculum oversight, faculty development, and the maintenance of academic standards across all virtual, hybrid, and technology-enhanced programs. He will report academically to the Professor Hariclea Zengos, whose appointments as Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) we advised on last year.

Speaking about this new position, and the appointment process, Jeremy commented:

"When I began my search for a new opportunity, I was looking for a role that would be instrumental in expanding access to education and creating meaningful impact on the socioeconomic mobility of learners. The ambitious vision of AUI Global aligns closely with those goals, and I’m truly excited to be part of a university that is actively working to drive that kind of change.

Working with Society was a notably different experience from the very beginning. In my 25 years as both a hiring manager and a candidate, I’ve often found the process to be somewhat transactional, with firms primarily focused on the client. In contrast, Society was engaging, professional, and a pleasure to work with from the first conversation. They were supportive throughout, kept me well-informed, and made the process genuinely enjoyable. They are, without question, a different kind of recruitment partner."