AUN Appoints New President

Solomon Elusojis

The Board of Trustees of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) has appointed an American international educator, Dr. Dawn Dekle, as president of the institution after an international search to replace the former occupier of the office, Margie Ensign. Dekle is expected to resume on July 1, 2017. Chairman of the AUN board, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, said, “We are delighted that Dr. Dekle has accepted our offer and will join our learning community. I am confident that she will take our university into the next phase of development. Her vision for AUN in a global era resonated with the entire board and we welcome her with great enthusiasm and anticipation in the coming years.”

Dekle visited the AUN campus during the May commencement weekend and met with members of the Board and the AUN community. “I believe AUN is the best kept secret in Nigeria,” she said, then. “The campus is buzzing with potential, and I was inspired by this new generation of talent, the engaged learning experiences, and community collaborations.” She is currently serving as President of Orkhon University in Mongolia. Before joining Orkhon University, Dr. Dekle was President of the American University of Iraq, Provost at the American University of Afghanistan, and Dean at the S P Jain School of Global Management in Singapore.

Dekle has held leadership positions outside of academia, such as council member for the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and as leadership specialist and global knowledge manager at the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., where she helped launch the McKinsey Centre for Asian Leadership. As a scholar of psychology, law, leadership, and management, Dekle has published in academic journals, presented at international conferences, given keynote addresses for the Young Presidents Organisation, and served as an analyst for television and radio regarding President Obama and his strategies in Asia and the Middle East. Dekle earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University, Ph.D. in psychology from Dartmouth College, and J.D. in Law from Stanford University.