Abdul Latif Abu Hijleh, is the fourth president of Birzeit University. He assumed his office on August 1, 2015 and was formally inaugurated on September 16, 2015.

Synopsis

Abdul Latif Abu Hijleh obtained his PhD in organic chemistry in 1981 from the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, USA. He has assumed leadership positions at Birzeit University, such as being the chair of the Chemistry Department (1984-1986), the dean of the Faculty of Science (1995-1998), and as the Vice President for Academic affairs (1998-2009).

Climbing the Ranks

President Abu Hijleh began his career at Birzeit University as a faculty member at Department of Chemistry after obtaining his PhD in 1981, where he earned a number of awards and fellowships for research and teaching.

During the course of his career at Birzeit, Abu hijleh has been appointed to various leadership positions, including:

• The Chair of the Chemistry Department (1984-1986)
•  The dean of the Faculty of Science (1995-1998)
• The Vice President for Academic affairs (1998-2009).

During his eleven-year term as vice-president, he oversaw the university’s expansion into new academic disciplines especially law, public administration, IT, and health, and the development of postgraduate programs.

He also maintained an active teaching and research career, contributing to the development of academic courses and programs in the Department of Chemistry.