Prof. Dr. Aras F. Zainel (President of university) was born on June 16, 1972, and received his Ph. D. from Sulaimani University in 2008 and there since becoming a devoted lecturer in 2004. He comes with an extensive career spanning a remarkable 28 years, most recently as the Vice President of Sulaimani University for Student Affairs (2009–2019), where he led the formulation and implementation of significant academic policies as well as student development programs. His administrative experience also includes positions as Assistant Dean of the College of Humanities (2007) and Department Coordinator (2005).
     He has published several foundational works including History of Crusade Wars, Salahaddin and His Defense of the Islamic World, psychological warfare, diplomatic history, and Middle Eastern studies, and has published over 25 peer-reviewed studies. His research spans historical analysis and contemporary geopolitical issues, especially in U.S. foreign policy and Kurdish diplomacy. Further, he participates in public debate as Editor-in-Chief of Politic Magazine and is a member of professional organizations including the Kurdistan Academicians Union. Dedicated to fostering the next generation of scholars, he has overseen many graduate theses and co-created Iraq’s national history curriculum. He continues to be an inspiring leader in Iraqi higher education, blending intellectual depth with an institutional vision that will have long-term effects on the system.