Fawzi Al-Gharaibeh was born in 1943 in Huwwarah, Irbid, Jordan, into a family of modest means.[3] He was the eldest among his seven sisters and one brother. His father, Abd al-Rahim al-Gharaibeh, took on trading as a means of livelihood and, along with his brother, played a key role in establishing the first industrial carpentry in Irbid during the early 1940s, importing machinery from Haifa.[3]
Educationally, after completing his schooling at Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib School and Irbid Secondary School, Fawzi pursued higher studies.[3] He earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree with honors from Cairo University in 1965. He then continued his academic journey, obtaining a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Texas Tech University in the United States, followed by a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.[2]
During his time at the University of Jordan, Fawzi Al-Gharaibeh married one of his students, and together they have three children: two daughters and a son named Ahmed.[3] He is proficient in three languages: Arabic, English, and French.[2] Al-Gharaibeh prefers not to be labeled as a liberal, instead advocating for a worldview characterized by adaptability and the dynamic evolution of ideas, rather than rigid ideologies.[3]
Life and career
Fawzi al-Gharaibeh, as the president of the University of Jordan, May 10, 1992.
Fawzi al-Gharaibeh's career spanned academic and administrative positions, starting as an assistant professor and eventually becoming president of the University of Jordan. He held roles such as department head and assistant dean along the way.[4]
al-Gharaibeh's commitment to academia was evident in his promotions, rising to full professorship in 1981 and later becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. His administrative skills were recognized, leading to his appointment as Vice President for Administrative Affairs before ultimately becoming president.
In addition to his university roles, al-Gharaibeh impacted education policy as Minister of Education from 1998 to 1999. He also had international influence through his scholarly work in Arabic and English and his visiting professorships at American universities.[2]
Al-Gharaibeh's involvement in professional networks and publications reflects his engagement in academic discourse and contribution to the global academic community.[2]
Positions
Throughout his career, Gharaibeh held many key roles in academia and government:[2]
1983 - 1986: Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Jordan.
1986 - 1991: Chairman of the Foreign Diploma Equivalency Committee, Jordan.
