Schiller Welcomes Dr. Arif as Provost and Chief Academic Officer

A Career in Global Academic Leadership

Dr. Arif joins Schiller from Leeds Trinity University in the United Kingdom, where he served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and External Engagement and held a professorial appointment in Sustainability and Process Management. In that role, he led key initiatives in internationalization, online program development, and academic-industry partnerships, positioning the institution for strategic growth in an increasingly competitive global education landscape.

Prior to that, Dr. Arif held leadership positions at the University of Brighton and the University of Wolverhampton, where he championed research development, curricular innovation, and student success strategies.

Guiding Academic Strategy at a Global Institution

As Provost and CAO, Dr. Arif will oversee the academic direction of Schiller’s four campuses—Madrid, Paris, Heidelberg, and Tampa—ensuring coherence across a curriculum that leads to both American and European degrees. He will work closely with faculty and leadership to advance the University’s hallmark experiential, challenge-based learning model, and to deepen its impact on student learning outcomes.
 
A prolific scholar, Dr. Arif has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and has mentored numerous doctoral candidates across a range of disciplines. His research spans sustainability, innovation management, and systems thinking—areas that align with Schiller’s interdisciplinary and future-focused academic agenda.
 
“I am honored to join a university that embraces global citizenship, academic excellence, and innovation in equal measure,” said Dr. Arif. “I look forward to working with the Schiller community to further enhance the quality, relevance, and reach of its academic programs.”