Mohammad Qayoumi

Mohammad Qayoumi
President Mohammad Qayoumi on his inauguration as President of San Jose State University in 2011.
Chief Adviser on Infrastructure and Technology to the President of Afghanistan
Incumbent
Assumed office 2015
28th President of San Jose State University
In office July 1, 2011 – August 17, 2015
Preceded by	Jon Whitmore
Succeeded by	Susan Martin
4th President of California State University, East Bay
In office 2006–2011
Preceded by	Norma Rees
Succeeded by	Leroy Morishita
Personal details
Born	Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi (1952-12-14) December 14, 1952 (age 64) Kabul, Afghanistan
Alma mater	University of Cincinnati (Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S., M.S.) American University of Beirut (B.S.)

Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi (born December 14, 1952) is an engineer and professor who currently serves as the Chief Adviser on Infrastructure and Technology to the President of Afghanistan. He previously served as President of San José State University where he was appointed on March 23, 2011. Prior to that, he served as the fourth president of California State University, East Bay. He has worked in university administration for more than 30 years and has a background in both engineering and business. Qayoumi was born in Afghanistan and is the first person of Afghan descent to head a major U.S. university.

In June 2010, Qayoumi contributed a photo essay to Foreign Policy magazine about Afghanistan in the 1960s, which led to an interview on the NPR program Morning Edition (aired June 18, 2010).

Born near Kabul, Afghanistan, Qayoumi earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from American University of Beirut in 1975. He holds four degrees from the University of Cincinnati: a Master of Science in nuclear engineering (1979), a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering (1980), an MBA (1984), and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering (1983).

He was a tenured professor of engineering management at California State University, Northridge.

Before coming to the United States, Qayoumi worked as an engineer in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. From 1979 to 1986, he held positions at the University of Cincinnati including staff engineer, director of technical services, and director of utilities and engineering services. In 1986, he took a position as associate vice president for Administration at San Jose State University. He served as vice chancellor for administrative services at University of Missouri-Rolla from 1995 to 2000. He then moved to California State University, Northridge, where he served as vice president for Administration and Finance and chief financial officer, as well as a tenured professor of engineering management until 2006. In 2004, Qayoumi's professional engineer registration expired.