Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi

Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi

Media contact:
Pat Lopes Harris, pat.harris@sjsu.edu, 408-656-6999

Washington, D.C.
– U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the appointment of Mohammad H. Qayoumi, president of San Jose State University, to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC). The HSAAC, comprised of prominent university presidents and academic leaders, is charged with advising the secretary and senior leadership at the department on several key issues.

“Dr. Qayoumi’s extensive experience and expertise will make him a valuable asset to the council,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I look forward to working with him on these critical issues.”

In this noteworthy role, Qayoumi will provide advice and recommendations on issues related to student and recent graduate recruitment; international students; academic research and faculty exchange; campus resilience; and homeland security academic programs. Qayoumi will also serve as chair of the HSAAC’s new subcommittee on cybersecurity, which will advise on the department’s cybersecurity recruitment and workforce education efforts.

“The mission of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council reflects San Jose State’s role as the leading public university powering Silicon Valley,” Qayoumi said. “Among our priorities are attracting the brightest minds to our campus, where we provide academic and pre-professional opportunities to the tech industry workforce of the future.”

Qayoumi is spearheading plans for one of the nation’s first university-based cybersecurity center, which will take a cross-disciplinary approach to workforce development. By fall 2013, San Jose State will hire a cluster of tenure-track faculty members to focus on this endeavor. SJSU will host the U.S. Cyber Challenge Western Regional Summer Cyber Camp for the second consecutive year.

About Qayoumi

Qayoumi holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the American University of Beirut and four degrees from the University of Cincinnati: a master’s in nuclear engineering, a master’s in electrical and computer engineering, an MBA and a doctorate in electrical engineering.

He has more than 32 years of engineering and administrative experience in several universities.  He served as president of California State University East Bay from 2006 to 2011. He came to Cal State East Bay from California State University Northridge, where he served as vice president for administration and finance and chief financial officer from 2000 to 2006, and was also a tenured professor of engineering management.

Qayoumi has served his native country in various financial capacities. He was the senior advisor to the minister of finance of Afghanistan from 2002 to 2005 and served on the board of directors for the Central Bank of Afghanistan from 2003 to 2006.

San Jose State University — Silicon Valley’s largest institution of higher learning with 30,000 students and 3,850 employees — is part of the California State University system. SJSU’s 154-acre downtown campus anchors the nation’s 10th largest city.