Board of Trustees

Mr. Olin Wethington is Chairman of the Board and a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB). He is the founder and principal of Wethington International LLC, an advisory firm specializing in investment, finance, and business strategy in emerging markets. He also serves as Executive Director of the Project on Shaping the Asia-Pacific Future at the Atlantic Council and is a member of its Board of Directors. 

Mr. Wethington has held several senior U.S. government positions, including Special Envoy on China, Counselor to the U.S. Treasury Secretary, and Special Assistant to the President. He played a leading role in negotiating the forgiveness of Iraq’s international debt following the Saddam era. A graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania, he is a recipient of the U.S. Treasury’s Alexander Hamilton Award. 

Dr. Saadi Waheeb Saihood is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB) and Founder of the Raban Al-Safina (RAS) Group, one of Iraq’s largest private industrial and engineering conglomerates. A visionary entrepreneur and nation builder, he has dedicated his career to advancing Iraq’s infrastructure, energy security, and human capital development. 

Dr. Saihood also founded AUIB, reflecting his belief that education is central to national progress. 

Under his leadership, RAS has grown into a diversified group spanning energy, engineering, manufacturing, technology, education, and real estate, creating thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to Iraq’s economic development. His achievements have helped position the RAS Group as a key driver of Iraq’s industrial growth and energy transformation while expanding access to world-class educational opportunities for future generations.

Dr. Michael W. Mulnix is the Founding President of the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB) and founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Following his retirement from the presidency, he was named President Emeritus, and in 2026 the Board further honored his service by appointing him Trustee Emeritus with lifetime tenure.

With more than 35 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Mulnix has held senior leadership roles across the United States and the Middle East, including President of Antioch University Santa Barbara, Founding President of the American University of Kurdistan, and senior academic leadership positions in multiple U.S. universities.

His career is distinguished by institution-building, fundraising success, and international academic development. He is widely recognized for his strategic vision and commitment to expanding access to quality higher education.

Mr. Hussein Saihood is Senior Vice President of Raban Al-Safina Group (RAS), a leading Iraqi private-sector company driving energy development and infrastructure growth. Representing a new generation of Iraqi business leaders, he combines a degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Glasgow with over two decades of experience across diverse industries. 

Under his leadership, RAS has delivered major power, oil, and gas projects that have strengthened Iraq’s energy security, reduced dependence on imported fuel, and supported sustainable economic development. Mr. Saihood also champions education as a catalyst for national progress. He played a key role in establishing the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB), where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, helping shape future generations of Iraqi leaders. 

Dr. Bradley J. Cook has served as the second President of the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB) since 2025. He previously served as President of the American University of Bahrain, where he led the institution to become the first U.S.-accredited university in Bahrain and one of a select number in the GCC and MENA region. 

With nearly 30 years of leadership in higher education, Dr. Cook has held senior roles including President of Snow College, Provost and Executive Vice President at Southern Utah University, and President of Abu Dhabi Women’s College. His leadership record includes significant enrollment growth, record graduation rates, and internationalization of academic programs. 

He holds degrees from Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of Oxford, and is the author of Classical Foundations of Islamic Educational Thought. 

Ambassador (Ret.) Fareed Yasseen is Secretary General of the Pugwash-Iraq Association and one of Iraq’s most distinguished diplomats and policy experts. He previously served as Iraq’s Climate Envoy and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, as well as Ambassador to the United States and France. Since joining Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2004, he has held key leadership roles in policy planning and diplomatic affairs. 

Originally trained as a physicist, Dr. Yasseen conducted research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before pursuing a career in diplomacy, environmental policy, and international affairs. His contributions have earned him numerous honors, including France’s Legion of Honor and the U.S.-Arab Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year Award. 

Mr. Martin Manna is President of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC), a position he has held for more than two decades, representing over 5,000 businesses and advocating for economic growth and community development. In 2006, he co-founded the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF), which provides vital services to more than 52,000 individuals annually from 68 countries of origin. He is also an original publisher of Chaldean News, a leading community publication. 

Recognized among Michigan’s most influential leaders, Martin has been featured in DBusiness’ Detroit 500 and Crain’s Who’s Who. He serves on several prominent boards, including the American University of Iraq–Baghdad, Lawrence Technological University, and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. 

Michael McClellan serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees at the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB).  

Since joining AUIB in 2019, he has held several senior leadership roles, including Counselor to the President and Vice President for Institutional Advancement. 

Before returning to Iraq, McClellan served with the U.S. Department of State as a Diplomat-in-Residence and Recruitment Officer for the U.S. Foreign Service. During a distinguished 30-year diplomatic career, he served in leadership and public diplomacy roles across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, retiring with the rank of Minister-Counselor. 

Among his notable achievements is founding the American University in Kosovo, which opened in 2004 and continues to educate future leaders today.