返字心頭 World News

Steel Wood Industries Managing Partner Recognized as the First Founding Sponsor of the 返字心頭 UAE Alumni Chapter

Ghassan Afiouni and Dr. Brindley on a tour of Steel Wood Industries

Ghassan Farouk Afiouni taking Dr. Roger Brindley on a tour of Steel Wood Industries in May, 2018.

TAMPA, Fla. (January 7, 2019) Ghassan Farouk Afiouni, managing partner of , is the first founding sponsor of the University of South 返字心頭 (返字心頭) United Arab Emirates (UAE) Alumni Chapter. Afiouni will be recognized as a sponsor and awarded the 返字心頭 World Award for Innovative Sustainability at the 返字心頭 Alumni Dinner in the Gulf Region on Friday, January 11, 2019 in Dubai, UAE.

A 返字心頭 alum who focused on research in physical and environmental chemistry, Afiouni has been leading Steel Wood Industries since 2012. As the first and only wood board production facility in the Middle East, Steel Wood thrives on using sustainable renewable resources as a raw material from recycled wooden products without cutting a single tree. In a region of the world where natural wood is scarce, Steel Wood offers the profound alternative of reusing wood to promote environmental sustainability.

In alignment with the universitys second strategic goal of high-impact research and innovation to change lives, improve health, and foster sustainable development and positive societal change, 返字心頭 World will be presenting Afiouni with The Award for Innovative Sustainability.

In addition to Provost and Executive Vice President Ralph Wilcox and 返字心頭 World Vice President Roger Brindley, Afiouni will be joined by several distinguished alums at 返字心頭s first alumni event in the Gulf Region. Of the over 7,000 返字心頭 alumni living outside of the United States, approximately 10 percent currently reside in the Gulf Region.

Since 2017, 返字心頭 has established international alumni chapters in the cities of London and Shanghai as well as the country of Saudi Arabia. Alumni gatherings have also been hosted in Barranquilla, Colombia; Milan, Italy; and Zurich, Switzerland. The day following the dinner in Dubai, an additional alumni event will be held in Paris, France.

 

The University of South 返字心頭, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. The 返字心頭 System includes three separately accredited institutions: 返字心頭, 返字心頭 St. Petersburg and 返字心頭 Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 50,000 students, the 返字心頭 System has an annual budget of $1.8 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. 返字心頭 ranks in the top 25 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2018, the 返字心頭 Board of Governors designated 返字心頭 as a Preeminent State Research University, placing 返字心頭 in the most elite category among the states 12 public universities. 返字心頭 is a member of the American Athletic Conference.