Dr. Kevin S. Konecny serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Assistant Professor of Education at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). Dr. Konecny has 33 years of higher education experience in the United States and abroad, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China, Guam, and the United Kingdom. Most of that experience has been in student affairs administration, including leadership of residence life, student government, orientation programs, student publications, student leadership development initiatives, study abroad, international student programs, enrollment management and recruitment, academic integrity, and conflict resolution.

In the U.S., Dr. Konecny held leadership positions at the University of Central Florida, the University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University, and Seminole State College of Florida. His experience in the Arabian Gulf includes serving as the founding Director of Campus and Residence Life with the Qatar Foundation in Education City, Doha, Qatar. Education City is home to six U.S. branch campus institutions (Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Cornell University, Northwestern University and Texas A&M University), and Dr. Konecny was responsible for the campus residential master planning process in collaboration with university partners in Education City. In addition, Dr. Konecny served in leadership roles, at the executive level, in China, Saudi Arabia and in Kuwait.

Dr. Konecny earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Maine at Farmington and a Master of Science in Education degree in Counseling Psychology from Saint Bonaventure University (New York) and earned his doctorate in Organizational Leadership at the University of the Potomac (Washington, D.C.). In addition, Dr. Konecny earned a certificate from the Institute for Leading Internationalization through the Center for Internationalization and Global Engagement of the American Council on Education (ACE).

Manal Ammagui began her student affairs journey during her undergraduate years at the University of South Florida (USF), serving as a Resident Assistant and participating in numerous student affairs conferences. She went on to pursue a Master of Arts in French at USF, where she expanded her professional experience by holding two key roles: Assistant Residence Life Coordinator in her first year and the inaugural Graduate Assistant for Residential Student Success position in her second year, all while remaining a French Instructor both years.

Manal went on to Stetson University for two years, playing a pivotal role in shifting the institution from a programming model to a curricular model, building a more intentionally designed residential experience.

Her career then took her abroad, where she spent three years as the inaugural Residential Hall Coordinator at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) before becoming the first-ever Manager for Residence Education at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). In this current role, Manal continues to shape a legacy of co-curricular education within residential communities, emphasizing holistic student development and engagement.

Manal has been actively involved in NASPA's MENASA Area since 2022, starting as a recruitment volunteer with the Professional Development Committee. She later served in the Conference Committee, first as the MENASA24 Programming Co-Chair, then as the MENASA25 Conference Co-Chair and MENASA26 Conference Chair. Manal is now the Special Projects Team Lead.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.