Professor Fahim Akhter

Dr. Fahim Akhter
Professor & Academic Leader | Cybersecurity & MIS Expert

Dr. Fahim Akhter is a distinguished academic leader and U.S. citizen with over 30 years of experience in higher education. He has held pivotal roles throughout his career, including founding faculty member, Associate Dean, Chair, and Director of Graduate Studies, demonstrating a proven ability to lead and innovate in academic and administrative settings.

Renowned for his expertise in strategic planning, accreditation, curriculum innovation, and industry collaboration, Dr. Akhter has consistently driven institutional excellence and student success across diverse academic settings.

At King Saud University, Dr. Akhter currently provides strategic leadership in reaccreditation, academic program reviews, and new program development. He spearheads initiatives to align curricula with industry demands, fosters workforce partnerships, and ensures compliance with AACSB and Saudi NCAAA accreditation standards.

Previously, Dr. Akhter held pivotal administrative and faculty positions at Colgate University, Baruch College (CUNY), and Zayed University. As a founding faculty member of Zayed University’s College of Technological Innovation, he played a central role in shaping academic programs, securing ABET accreditation, and launching the MSc in IT (Cybersecurity), where he led recruitment, enrollment, retention, and workforce engagement efforts.

At Baruch College, Dr. Akhter served as Administrative Assistant to the Dean, integrating technology into academic programs and teaching Information Systems courses at the AACSB-accredited Zicklin School of Business. During his tenure at Colgate University, he led IT innovation projects, faculty training, and vendor negotiations to enhance the institution’s technological infrastructure.

Dr. Akhter’s research expertise lies in cybersecurity management, innovation, and artificial intelligence, focusing on security and privacy challenges. He has secured over $1 million in research funding, authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, and made significant contributions to industry-relevant research in cybersecurity and digital trust.

He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of Bradford, UK, an MBA in International Business from Lindenwood University, Missouri, and a BSc in MIS from the University of St. Louis, Missouri.

With a proven track record of leadership, a global academic footprint, and a commitment to bridging academia with industry, Dr. Akhter is eager to bring his expertise to new administrative challenges in higher education. He remains dedicated to advancing academic excellence, fostering research innovation, and preparing students for success in the dynamic fields of business, technology, and information security.