Dr. Turki N. Baroud is Dean of the KFUPM Business School and Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. He is known for building high-performing academic enterprises and for bridging business with engineering, science, and policy to turn ideas into real-world impact. He previously served as Founding Dean of Global Engagement, Secretary General of KFUPM’s International Advisory Board, and Founding Chair of Materials Science and Engineering.
In Global Engagement, he built top-tier university partnerships across the globe, working closely with other stakeholders at KFUPM, and launched reciprocal exchange programs. He also conceived purpose-driven initiatives that connect KFUPM faculty with researchers in developing regions to address grand challenges in water, energy storage, and sustainability, advancing KFUPM’s Research with Humanity initiative.
As Founding Chair of Materials Science and Engineering, he built the department from the ground up, recruiting faculty, establishing comprehensive laboratories, and creating industry-aligned programs that strengthened international standing.
Dr. Baroud holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Materials Science and Engineering, with executive credentials from Cornell and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His scholarly portfolio includes patents in the United States, publications in journals such as JACS, Carbon, and Desalination, and substantial industry-collaborative research. He has led major projects with industry and contributed to research and innovation strategies at the national level. He also serves as an associate editor and sits on the editorial boards of peer-reviewed journals. As dean, he champions employer partnerships, experiential and technology-enabled learning, entrepreneurship and executive education, and cross-campus collaboration that aligns business education with national priorities and global opportunity.
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, USA, 2018
M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA, 2012
B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA, 2010
