Speakers

Dr. Tadd Kruse
Director of Student Services & Admissions
Sharjah Education Academy 

Dr. Tadd Kruse is an Assistant Professor in the Post-Graduate Diploma in Education program at the Sharjah Education Academy. He has worked at universities in the US, UK and Middle East spanning more than 20 years including 17 years of experience outside of the United States. For over a decade Tadd has worked in roles serving on senior campus leadership teams as well as in progressively responsible administrative positions to include serving as both a Dean and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. He currently serves as the Director of Student Services & Admissions and as a Higher Education Consultant. He recently served for almost a decade as the Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning and Effectiveness and has managed administrative units and supported multiple institutional initiatives including strategic planning, assessment, accreditation processes, policy development, and institution-wide project management. Dr. Kruse has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels and draws from his experience in education to help guide his instructional approach. He values mentoring and ongoing professional growth as shown through his association service and development of internship and mentoring programs, having served as a mentor to graduate students and young professionals in the US and abroad for more than five years. Tadd has been an active member in various higher education professional associations serving in leadership roles for IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services) and NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) as a board member, conference director/chair, and serving as the director of the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (MENASA) Area Board. Over the past ten-years, Tadd has been an avid presenter at professional conferences on various topics including leadership, strategic planning, assessment, international education, professional development, and culture.He has a broad background in Higher Education leadership, with more than a decade in Student Affairs (leadership, activities & organizations, judicial affairs, housing, sports, study abroad, etc.). His experiences include program development, strategic planning, policy development, management of student affairs budgets/facilities/personnel. He also established a university Student Life office (& subsequent programs) at a start-up university, a student leadership program, as well as serving as the Senior Student Affairs Officer on campus. He has over 10 years of experience as a member of a senior leadership team, and serving in a role that reports directly to the President or Senior Campus administrator.

Ms. Minna Saade
Business Development Manager
University of Helsinki, HY+ Global Services 

Ms.Minna Saadé (M.A., M. Phil.) has over 15 years of international experience in project management in universities, NGOs, and the private sector; in the fields of education, law and environment. Her true passion lies in the field of education, and she is a strong advocate for education as a fundamental source of happiness and prosperity for individuals and societies. Over the years, Mrs. Saadé has acquired advanced skills in project management, and has proven her ability to design, lead, and deliver successful projects. Of note, she has been commended for her ability in skillfully bridging relationships between academic experts and end clients toward successful implementation of complex projects. For the past few years, she has been advising, designing, and leading customised training programmes worldwide, to develop local education systems in collaboration with academic experts from the University of Helsinki – the leading higher education institution in Finland. In her current position as the International Business Development Manager for the University of Helsinki HY+ Global Services, Mrs. Saadé has the privilege of working closely with educational professionals in Finland, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. She is the project director for educational content development for a post-graduate diploma programme commissioned by the Emirate of Sharjah in the UAE. Also as an ADB International Consultant, she is currently consulting on Educational Leadership in an ADB-funded SESIP program for Sri Lanka, which is led by the University of Helsinki HY+.