Prof. Rami Hamdallah is a distinguished academic and political leader with a notable career in both education and public service. Serving as the Prime Minister of Palestine from 2013 to 2019, he now holds the position of Chairperson of the Central Elections Commission in Palestine. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of An-Najah National University in Nablus and Chairperson the Board of Trustees of An-Najah Teaching Hospital in Nablus.
Born and raised in Anabta in the West Bank, Palestine, Prof. Hamdallah graduated from the University of Jordan in 1980 with a degree in English. He pursued further education in the United Kingdom, earning a master's degree in linguistics from the University of Manchester in 1982, and a doctorate in applied linguistics from the University of Lancaster in 1988.
Prof. Hamdallah began his academic career in 1982 at An-Najah National University, where he taught English and held various administrative and leadership roles. He published numerous papers on linguistics and the teaching of English as a foreign language. In 1998, he achieved the rank of professor.
Appointed as the president of An-Najah National University in 1998, Prof. Hamdallah established a reputation as an effective and visionary manager and fundraiser. He spearheaded the development of the university's new campus in Nablus, the creation of a medical school, a teaching hospital, and several departments dedicated to science, research, and technology. Under his leadership, the university's student body tripled, making it the largest university in Palestine.
Prof. Hamdallah has also held influential positions beyond the university. He was a member of the Palestinian Constitution Committee, served as the General Secretary of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission from 2002 to 2013, chaired the Board of the Palestine Exchange from 2008 to 2013, and led the Palestinian-European-American Universities Program of Academic Cooperation from 2005 to 2007.