We are educating
the Afghan leaders of tomorrow
Afghanistan is the only country in the world today that officially restricts access to education for women above the 6th grade.
AUAF continues to educate hundreds of students in Afghanistan and among the diaspora online.
Higher Education for Afghans:
The legacy continues
Responding to restrictions against women accessing education above the 6th grade in Afghanistan, AUAF has transformed itself into an online university. Operating from our hub in Doha, AUAF remains the only reputable source of liberal higher education accessible to women in Afghanistan.
AUAF is a non-profit, private and independent university. Interested donors can connect with us through our partner organization, Friends of AUAF, at friendsofauaf.org.
Tailored to the diverse and distinctive heritage of Afghans, AUAF offers an internationally accredited, liberal arts education to more than 1,100 Afghan men and women living both inside and outside Afghanistan.
The American University of Afghanistan provides a world-class education with a global perspective to the country’s emerging leaders, using academic and social support tailored to the Afghan context.
AUAF by the numbers
1,085 students currently enrolled | over 75% of our student body are women | 33 of 34 Afghan provinces represented by our student body | 2200+ alumni | 21,117 applications received in 2025 | 90% of our students are in Afghanistan | 200+ classes offered this academic year | 80+ current faculty and adjuncts | ~20 countries represented by faculty | 54% of applicants are women | 26 average class size
Our values
AUAF is dedicated to the following core values:
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freedom and responsibility
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promotion of pluralistic ideas
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free expression and inquiry
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equal opportunity
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individual rights
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personal and professional integrity
These values apply equally to all members of the AUAF community, including students, faculty, professional staff, leadership, members of the Board of Trustees and advisory bodies, and persons invited to participate in University activities.
‘AUAF gave me the opportunity to continue my education after all other doors closed on us, Afghan girls.’
Current Student
Using a co-educational model, AUAF continues to offer Afghan students a level of support that other online universities cannot. Lectures are live, and class sizes are small. Students receive 1:1 support from professors and advisors. Student life, peer mentorship, tutoring, resource centers and counseling comprise a vibrant community.
Your donation changes their whole future
We are dedicated to providing world-class education for Afghanistan's next generation. Higher education is essential to Afghanistan’s future – it equips young women and men with the skills, ethical leadership, and problem-solving needed to create jobs, strengthen institutions, and serve their communities.
Your support is more than a donation – it is the key that unlocks academic potential and helps our students turn their dreams into reality. Join us in building a brighter world today.
Our
Leadership Team
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President David Edwards
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Executive Vice President Nitin Madhav
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Chief Operating Officer Bernaba Ghanim
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Chief Financial Officer, Vinh Nguyen
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Dean of Academic Affairs Joanne Giesbreicht
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Dean of Students Tracy Patton
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Operations Contractor Rebecca Ray White
Meet Our President
David Edwards
“At present, AUAF is a fully virtual campus. We strive to keep alive what has always made the university special: the interactive spaces it provides that allow our students to be together with each other and their professors. It’s the people that make AUAF unique. [...] Together we keep AUAF a strong and potent force for good.”
Meet the Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees brings together former ambassadors, higher-education leaders, development experts, business executives, and public-health scholars with deep experience in Afghanistan and the region – uniting governance rigor with real-world insight.
Chaired by Debra Zumwalt, our Board includes senior voices from U.S. diplomacy, Stanford University, the MacArthur Foundation, and Loma Linda University – ensuring oversight that balances academic excellence, operational know-how, and student well-being. From policy to practice, our trustees have led embassies, universities, foundations, and major programs in Afghanistan. Their collective experience guides AUAF’s mission and safeguards our students’ pathways to learning.
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Chair: Ms. Debra Zumwalt
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Vice Chair: Mr. Emal Dusst
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Secretary: Mr. Harvey Schochet
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Treasurer: Mr. William Hammink
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President: Dr. David Edwards
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Dr. John H. Alexander
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Amb. Said T. Jawad
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Mr. Farhad Azima
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Mr. Arsalan Lutfi
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Mr. Christopher Cox
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Amb. Maureen Quinn
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Mr. Christian Destremau
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Amb. Paula Dobriansky
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Ms. Leslie M. Schweitzer
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Ms. Christine Drinan
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Mr. David Sedney
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Dr. Ayesha Sherzai
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Ms. Hanaa Soltan
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Dr. Jonathan F. Fanton
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Mr. Sear Yagana
Partners
Friends of AUAF (FAUAF)
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AUAF partners with the Friends of AUAF (EIN 26-3639601) to process U.S. gifts.
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The Friends of AUAF is a not for profit, 501(c)3.
