Home \ Faculty Details \ Dr. Shakir M. Usman
Faculty Img

  • Phone:

    +966548574636

  • Email:

    susman@pmu.edu.sa

  • Office No:

    S124

  • Dr. Shakir M. Usman

  • Job Title :

    Assistant Professor

  • College :

    College of Sciences and Human Studies


  • Department :

    Humanities & Social Sciences


I am currently serving as Chair of the Humanities & Social Sciences Department at the College of Sciences and Human Studies, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia. In this role, I combine teaching a wide range of courses with departmental leadership, overseeing curriculum design, teaching quality, research development, and program growth to ensure academic excellence. I guide and mentor faculty, manage workloads, evaluate performance, and support student advising, engagement, and well-being. I also lead departmental planning, budgeting, and policy implementation, while representing the department within the university and to external stakeholders.
 
Previously, I was the first Jan Warner Scholar at the Center for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS), American University of Iraq – Sulaimani, where I conducted research and taught courses including Israel/Palestine Conflict, Gender and Genocide, Gender and Islam, Kurdish History, Modern Civilizations, and Gender in Ancient Greece, while also supervising senior Capstone Projects. My academic background includes a PhD dissertation titled “The History of Shia, Sunni and Yazidi Conflict: A Political, Social or Religious Conflict and its Impact on the Peace Process in the Middle East” with a special focus on Kurdistan, northern Iraq, as well as an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies, both from the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
 
Beyond academia, I have served in various educational institutions worldwide as both teacher and administrator, and have worked with national and international NGOs in diverse roles. My professional experience spans education, media, human rights, sexual and gender-based violence, disaster management, child protection, psychosocial support and rehabilitation, peace and conflict, and community-based interventions—always within multicultural and multilingual contexts.

 

Interdisciplinary Ph.D.  (2021)
University of Innsbruck – Austria  
 
M.A. in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation Studies (2018)
The UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, University of Innsbruck – Austria

Publications & Conferences:

▪  (2026). “Yazidi Stories: A Case Study of Resistance, Resilience and Political Erasure in Mesopotamia.” Australian Journal of Environmental Education, Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2026.10148
▪  (2026). “Understanding University Student Perceptions of Ex-patriate Instructors: Strategies for Academic Success.” The International Conference on Business and Technology (ICBTIstanbul'2026), Istanbul, Turkiye.
 
▪  (2026). “Emotions in Learning: Comparison Between Face-to-Face and Online Learning.” The 2nd International Research Conference for Smart Technologies and Sustainable Strategies in Design, Management, and Computing (OCMT’2026), Oman.
 
▪  (2026). “The Impact of Human and AI-Driven Factors on E-Learning Satisfaction: A Holistic Approach.” The 2nd International Research Conference for Smart Technologies and Sustainable Strategies in Design, Management, and Computing, (OCMT’2026), Oman.
 
▪  (2026). “Exploring the Influence of Self-Efficacy, Attitude, and Motivation on English as a Second Language (ESL) Student Engagement with Instructor Feedback in Saudi Arabia.” The 9th Equal Opportunities Conference “Industry 5.0 and Circular Economy (EO'2026), Bahrain.
 
▪  (2025). "Collaborative Methodology by Integrating Students, AI and Teacher to Teach English Literature for Active and Reflective Learning." Ai in Computational Linguistics (ACLING 2025), the British University in Dubai.
 
▪  (2025). "Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Vehicular-to-Vehicular (V2V) Communication for Autonomous Vehicles." IEEE IntelliSecAI 2025: IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence, Security, and Artificial Intelligence, PMU, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
 
▪  (2025). "Comparative Analysis of Supervised Machine Learning Classifiers for Intrusion Detection on Heterogeneous Datasets." IEEE IntelliSecAI 2025: IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence, Security, and Artificial Intelligence, PMU, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
 
▪  (2025). Constructing Safer Worksites with AI Technology from a Human Resources Perspective. In: Hamdan, A. (eds) Integrating Artificial Intelligence, Security for Environmental and Business Sustainability. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 608. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-96641-5_57
 
▪  (2025). "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Football." The International Conference on Sustainable Business and Technology (ICSBT’Cairo2025), the American University in Cairo, Egypt. September 29-October 01, 2025.
 
▪  (2025). "Improving Study Habits Using AI for College Students", The International Conference on Business and Technology (ICBT Cardiff’ 2025), UK, July 23-24, 2025.
 
▪  (2025). "Yazidis: History of an Endangered Minority in the Middle East", 2nd International African Congress, Poland, 29th January, 2025.
 
▪  (2024). “People with Disabilities and the Saudi Business Market - A Missing Link Towards Sustainable Growth.” In: Alareeni, B., Hamdan, A. (eds) Navigating the Technological Tide: The Evolution and Challenges of Business Model Innovation. ICBT 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1081. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67437-2_39
 
▪  (2024). "People with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: A Constant Struggle in the Job Market" 1st International African Congress, Poland, 1st February, 2024.
 
▪  (2024). “PWDs of Saudi Arabia: In Need of Better Technology Integration and Learning Outcomes in Education.” (With Maha S. Albahar). In: Al Mubarak, M., Hamdan, A. (eds) Innovative and Intelligent Digital Technologies; Towards an Increased Efficiency. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 569. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71649-2_30
 
▪  (2024). “Students' Mental Health and Sustainable Learning Practices in Saudi Arabia” (With Siddiqua Aamir). In: Mansour, N., Bujosa Vadell, L.M. (eds) Finance and Law in the Metaverse World. Contributions to Finance and Accounting. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67547-8_14
 
▪  (2024). “Saudi Arabia's Space Program: A Stepping Stone Towards a New Technological Era in the Middle East” 20th Annual World Congress of the Academy for Global Business Advancement, 8-10th July 2024, The Grand Four Wings Convention Hotel Bangkok, Thailand and the article has been selected to be published in a Q1 Scopus-indexed Journal.
 
▪  (2024). "The Impact of Remote Work on Employees & Businesses" (with Hamed N. Shahbar). In: Mansour, N., Bujosa Vadell, L.M. (eds) Green Finance and Energy Transition. Contributions to Finance and Accounting. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75960-4_27
 
▪  (2024). “Saudi Arabia's Initiative of Accessibility and Inclusivity in Education - A Case Study” in Alareeni, B. and Hamdan, A. (eds) Next-Generation Business Models: The Role of Advanced Technologies in Defining the Future, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-00441-3.
 
▪ (2025). Reimagining Interior Design with Artificial Intelligence. In: Hamdan, R.K. (eds) Tech Fusion in Business and Society . Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 233. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-84628-1_61
 
▪ (2023). “Violent Conflict and Ethnic Identity: Reflection on Ethnic Relations among the Pukhtuns (Pashtuns) in Swat, Pakistan” (with S. Wasif Azim). National Identities Journal, Taylor & Francis.
 
▪ (2023). “Socioeconomic and Socio-Religious Challenges in Career Development for People with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia.” 3rd International Symposium on Educational Research (ERL2023), 21st October 2023, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, KSA.
 
▪ (2023). “Female Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia.” 23rd EURAM 2023 Conference, 14th – 16th June 2023, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
 
▪ (2022). “History of Yazidi Genocides, Mass Atrocities, Forced Conversions and Persecutions in the Middle East.” International Conference on “Genocide in the Memory of People” organized by the Center for Genocide Studies, University of Duhok, Kurdistan.
 
▪ (2022). "Iraq’s Educational System: History and Rebuilding Process Post-Daesh." The Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum (MENAF) in Cambridge, England, ISSN 2634-3940 (Print).
 
▪ (2022). "The Varieties of Ableism: A Colloquium in Sulaimani, Kurdistan" (with Mustafa Hamza). The Journal of Teaching Disability Studies (JTDS), The City University of New York (CUNY).
 
▪ (2022). "Challenges, Options, and Opportunities for Working Women in Saudi Arabia." PMU International Conference in Future Studies, 6th – 8th December 2022, Al Khobar, KSA.
 
▪ (2021). “Yazidis: A Tale of Lost, Found and Misunderstood Legacy in the Light of Mimetic Theory.” Contagion: Journal of Violence, Mimesis, and Culture, Michigan State University, USA.
 
▪ (2021). “Epistemological Violence against the Yazidi Community: A Historical Perspective” (with A. G. Bhatti and M. Imran). PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, the Netherlands.
 
▪ (2021). “The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam: A Challenge to the Pakistani Patriarchs.” Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language (PJSEL), Pakistan.
 
▪ (2021). “The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam: A Challenge to the Pakistani Patriarchs.” 6th International Paris Conference on Social Sciences – July 9-11, Paris, France.
 
▪ (2021). “Disability: Diversity & Inclusion in the Global South.” Conducted an international Symposium at the Center for Gender and Development Studies, AUIS (funded by the EU). 
 
▪ (2021). "Disability, Diversity, & Inclusion: A Community Symposium in Kurdistan, Iraq." 6th World Disability and Rehabilitation Conference (WDRC 2021), November 6-7, 2021, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
 
▪ (2020). “Islam & Pakistan: A Critical Analysis.” Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language (PJSEL), Pakistan.

 

Serving Board Member, Peace Studies Fund – An organization striving to support needy students by paying their tuition fee.
 
 

Academic Experience:
 
Chair of Humanities & Social Sciences Department (Fall 2025 to present)
College of Sciences and Human Studies, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia
▪ Oversee curriculum, teaching quality, research development, and program growth to maintain academic excellence.
▪ Guide and mentor faculty, manage workloads, evaluate performance, and ensure student advising, engagement, and well-being.
▪ Manage departmental planning, budgeting, and policy implementation while representing the department within the university and to external stakeholders. 
 
Assistant Professor (Fall 2022 to present)
Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia
▪ Undergraduate Courses Taught: “Writing and Research” "Written Communication" “Critical Thinking and Problem Solving” and “Technical and Professional Communication” 
▪ Masters Courses Taught: “Career Development Counselling" "Teaching & Learning with Technology" and supervised "MA Thesis" 
 
Jan Warner Visiting Scholar & Lecturer (Fall 2020 to Summer 2022)
Center for Gender and Development Studies, AUIS, Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq
▪ Courses Taught: “Gender and Genocide” “Israel and Palestine Conflict” “Gender and Islam” “Kurdish History” “Modern Civilizations” “Gender in Ancient Greece” and supervised “Capstone Project”
 
Academic Coordinator (September 2011-January 2016)
Wise Up and Wise Up Life (International), Curitiba-PR, Brazil
▪ Managing staff of 10 teachers and 600 students
▪ Coordinating and corresponding with the head office
▪ Delivering lectures on language and creative arts.
 
English Language Instructor (May 2010-August 2011)
Curso ER (English Language School), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
▪ Researching the syllabus and teaching English to individuals and groups
▪ Preparing and delivering lectures on grammar and other aspects of language
▪ Delivering weekly and monthly evaluations
 
English Language, Creative & Performing Art Instructor (March 2008-January 2010)
BOTLHALE Cambridge International School, Gaborone, Botswana
▪ Preparing Lessons from text-based course and other sources
▪ Teaching English Language, Creative & Performing Art
▪ Peer counselling and behavioral management
 
NGO Work:
 
Mentor for Unaccompanied Minor Refugees &  Security Officer (May 2018-November 2019)
Ertebat – Asylum Platform for Human Rights & Gfs Security and Systems, Innsbruck-Tyrol, Austria
▪ Counselling and guiding unaccompanied minor refugees
▪ Accompanying them in their daily life
▪ Trust building and helping them to integrate into the society
▪ Monitoring, evaluation and recommendation on security related issues
 
Program Coordinator (January 2006-April-2006)
Royal Psychological Association UK (Pakistan Mission)
▪ Coordinated and managed project activities aimed at providing psychological assistance and child protection support to those affected by the earthquake in the Mansehra District of Pakistan
▪ Facilitated the work of 140 staff, mostly psychologists & social workers and handled their fleet management budget
▪ Coordinated with other agencies, including the World Health Organization

 

▪ Undergraduate Courses Taught:
“Writing and Research” “Gender and Genocide” “Israel and Palestine Conflict” “Gender and Islam” “Kurdish History” “Modern Civilizations” “Gender in Ancient Greece” "Written Communication" “Critical Thinking and Problem Solving” “Technical and Professional Communication” and supervised “Capstone Project”
 
▪ Masters Courses Taught:
“Career Development Counselling" "Teaching & Learning with Technology" 
 
▪ Masters Thesis Supervised: 
"Legal Expertise: Fundamental Skill to the Best Practices in Human Resources"
"The Role and Impact of Saudi Vision 2030 in Leadership Development"
"The Culture of Fear in Organizations"

Middle Eastern Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Israel-Palestine Conflict, Islamic History, Genocide Studies, Kurdish History, History of Yazidism, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Inclusion & Diversity, Disability Studies, Transdisciplinary Studies and Writing and Research.