403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
AUS Chancellor highlights Sharjah’s leadership in compassion-based research at Muhammad Ali Center
(MENAFN- Gambit Communications HQ) Sharjah, UAE, 7 September 2026 — American University of Sharjah’s (AUS) Chancellor Dr. Tod Laursen recently joined Lonnie Ali, Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, for a high-level conversation in Louisville, Kentucky, exploring how compassion can shape leadership, institutional decision making and civic wellbeing during periods of conflict and uncertainty.
Hosted at the Muhammad Ali Center for an audience of civic, business and community leaders, the event marked the latest milestone in a partnership formalized in Fe’ruary 2026 in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Presid nt and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of AUS. The partnership brought Sharjah into the center’s global network as the first international city to contribute to the Muhammad Ali Index, a research-and-action platform that measures and strengthens compassion in everyday life.
Launched in 2025 as a 12-city US pilot, the index combines original research, AI tools, local insight and its proprietary Net Compassion Score to assess how compassion is experienced, how trust is built and how communities come together across differences. In 2026, the index expanded to 20 US cities, with Sharjah becoming its first international city partner.
Through the partnership, AUS and the Muhammad Ali Center are advancing joint research and a dedicated compassion report for Sharjah. The work will generate internationally benchmarked insights designed to help leaders, institutions and communities strengthen trust, inclusion and social cohesion.
During the conversation in Louisville, Chancellor Laursen reflected on the responsibility of leading a diverse university community in a region where experiences of conflict vary widely.
“Part of it was realizing that you had a range of emotions out there, a range of experiences, and peop’e’s feelings were very differ”nt,” said Chancellor Laursen“/b>. “Having the flexibility as a leader to be empathetic, to hear ’ut what’s bothering them and try to be responsive where you can, is important in”all this.”
The conversation also provided an early look at findings from the Muhamm’d Ali Index’s international study, which is scheduled to debut as part of ’he initiative’s global launch in 2027. According to the Muhammad Ali Center, early findings across the Middle East and North Africa include the following:
•Faith-based organizations and networks across denominations are serving as reliable crisis-response infrastructure during migration, political instability and economic disruption.
•Gulf states are increasingly directing wealth toward long-term social investment and soft power, positioning themselves as stable, values-driven actors amid global volatility.
•Across the Middle East and North Africa, seeking help is increasingly viewed as a sign of strength, signaling a gradual cultural shift.
•Communities across the region are supporting migrant populations and vulnerable groups through informal safety nets.
Chancellor Laursen said the research aims to equip mayors, civic leaders and sheikhs with data-backed, actionable recommendations that can be applied in culturally responsive ways. He also credited Her Highness Sheikha Bodour for recognizing AUS’ ability to translate research into practical impact through its strong relationships across Sharjah.
Lonnie Ali emphasized the importance of higher education and student engagement in advancing a more compassionate future.
“I ’hink it’s through them that we will see a turn in the tide in the way USA is going and the way the world is going, becaus’ they don’t want to live in conflict all of their lives or at odds ”ith people,” she said.
The Louisville conversation ’einforced AUS’ role in connecting globally benchmarked research with the values, institutions and lived experience of Sharjah, while extend’ng Muhammad Ali’s legacy of compassion into leadership, education and civic action.
Hosted at the Muhammad Ali Center for an audience of civic, business and community leaders, the event marked the latest milestone in a partnership formalized in Fe’ruary 2026 in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Presid nt and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of AUS. The partnership brought Sharjah into the center’s global network as the first international city to contribute to the Muhammad Ali Index, a research-and-action platform that measures and strengthens compassion in everyday life.
Launched in 2025 as a 12-city US pilot, the index combines original research, AI tools, local insight and its proprietary Net Compassion Score to assess how compassion is experienced, how trust is built and how communities come together across differences. In 2026, the index expanded to 20 US cities, with Sharjah becoming its first international city partner.
Through the partnership, AUS and the Muhammad Ali Center are advancing joint research and a dedicated compassion report for Sharjah. The work will generate internationally benchmarked insights designed to help leaders, institutions and communities strengthen trust, inclusion and social cohesion.
During the conversation in Louisville, Chancellor Laursen reflected on the responsibility of leading a diverse university community in a region where experiences of conflict vary widely.
“Part of it was realizing that you had a range of emotions out there, a range of experiences, and peop’e’s feelings were very differ”nt,” said Chancellor Laursen“/b>. “Having the flexibility as a leader to be empathetic, to hear ’ut what’s bothering them and try to be responsive where you can, is important in”all this.”
The conversation also provided an early look at findings from the Muhamm’d Ali Index’s international study, which is scheduled to debut as part of ’he initiative’s global launch in 2027. According to the Muhammad Ali Center, early findings across the Middle East and North Africa include the following:
•Faith-based organizations and networks across denominations are serving as reliable crisis-response infrastructure during migration, political instability and economic disruption.
•Gulf states are increasingly directing wealth toward long-term social investment and soft power, positioning themselves as stable, values-driven actors amid global volatility.
•Across the Middle East and North Africa, seeking help is increasingly viewed as a sign of strength, signaling a gradual cultural shift.
•Communities across the region are supporting migrant populations and vulnerable groups through informal safety nets.
Chancellor Laursen said the research aims to equip mayors, civic leaders and sheikhs with data-backed, actionable recommendations that can be applied in culturally responsive ways. He also credited Her Highness Sheikha Bodour for recognizing AUS’ ability to translate research into practical impact through its strong relationships across Sharjah.
Lonnie Ali emphasized the importance of higher education and student engagement in advancing a more compassionate future.
“I ’hink it’s through them that we will see a turn in the tide in the way USA is going and the way the world is going, becaus’ they don’t want to live in conflict all of their lives or at odds ”ith people,” she said.
The Louisville conversation ’einforced AUS’ role in connecting globally benchmarked research with the values, institutions and lived experience of Sharjah, while extend’ng Muhammad Ali’s legacy of compassion into leadership, education and civic action.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment