LTU President Tarek Sobh to chair technological university association, AITU

SOUTHFIELD—Lawrence Technological University President Tarek M. Sobh has been elected Chair-Elect of the Association of Independent Technological Universities (AITU).

The election was held at that AITU’s annual meeting earlier in January.

Sobh will thus serve as AITU Chair for 2026.

Founded in 1957, AITU, https://theaitu.com, represents the nation’s leading independent technological universities, working together to advance research, foster academic excellence, and drive innovation, all to strengthen the competitiveness of the United States in the global marketplace. The organization and its 21 member universities are engaged deeply in national conversations on the future of engineering, science, technology, and professional education—from K-12 engagement to higher education and workforce development.

“I am truly honored and humbled to become part of the leadership team at AITU,” Sobh said. “To be elected to this position by my esteemed colleagues, the presidents of AITU institutions, is an incredible honor and a reflection of LTU’s growing national prominence as a leader in technological excellence. As we look ahead, the role of independent technological universities in shaping the future has never been more critical. From artificial intelligence and automation to sustainable engineering and smart infrastructure, AITU institutions are at the forefront of developing the technologies that will define the industries of tomorrow. LTU has long been a powerhouse of research, industry collaboration, and transformative education, ensuring that our graduates are not just participants in the workforce but pioneers who lead innovation and economic growth.”

Sobh joined LTU as provost and chief academic officer in 2020 and became president two years later. Previously, he was interim provost and university executive vice president for research and economic development, as well as founding dean of the College of Engineering, Business and Education, at the Univesrity of Bridgeport. He earned a bachelor of science in engineering with honors in computer science and automatic controls from Alexandria University in Egypt, and earned Master of Science and PhD degrees in computer and information science from the University of Pennsylvania. He began his academic career as a research assistant professor of computer science at the University of Utah.

Sobh has authored more than 250 refereed journal and conference papers and book chapters, in addition to 27 books. He serves or has served on the editorial boards of 18 scholarly journals, and has served on the program committees of over 300 international conferences and workshops in robotics, automation, sensing, computing, controls, online engineering, and engineering education. He has presented more than 150 keynote speeches, invited talks and lectures, colloquia and seminars at research meetings, university departments, research centers, and companies.

Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU as part of its growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11% of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10%. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best Midwest colleges. Princeton Review lists LTU in the nation’s top 15%. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.