New KAUST president pays surprise visit to campus

Jean-Luo Chameau made a surprise, unannounced visit to King Abdullah University for Science and Technology’s (KAUST) campus after his appointment three days earlier as the university’s new president. 
The distinguished academic said establishing open channels of communication and good contact with the faculty members, students and researchers is his first priority, a local newspaper reported. 
Chameau held a series of meetings with the senior management members at the university and then met the scientists, researchers and students in the laboratories and lectures halls of the university, taking the time to personally introduce himself to them. 
In Riyadh, Chameau met Ali Al-Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources, who also serves as the chairman of the university’s board of trustees, to discuss matters and arrangements pertaining to his new post. 
Al-Naimi expressed his pleasure to receive Chameau and reiterated his view regarding his appointment, saying the university could not have found a better president. 
The current president of KAUST, Shih Choon Fong, held a reception ceremony for Chameau, during which the latter expressed his desire to discover the Kingdom’s culture and history.
He expressed strong admiration for the university’s ability to attract distinguished scientists and outstanding academics within the faculty and student body. 
Showing his appreciation for the availability of the most advanced laboratories at KAUST, designed according to international standards he said, “I personally haven’t witnessed a university that has accomplished so much in five years.” 
“Chameau is one of the world’s most respected academic leaders,” said Nahdi Al-Nasr, executive vice-president of finance and administration at KAUST. “We are proud to have him as president; I personally look forward to working under his leadership and to reap the benefits of his academic experience to realize the future objectives of the university.”
One of the students, Ahmad bin Salman, said he was surprised by the new president’s visit to the lecture halls. “He is a great person with a modest demeanor. He even dined with the students in the cafeteria,” he added. 
Chameau is a French-born civil engineer with a track record as a researcher, educator and academic leader.
He has served as dean and provost at the Georgia Institute of Technology and was the president of Caltech for seven years prior to accepting his new post at KAUST.