"Adjunct Specialist, Leadership and Public Speaking"

Program Overview

The NYU Abu Dhabi Summer Academy is an 18-month university preparation program designed to enhance the academic profiles of highly motivated Emirati high school students. The program features intensive instruction in Leadership and Public Speaking, Critical Thinking and Writing, Mathematical Reasoning for the Sciences, College Readiness and Success, and IELTS Preparation over the course of two summers and an intervening academic year. 

Following a competitive admissions process, up to 90 program participants are selected each year as recipients of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholarships for Outstanding High School Students, which enables them to attend the Summer Academy.

Students are exposed to a rich cultural and rigorous academic program which enhances their ability to gain admission to and perform well at top-tier English-language universities. The program begins during the summer following the 10th year of high school and continues for the following 18 months, with two intensive summer sessions of study in Abu Dhabi at the NYUAD Campus. In addition, students participate in online study and academic refresher weekends during the following academic year. 

Program Goals

University PreparationStudents gain the academic, cultural, and social skills necessary for success at top-tier universities. Summer Academy graduates have attended Yale, NYU New York, NYU Abu Dhabi, Princeton, United Arab Emirates University, The London School of Economics, George Washington University, King’s College London, The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and many others. 

Academic PreparationWe introduce students to accelerated study of mathematics, critical thinking and writing, the humanities and to the value of a liberal arts education. 

Cultural AwarenessStudents develop their understanding of the social and cultural norms of universities and build useful intercultural competencies for success in university. 

Test PreparationWe prepare students to excel on the standardized tests necessary for university entry. 

Leadership and Public Speaking SkillsWith Leadership and Public Speaking as a required course in the Summer Academy, our program spurs confidence, personal growth, maturity, leadership skills. 

Social NetworkingWe bring together top students from across the UAE who form a supportive and challenging social network among themselves and with Summer Academy alumni who have gone on to university study, graduate school, professions, and leadership careers. 

Job Summary

The Specialist will be responsible for overseeing all academic aspects of the Leadership and Public Speaking (LPS) course, including lesson planning, instruction, grading, providing feedback, and holding office hours for two sections of Summer Academy students: those in their first summer (Summer I) and second summer (Summer II) of the program. The course will involve approximately 36 contact hours, with exact hours determined during the hiring process. 

In addition to academic duties, the Specialist will support program-related activities throughout the appointment, including weekends. The Specialist is expected to actively contribute to enriching the educational experience of the students and to play a key role in helping the program achieve its goals. 

Length of Appointment

• Approximately two mandatory meetings before the summer session starts for orientation activities
• Summer Session duration: Five weeks from approximately July 6 to August 7, 2026

Principal Responsibilities

• Teach the LPS course to two sections - the Classes of 2026 (Summer II) and 2027 (Summer I) in Abu Dhabi
• Work within the existing LPS curriculum to explore with students aspects of the theory and practice of leadership, develop their own leadership awareness, and improve their public speaking skills. This course, over the 18-month span of the Summer Academy, also helps students enhance their critical analysis, collaboration and teamwork skills, problem solving skills, and oral communications in various formats including speeches, debates, and group presentations. Areas of study include: characteristics of effective leadership, public speaking, leadership development, and interactions with leaders from different settings
• Attend any pre-program meetings and/or training sessions
• Work closely with the other LPS specialists to ensure that both cohorts and all sections receive the same material delivered with a similar high-quality approach
• Supervise and coordinate instruction with teaching assistants(s)
• Schedule and be available to individual students and groups in need of assistance, as well as to other specialists undertaking cross-curricular or collaborative projects
• Provide students with ongoing and regular feedback (oral and written) during the course
• Participate in faculty meetings by providing detailed feedback on student progress
• Before the end of the summer session, submit extensive and detailed written feedback on each student to be incorporated into a recommendation letter from the program
• Attend and provide assistance as needed with co-curricular events and evening activities throughout the summer session, which will entail leading small groups of students on excursions and trips, or supporting the operations of the program as needed
• Attend and provide assistance as needed with co-curricular events and activities throughout the summer session, which will entail leading small groups of students on excursions and trips, or supporting the operations of the program as needed
• Oversee and support students during assigned day trips, extracurricular evening activities, and events, ensuring a safe and engaging environment that promotes learning and development.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. Times Higher Education ranks NYU among the top 30 universities in the world, making NYU Abu Dhabi the highest-ranked university in the UAE and MENA region. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective undergraduate curriculum across the disciplines with a world center for advanced research and scholarship. The university enables its students in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and arts to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from over 120 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU's campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.

NYUAD is committed to upholding a culture of non-discrimination, anti-harassment, dignity, and mutual respect; providing equal access and opportunity; and fostering academic excellence in learning, research, and teaching. 

Students are drawn from among the world’s best. They are bright, intellectually passionate, and committed to building a campus environment anchored in mutual respect, understanding, and care. The NYUAD undergraduate student body has garnered an impressive record of scholarships, graduate-school admissions, and other global honors. Graduate education is an area of growth for the University; the current graduate student population of over 100 students is expected to expand in the next decade as doctoral programs are developed.

Qualifications

Required Education, Certifications, Licensing, or Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Education, Public Relations, Psychology or other related educational field
• Public Speaking Certification: Certifications from programs such as but not limited to Toastmasters International (e.g., Competent Communicator or Distinguished Toastmaster) and Dale Carnegie
• Leadership Development Certification: Leadership-focused certifications, such as but not limited to those from the John Maxwell Team or the Center for Creative Leadership CCL
• Certificates of training in communication and leadership from a recognized international university

Preferred Education, Certifications, Licensing, or Training

• Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD, or other terminal degree) in Executive Leadership, Professional Communications, Educational Leadership, or a related subject
• High-school or college-level experience in teaching debating and public speaking

Required Work and Related Experience

• Experience teaching public speaking, communication, leadership, or related courses at a university level
• Experience teaching a related course at the high School or university level
• Demonstrated experience in delivering leadership development programs or training in an Academic or Professional setting
• The ability to demonstrate effective public speaking techniques and mentor students in the art of communication and presentation
• Ability to teach leadership principles and practices, including team management, decision-making, and strategic thinking in an Academic or Professional manner
• Experience in designing and developing course curricula focused on public speaking, leadership, or communication skills
• Proficiency in various teaching methodologies, such as interactive workshops, experiential learning, and assessments tailored to enhance students’ public speaking and leadership abilities
• Demonstrated ability to provide feedback in a constructive manner
• Experience supervising high school and/or university students in a co-curricular setting (i.e. school or after-school program)

Preferred Work and Related Experience

• Demonstrated commitment to effective teaching in cross-cultural or global learning environments.
• Familiarity with online and face-to-face instruction

Applicants must submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae in PDF format. For instructions and information on how to apply, please visit our website at https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/about/careers/academic-support.html. If you have any questions, please email nyuad.sa.positions@nyu.edu. For more information about the program, please visit: www.nyuad.nyu.edu/summer.academy.