Academic staff

Dr. Cecilia Kindelán is Dean of the School of Communication and an Associate Professor at Canadian University Dubai, bringing over 25 years of academic leadership and international expertise to the School of Communication. 

Dr. Lakhdar Chadli is an Assistant Professor at Canadian University Dubai. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at the American University in the Emirates, Al Bayan University in Abu Dhabi, the Regional School of Fine Arts at Mostaganem University in Algeria, and the Higher Institute for Performance and Audiovisual Arts (ISMAS) in Algiers. As a Media and Communication professor, he specializes in the development of film, television broadcasts, and interactive media works at the Institut National de l’Image et du Son (L'inis) in Montreal, Canada..  

Dr. Markus Rach is an applied marketing scientist specializing in the impact of technology on marketing functions, encompassing artificial intelligence, Web3 technologies, and emerging digital media formats.

His work focuses on generating value for both the academic community and marketing practitioners. He holds a doctoral degree from the Maastricht School of Management at Maastricht University and possesses four master’s degrees, including an MBA from the Queensland University of Technology, IE Business School, the Open University, and the Maastricht School of Management. 

With over 25 years of combined experience across higher education, corporate and public broadcasting (NBC-WDAM and PBS-WNET), and digital marketing (GCCI), Dr. Niaz Ahmed bridges scholarship, creative innovation, and industry practice. 

Dr. Sanjeewa Pushpakumara is an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker, academic, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Cinematography and Audiovisual Production at Canadian University Dubai. He holds a PhD in Film & Multimedia (Film and Media Production) and is the first Sri Lankan to earn a doctoral degree in film production. He also obtained his MFA in Film Direction as a Korean Government Scholarship recipient from Chung-Ang University, South Korea. 

Rizalyn Kerr is an Academic Support Officer in the School of Communication and Creative Industries. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of the Assumption. Based in Dubai for the past 25 years, she has built a solid career in administration, secretarial work, and customer service, and is known for her adaptability in diverse work environments.