Our academic staff
Arden University Berlin has an experienced, international faculty to ensure you gain the contemporary skills expertise needed by today’s employers.
Muhammad Saqib
Muhammad Saqib is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Team Leader at Arden University Berlin, with extensive experience in higher education and academic leadership. A Google-certified Data Analyst and Senior Fellow of the HEA (UK), he has taught at institutions including Coventry University, University of Wolverhampton, and Breda University. His teaching spans Data Science, Business Intelligence, and ICT-related subjects, delivered to diverse international student cohorts. he is also active in research and academic project leadership, with technical expertise in tools such as Python, Java, SQL, and SPSS.
Dr Elliot Brown
Elliot is Senior Lecturer in the School of Healthcare Management. He is a clinical neuroscientist and has spent over 13 years studying what happens in the brain when people suffer from severe mental illness. He was born in Hong Kong, grew up in London and has worked in research and taught across Europe, USA and Canada at places such as Kings College London, Donders Institute, University of Calgary, Harvard University and Charité Berlin.
Outside of Arden, he advocates for mental health with the Global Health Hub Germany, Leibniz PhD Network and Young Leaders for Health. Since being a parent, he has been working hard to rediscover his old hobbies like cooking, gardening, DJing and hiking, but has been failing miserably at this.
Dr Jinan Abi Jumaa
PhD, MPH, SFHEA
Jinan Abi Jumaa is currently a Senior Lecturer and Programme Team Leader for the Master of Public Health at Arden University. She teaches various modules in the area of Health and Care Management and Public Health. Jinan holds a PhD from the Charité Medical University Berlin and a Master’s in Public Health from the American University of Beirut. She also holds the status of a Senior Fellowship in Higher Education.
Jinan’s research activities and contributions have focused on the following research themes: (1) transcultural and primary health services to refugee populations; (2) the health of displaced, refugee and migrant populations; and (3) innovative teaching methods and practices to enhance the learning experience for students.
Away from work, Jinan is passionate about travelling, food, and culture.
Rami Abo Zarad
Rami Abo Zarad is an experienced English for Academic Purposes (EAP) lecturer with a background in teaching English as a Second Language since 2008 and university-level courses since 2010. He specializes in EAP, Business English, and intercultural communication. Holding a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics, Rami has taught in American, Syrian, German, and British institutions. His international experience informs his empathetic and engaging teaching style, focused on helping students develop the academic and communication skills needed to succeed in global academic environments.
Tobias Stähler
Tobias Stähler has a professional background that comprises corporate communications and roles in management and higher education alike. He has been teaching international students in a variety of management-related subjects for more than nine years, and has also worked as a PR freelancer for companies from the Food & Beverages and Public Health industries. Tobias is a fully trained merchant in wholesale and foreign trade, and holds a Master Artium from GeorgAugust-University Göttingen in Sociology, Communication Sciences and Cultural Anthropology.
Tobias’s research and publications are focused on political and organisational communications and qualitative empirics; his academic memberships include INSNA, NAPOKO, IISM Berlin. In his personal life, Tobias is passionate about badminton, food, and hiking around the Scottish Highlands.
Dr Victor Vargas
Dr. Victor Vargas joined Arden University in 2020, leveraging extensive industry experience across Germany, Brazil, Europe, North America, and Asia. During his role at Deutsche Bahn, Victor worked on IT systems for trains. In Brazil, he led an Innovation Institute at SENAI in collaboration with Germany's Fraunhofer Institute, focusing on the RD&I of the national industry. Victor’s industry knowledge spans mechatronics, biomedical engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Victor holds various degrees in electronics, mechanical and biomedical engineering, business and finance, innovation, project management, and corporate development from institutions in Brazil, Germany, and the USA. He also volunteers for professional bodies such as the PMI and PDMA.
Victor’s interests include innovation, HMI, digitalisation, product development, and project management. In his leisure time, he enjoys Capoeira, fitness, and Forró dancing. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, German, Spanish, and French, and grasps the basics of other languages.
Anja Grüneberg
Anja Grüneberg is the Director of German Language Teaching with over 25 years of experience working with learners from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. A passionate educator and teacher trainer, she has led workshops for publishers and designed engaging teaching materials that make language learning dynamic and effective. Anja believes that learning should be fun—her classes often include movement, music, videos, and interactive apps to keep students motivated and progressing. Outside the classroom, she brings language to life through German movie nights, museum visits, exhibitions, and job fair excursions. Her motto? Be curious and find out!
Dr Mohammad Ghorbani
Mohammad Ghorbani is a highly accomplished professional in logistics and supply chain management, holding a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and a Master’s in Industrial Engineering with a focus on logistics and supply chain management. With over 10 years of industry experience in auto manufacturing, oil and gas, and drilling sectors, Mohammad has honed his expertise in optimising logistics processes and enhancing supply chain efficiency. In 2018, he transitioned to academia, working as a researcher and lecturer at prestigious institutions including Kühne Logistics University, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, and SRH Hamburg University.
In May 2022, Mohammad joined Arden University as an associate lecturer. In August 2022, he officially became a full-time lecturer at Arden. Mohammad teaches a variety of modules such as Introduction to Supply Chain Management, Principles of Procurement, Managing Digital Supply Chains, and more. His fields of interest in teaching and research are maritime logistics, sustainability in supply chain via innovative solutions, and improving supply chain performance via collaboration.
Dr Elham Shirvani Ghadikolaei
Elham Shirvani Ghadikolaei is a lecturer in the School of Health and Care Management. She holds a PhD from the Technical University of Berlin, specialising in Embodied Cognition and Pedagogy. Elham's thirst for knowledge extends beyond her area of expertise, leading her to explore fields such as philosophy and business.
She is currently undertaking her postdoctoral research in Heidelberg, Germany, with a primary focus on the concept of embodied cognition and phenomenology. Elham’s research focuses on the philosopher Eugen Fink and his theory of Spielen (play). She strongly believes in engaging students in their work and fostering their role as leaders in a collaborative learning environment. In her free time, Elham enjoys sports and reading new novels.
Amanda Welfare
Amanda Welfare is originally from Bath, UK, and holds a degree in English as well as a Master's in Education. Within the Arden community, she plays a pivotal role in aiding students in their academic endeavours, guiding them on how to enhance their language, grammar, and punctuation use in assignments. Amanda's passion for teaching shines through, and her classes are characterised by their fun, practical, and helpful nature.
Beyond her profession, Amanda is an ardent traveller. She is also currently learning Hungarian from scratch, a pursuit she finds refreshingly challenging.
Annie Heringer
Annie Heringer is an English for Academic Purposes lecturer, with a specialised focus on providing writing support to students. In 2021, she achieved her Master’s in Academic Writing Development & Research from Coventry University in the UK. Her thesis revolved around the use of data-driven learning to support autonomous writing development.
Originally from the US, Annie worked in documentary film and television in New York City for ten years before moving to Berlin in 2012. While she gets fewer questions about her current job at parties, she loves working with university students to explore issues of language, identity, and technology.
Dr Ayah Bani Mustafa
Ayah Bani Mustafa has been working as a marketing lecturer and module leader at Arden University Berlin since January 2021. A few months before officially joining the team, she was a guest lecturer at Arden and fell in love with the university’s concept and environment.
Ayah discovered her passion for teaching during a teaching opportunity at Jordan University in 2013, where she found fulfilment in the development of students. This experience steered her towards a career in academia.
With about eight years of marketing experience at various online service companies across Amman, London, and Berlin, Ayah brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the classroom, giving students insights into the market and its best practices.
Ayah is also a certified e-commerce consultant, a SOSTAC associate, and holds a Master's in International Marketing Strategies from Hasselt University- Belgium.
Since 2022, Ayah has taken on the role of dissertation module leader within the school. She provides support to students and trains fellow academics to ensure their research journey is as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
Our student support team
Whether you need advice on how to submit an assignment or how to make the most out of your time in Germany, including any personal issues, our student support team are here to help you with any queries you may have.
Aleksandra Saroya
Aleksandra Saroya joined Arden University Berlin in January 2018 as a Student Support Coordinator. Since August 2018, she has held the position of Campus Manager, taking on key responsibilities related to centre operations and student support. Aleksandra's tenure has allowed her to gain a wealth of experience, and as a founding member of the Arden Berlin campus, she has played an integral role in its successful launch and subsequent growth.
Before joining Arden Berlin, Aleksandra pursued studies in English Philology with a focus on language teaching. She also gained practical administrative experience while working for a local company in Berlin. Outside of her professional life, Aleksandra enjoys travelling, cycling, swimming, and singing, though she has yet to show off her singing skills to a wider audience.
Shahab Ahmed Kashif
Shahab Ahmed Kashif is an Arden University alumnus and joined our team in November 2020 as a Student Support Administrator. In April 2021, he transitioned to the role of Student Experience Manager, taking charge of the student support, coaching and visa support teams.
Shahab has two master’s degrees, one in Computer Science and another in Data Analytics and Marketing (Arden). He has about 15 years of experience in the customer service industry with a focus on quality of work and performance improvement through training and development.
Outside of the office, he enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and cooking. His favourite sports are badminton and table tennis.
Bahadur Ali
Bahadur Ali has started his journey as student support officer at Arden University’s Berlin Campus in June 2021. He completed his degree as a Master of Business Administration from Pakistan and as MSC Strategic Business Management at the University of Law’s (UK) Berlin Campus in 2020. Bahadur is a Project Management & Customer Experience professional and has more than 11 years of experience in this sector. In addition, his specialities are Contact centre management, People management, Performance management, Project planning, Process improvement and Business Leadership.
Outside of work, Bahadur loves to read, travel, nature photography and hiking.
Sarah Bejkar
Sarah Bejkar is a Success Coach Team Lead at Arden University Berlin. After graduating with a Master’s in International Business from the National School of Business and Administration in Fez, Morocco, she relocated to Berlin to pursue an MSc in Data Analytics and Marketing at Arden Berlin.
Sarah joined our Berlin team almost immediately after graduating in 2019. Her diverse background and experience encompasses marketing, sales, data analytics, customer service, and coaching. Sarah loves travelling, roller skating, and spending most of her free time in nature with her dog.
George Collins
George Collins is an Academic Skills Tutor at Arden University Berlin. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in German Studies and Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, he went on to complete a Postgraduate Certificate in the Theory of Education at the University of Nottingham. He has since worked in a variety of primary, secondary, further and higher education contexts.
Since joining Arden in 2021, he has been pursuing his interest in pedagogy, distance/blended learning, cultural practice and theory, and the theory of academic skills. Outside of the demands of work and parenting, he is an avid football and sports fan, reads whenever he can, and enjoys travelling to new places.
Metin Esen
Metin Esen is an Academic Skills Tutor at Arden University Berlin. He holds an MA degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is currently pursuing a PhD in English Language Teaching.
With a professional background primarily rooted in teaching English for academic purposes within the higher education context, Metin possesses comprehensive expertise in the essential skills, particularly in the realm of academic writing, that students in higher education may require.
In his free time, Metin enjoys cycling and long nature walks. He is also a devoted fan of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Metin would be more than happy to assist you in anything concerning your academic studies in one-to-one sessions or workshops. Please feel free to make an appointment, drop by his office, or send an email.
Dr. Saria Almarzook
Saria Almarzook holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biodiversity from Humboldt University of Berlin. She also earned a Master’s degree in Integrated Natural Resources Management from the same institution. Her academic interests bridge molecular biology, public and planetary health, and health education. She is currently a permanent lecturer at Arden University, based in Berlin, leading both distance learning (DL) and blended learning (BL) students in three core modules: Planetary Health, Social, Political & Environmental Issues in International Healthcare, and the Undergraduate Dissertation module. She is also a 2024 graduate of the Aurora Leadership Programme by Advance HE, designed to support women in academic leadership.
Dr. Almarzook is a certified Quality Manager and Beauftragter (Quality Representative) from TÜV Rheinland, Germany, a member in the Global Health Hub in Berlin, and also pursuing a Master’s in Psychology with a focus on mental health in educational settings and has been nominated for a Fellowship in Higher Education in recognition of her contributions to teaching and academic leadership.