Dr. Maja (Maya) Zelihic

Dr. Maja (Maya) Zelihic is the Dean of the Forbes School of Business and Technology (FSBT) at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Her distinguished career is characterised by a dedication to academic excellence, innovative leadership, and a commitment to fostering a culture of learning and inclusivity.

In her role as Dean, Dr. Zelihic has demonstrated exceptional leadership across various areas, including guiding academic programs, designing and implementing new initiatives, ensuring curriculum excellence, and promoting faculty development. Her tenure as Chair of the Forbes Board of Advisors has been marked by her skillful facilitation of collaboration between academia and industry experts. Esteemed board members include influential figures such as Steve Forbes, Mark Mills, Rich Karlgaard, and John Tamny. Dr. Zelihic played a pivotal role in establishing the university’s first international partnership with a Chinese institution and facilitated a cross-university collaboration between the Pharmacy program at UA and the MBA program at FSBT.

Dr. Zelihic also has accreditation consulting experience. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing quality strategies to meet external awarding body requirements, managing quality audits and accreditations, and overseeing teaching observations to enhance teaching quality and the student learning experience.

Dr. Zelihic led international university partnerships, global e-learning development, and course creation. Her responsibilities included managing academic projects, hiring and evaluating faculty, and implementing quality processes for academic programs.

Dr. Zelihic’s extensive global experience includes serving as an Associate Faculty member for multiple universities from 2008 to 2020. During this period, she focused on international university partnerships and e-learning development, particularly in developing regions, and served as a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at various international institutions.

In addition to her roles in academia and consulting, Dr. Zelihic is a Fulbright Specialist, Full Professor, and GLOBE Researcher. Her global research endeavors include completing three Fulbright research projects in Zambia and Uganda. As a Country-Co-Investigator for the GLOBE research project, she has contributed valuable insights into cultural practices, leadership ideals, and interpersonal trust. Dr. Zelihic also serves as a Distinguished Professor at Woxsen University in India and contributes to the Board of Advisors for the International Fellowship Program in Arbitration and Scientific Research.

Her expertise in e-learning and online education is highlighted by her leadership and her involvement in research and development across Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Dr. Zelihic’s scholarly contributions include over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and significant co-authorships, such as the book “The Power of Perception” and the Perception Power Index. She has also contributed chapters to the International Handbook of Research and “Becoming and Supporting Online Adjunct Faculty in a Gig Economy.” Her expertise in business education is further recognised through her TEDx speaking engagements and recent contributions to Forbes.com, where she writes on business education.

Dr. Zelihic’s career is marked by her dedication to advancing knowledge, enhancing educational practices, and fostering global academic initiatives.