Professional Bio

Yassine Sellami has over 18 years of international experience working in higher education and global organizations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He brings a cross-sector perspective informed by roles in digital transformation at Drexel University, a Research 1 institution, and at Dell Technologies, Apple, and IKEA IT Sweden. With a career bridging technology, leadership, and education, Yassine applies his expertise in systems thinking, complexity science, and artificial intelligence to improve institutional decision-making and accelerate organizational learning.

As the Director of Research Systems and Analytics in Drexel University's Office of Research and Innovation, Yassine leads the digital transformation across Drexel's research enterprise through system implementation, analytics strategy, and organizational change management. He oversees the integration of research administration platforms, data flows, data analytics, and research administration modules that enhance institutional effectiveness and transparency across the research lifecycle.

Yassine is pursuing his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership & Management with a concentration in Higher Education Leadership at Drexel University. His dissertation research examines how university senior leadership exercises authority and governance in response to pressures to integrate AI across their institutions. Drawing on complexity leadership theory, sensemaking, and institutional theory, his work aims to develop an original framework for presidential AI governance where none currently exists. Yassine also earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Strategic Technology and Innovation Management from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Construction Management from the University of Casablanca in Morocco.

Yassine is the founder of Seeing the System, a digital publication blending leadership reflection, systems analysis, and educational commentary to advance public understanding of organizational complexity. His cross-sector and cross-cultural perspective continues to shape his mission to bridge data, people, and purpose in higher education, catalyzing transformational, measurable, and sustainable institutional change.

Education

• Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership (Administration, Leadership & Assessment), Drexel University – Anticipated 2028
• Master of Business Administration (Strategic Technology and Innovation Management), Drexel University –  2024