Lisa Anderson (born October 16, 1950) is an American political scientist and the former President of the American University in Cairo (AUC).[1] A specialist on Middle Eastern and North African politics, Anderson served as the President of AUC from 2011 to 2016 and as Provost from 2008 to 2010.[2] Prior to joining AUC, Anderson served as the James T. Shotwell Professor of International Relations at Columbia University, the dean of Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, the chair of the political science department and the director of the Middle East Institute].[3] Previously, she was an assistant professor of government and social studies at Harvard University.[4]