The University faculty maintains a tradition of personal attention to students and devotion to teaching and research. Many members of the faculty have been cited for excellence in teaching. Some of them are leaders in their disciplines and professional organizations. Members of the faculty have had the experience of working in high-tech fields and various business professions; some also acted as consultants to educational institutions, industry, businesses, government, and foundations.

Anzar Khaliq

Dr. Anzar Khaliq

Chief Learning Officer

Dr. Anzar Khaliq serves as the founding Chief Learning Officer at San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) and the first head of the Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation (CEPI). In this role, Dr. Khaliq is leading the transformation of SFBU’s pedagogical culture by empowering faculty to deliver exceptional, inclusive teaching, and learning experiences. He combines Universal Design for Learning with student-centered approaches, cultural sustainability, relational pedagogy, adaptive learning environments, and AI-integrated teaching to advance educational practices at the university.

Before joining SFBU, Dr. Khaliq was a founding faculty member at Habib University, Pakistan’s first liberal arts and sciences institution. He held several key leadership roles at Habib, including Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning, overseeing the Centre for Pedagogical Excellence; Assistant Dean of the Dhanani School of Science and Engineering; Founding Director of Integrated Sciences and Mathematics; and co-founder and Director of the Center for Transdisciplinarity, Design, and Innovation.

Dr. Khaliq earned his Doctorate in Experimental Physics and a Master’s in Nano-materials from Sorbonne University, where he worked on some of the most advanced particle accelerators in the world. His scientific rigor, combined with a unique blend of creativity, is shaped by his decade-long career as a radio jockey and training in improvisational theater. These experiences greatly inform his innovative teaching approaches, which he now applies in SFBU’s newly designed General Education curriculum. 

Courses: 

  • How to Design Your Life: A Journey Through Personal Epistemology

Ahmed Banafa

Prof. Ahmed Banafa

Director of Continuing Education & Special Programs

Prof. Ahmed Banafa is a distinguished expert in IoT, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and AI with a strong background in research, operations, and management. He has been recognized for his outstanding contributions, receiving the Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco, the Haskell Award for Distinguished Teaching from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Author & Artist Award from San Jose State University. LinkedIn named him the No.1 tech voice to follow in 2018, acknowledging his predictive insights and influence. His groundbreaking research has been featured in renowned publications like Time, Nature, Forbes, IEEE, and the MIT Technology Review. He has been interviewed by major media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Bloomberg, BBC, NPR, NHK, and FOX. Being a member of the MIT Technology Review Global Panel further highlights his prominence in the tech community.

Prof. Banafa is an accomplished author known for impactful books. His work "Secure and Smart Internet of Things (IoT) using Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI)" earned him the San Jose State University Author and Artist Award and recognition as one of the Best Technology Books of All Time and Best AI Models Books of All Time. His book on "Blockchain Technology and Applications" also received acclaim and is integrated into curricula at prestigious institutions like Stanford University. Additionally, he has contributed significantly to Quantum Computing through his third book, and he is preparing to release his fourth book on Artificial Intelligence in 2024. Prof. Banafa's educational journey includes Cybersecurity studies at Harvard University and Digital Transformation studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he is holding a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence.

Courses: 
  • Senior Capstone Project - I
  • Computer Science Capstone Course
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Electrical Engineering Capstone Course

     
Joy Gao

Joy Gao

Academic Librarian 

Joy Gao has over 20 years of experience in reference service, library instruction, and collection development in an academic library setting. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Nanjing University in China and a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University in Ohio. Before joining SFBU, she worked as a Public Services Librarian for Ohio Wesleyan University and an Upper School Research Librarian for The Nueva School in San Mateo.

Meet our Faculty

Johnathan Mun

Johnathan Mun, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of Business

Dr. Johnathan Mun is a full-time Professor and Chair of the Business Department at SFBU. He has over 26 years of experience building businesses, consulting, training, and academia. During that time, Dr. Mun has authored and published 32 books (several are translated into multiple languages), registered 13 patents, developed 12 software applications, and has taught at universities in ten countries (U.S., U.K., Australia, China, Colombia, Ghana, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela). His books and software are used by over 50 universities worldwide. In addition, Dr. Mun has published over 150 academic journal articles and technical reports and has consulted for more than 100 global corporations and organizations (e.g., 3M, Airbus, Boeing, Cubic, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electric, State of California, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy). He is also the CEO of Real Options Valuation, Chairman at IIPER Global, and currently sits on the Board of Directors at OSL Risk Management (U.K.).

Dr. Mun holds a Ph.D. in Finance and Economics from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania; an M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University, Miami, Florida; and a B.S. in Biology and Physics from the University of Miami, Florida. He is also a C.Q.R.M. (Certified in Quantitative Risk Management, IIPER Global), F.R.M. (Certified in Financial Risk Management, GARP), and C.F.C. (Certified in Financial Consulting, AAFM). Dr. Mun’s other previous experience includes working for Real Options Valuation, Inc. as its CEO, as a Research Professor in the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, as Vice President of Analytics at Oracle-Decisioneering, and as Senior Manager at KPMG Consulting.

His areas of interest in teaching include corporate finance, financial management, financial economics, econometrics, quantitative analytics, data science, strategic real options, predictive modeling, simulation, and optimization.

Courses: 
  • Production and Operations Management 
  • Financial Management 

Mohammed S. Akhoirshida

Mohammed S. Akhoirshida, PhD, SAPM

Professor and Chair of Computer Science

Dr. Akhoirshida is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of expertise in computer networks, software engineering, and wireless communication systems. His career spans significant roles in both industry and academia, including positions at leading companies such as Ford, Apple, Qualcomm, and Broadcom. He is also the Founder and CEO of an IT consulting firm and currently serves as a Professor of Practice and Chair of the Computer Science and Information Systems (CIS) department at San Francisco Bay University (SFBU).

Dr. Akhoirshida holds a PhD in Engineering Science and has been awarded a patent for a cooperative PaaK vehicle ad-hoc network utilizing Bluetooth low-energy wireless technology. He also has a Stanford Advanced Project Management (SAPM) certification from Stanford University. His scholarly contributions include numerous publications in prestigious conferences and journals. Recognized for his exceptional performance, Dr. Akhoirshida has received several awards from Ford Motor Company and Qualcomm Inc.

In addition to his professional achievements, Dr. Akhoirshida is passionate about social work and human rights, actively engaging in efforts to support and uplift others. Outside of his professional and philanthropic endeavors, he enjoys playing chess and swimming, reflecting his commitment to both mental and physical well-being.

Courses: 
  • Algorithms & Structured Programming 
  • Java and Internet Applications
  • Java Programming Lab
  • Mobile Applications on iPhone Platform
  • Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Discrete Logic
     

Kylie Roy

Kylie Roy, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Teaching Fellow in Counseling Psychology

Dr. Kylie Roy is thrilled to be part of the Psychology Department at SFBU. She is originally from sunny Southern California and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of San Francisco. Dr. Roy’s journey then took her to London, where she pursued a Master’s in Applied Psychology and later earned a Ph.D. in Psychology, focusing on post-traumatic growth.

Dr. Roy’s research is centered on understanding how individuals can experience resilience and positive transformation following trauma. She is passionate about helping people navigate and thrive after difficult experiences.

Outside of academia, Dr. Roy enjoys spending time with her dog, cats, and boyfriend. She is an avid hiker and enjoys exploring new trails and outdoor adventures. Baking is another one of her favorite hobbies - she loves experimenting with new recipes and sharing her creations. As she explores her new surroundings, Dr. Roy is excited to discover all the wonderful things the Bay Area has to offer.

Dr. Roy looks forward to connecting with students and colleagues, and she is always here if you’d like to chat or need support.

Courses: 
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Health Psychology