Prof Dr. Yassa Yoniene Pierre

Dr. Yassa Yoniene Pierre is a distinguished academic leader, medical professor, and international consultant with a multifaceted career spanning higher education administration, public health, and clinical dermatology. With a robust academic foundation including a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kinshasa, a specialization in Dermatology & Venereology from the University of Lubumbashi, and multiple advanced doctoral degrees in Leadership and Health Management, he brings over four decades of expertise to institutional development and medical education.

Currently, Dr. Yassa holds several high-impact leadership roles concurrently. He serves as the Director of Academic Affairs at the International School of Management in Ouagadougou, Deputy Vice Chancellor & Postgraduate Director at Agora International American University (Delaware), and as Rector of the same institution, driving strategic expansion, curriculum accreditation, and research funding growth. His academic leadership is further demonstrated through his long-standing partnership with the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health, where he co-develops and coordinates training modules.

His professional journey includes significant tenures in Zambia, where he served as Dean at Chreso University, Head of the Dermatology Department at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, and as an Associate Professor at the University of Zambia. He has a proven track record in project implementation, having led a USAID-funded biomedical project to strengthen HIV/AIDS laboratory systems.

An active researcher and author, Dr. Yassa has numerous peer-reviewed publications in infectious diseases, dermatology, and public health, and has authored several guidebooks on academic writing, leadership, and governance. He has successfully supervised multiple PhD and Master’s theses to completion. Fluent in French and English, Dr. Yassa is a strategic leader dedicated to enhancing the quality of higher education, fostering international academic partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers across Africa and globally.