A professor of linguistics, he was awarded the First Class Independence Medal by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein in 2005 in recognition of his efforts in establishing Al-Hussein bin Talal University. He obtained his university degree in English language in 1978 from the University of Jordan. He served as the head of the English Language Department at Mu'tah University, then as dean of the Faculty of Arts, and as an assistant to the president and dean of student affairs. From there, he emerged as the founding president of Al-Hussein bin Talal University in Ma'an. He later served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Jordan), then as president of Al al-Bayt University in Mafraq. He then entered the realm of the Ministry of Culture under the government of Dr. Marouf Al-Bakhit from 2005-2007, and then became the founding president of Al-Hassan Scientific City, the first scientific park in Jordan. He later served as Secretary General of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, before becoming the president of the University of Jordan. He was appointed Minister of Higher Education and Research.