About Us
Who we are
The Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Sciences is a high academic institution founded in 2016 and based in Bonn, Germany. It has representation in Lebanon, Jordan, Brazil, China, the United States and Canada. Its purpose is to congregate acclaimed scholars and artists from all over the world to promote culture in all its manifestations and expressions. Another main goal is to bring education to poor countries. It’s under the auspices and protection of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan which is accredited by the United Nations with the Special Consultative status since 2016. The Royal Academy is under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD, an internationally recognized scholar with over one hundred books published. Click here for the Organizational Outline of the Academy.
Our History
The Ghassanid kings were renowned not only as rulers and defenders of their people but also as enlightened patrons of culture, literature, and the arts, playing a decisive role in shaping the intellectual and artistic landscape of pre-Islamic Arabia and the Levant. As Christian Arab monarchs closely connected to Byzantine civilization, they cultivated a refined court culture where poets, scholars, theologians, and artists found protection, encouragement, and honor. Ghassanid rulers such as al-Ḥārith ibn Jabala and his successors supported celebrated poets who praised their justice, generosity, and noble character, contributing to the flourishing of Arabic poetic tradition. They sponsored the building of churches, monasteries, and centers of learning, fostered theological dialogue, and helped preserve Christian Arab identity and heritage. Through their patronage, the Ghassanids became symbols of nobility, cultural sophistication, and civilizational leadership, ensuring that art, faith, and intellectual life thrived alongside political power.
Our Mission
1. Advance research, education, and policy rooted in the Ghassanid commitment to the flourishing of humanity through cultural preservation, spiritual development, and the common good.
2. Serve as a global platform for interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue between worldviews that empowers leaders, scholars, artists, educators, and policymakers to address the world’s pressing challenges with vision, wisdom, and compassion.
3. Support the mission of the Royal House of Ghassan in protecting religious and ethnic minorities, advancing peace, dialogue, and humanitarian aid, and restoring the dignity of people through educational renaissance and spiritual renewal.
Our Team
The President
Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD is a distinguished German theologian, academic, and global religious leader renowned for his scholarship, interfaith engagement, and human rights advocacy. Holding doctorates in theology and cultural anthropology, he has authored or edited more than one hundred books and hundreds of scholarly articles, lectured at leading universities worldwide, and served in senior academic and ecclesiastical leadership roles. He is widely recognized for his work in religious freedom, ethics, sociology of religion, and international dialogue, culminating in his role as Secretary General and CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance, representing hundreds of millions of Christians globally. Prof. Schirrmacher is respected not only as an intellectual authority, but also as a bridge-builder committed to dignity, peace, and principled leadership in global affairs.
The Chairman
HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-NuMan VIII (nee Ahnume Guerios) is a prolific polymath, globally recognized as the heir of the Ghassanid Dynasty, multi-awarded humanitarian, best-selling author, philosopher, diplomat, academic contributor, and founder of the Ghassanic School of Thought. His intellectual work spans theology, metaphysics, ethics, political science, sociology, law, consciousness studies, and civilizational strategy. Author of more than sixty books and creator of a vast ecosystem of original theoretical frameworks—including the Triple Accord, Moral Physics, Ontoelectricity, PantaSupra, Jusvera, Bio-Accord, Neo-Holism, Skeptical Mysticism, Logos One, Magnus Delta, Dynamic Stoicism, Neo-Henotheism, Meta-Constructivism, and multiple applied engines for governance, civilization modeling, economics, education, and AI ethics—he has built a coherent philosophical architecture uniting science, spirituality, history, law, and human purpose. Through academically grounded writing, deeply integrative theoretical innovation, and bold civilizational vision, he proposes nothing less than a new structural understanding of reality, consciousness, ethics, and the future of humanity, positioning his body of work as one of the most ambitious and original intellectual contributions of the 21st century.
Vice-President Middle East and North Africa
Dr. Joseph A. Kéchichian is a prominent political scientist, historian, and international affairs scholar widely recognized as one of the leading experts on Middle Eastern monarchies, particularly the Arabian Gulf states. A prolific author and researcher, he has written extensively on governance, dynastic continuity, political legitimacy, reform, and stability in the Gulf region, producing influential books and academic studies published by respected institutions worldwide. His work combines rigorous archival research with deep cultural understanding, making him a sought-after analyst for governments, think tanks, and universities. Known for intellectual integrity and nuanced insight, Kéchichian has significantly contributed to global understanding of Gulf political systems, regional security, and the complex intersection of tradition, sovereignty, and modern statecraft.
Grand Chancellor
The Rev’d Dr. Christian Dominic Boyd is a distinguished Presbyterian minister, scholar, and organizational development leader whose vocation bridges faith, governance, humanitarian service, and global institutional capacity building. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he has served multiple congregations and regional leadership bodies while contributing to national ecclesiastical policy, ecumenical dialogue, and constitutional advisory work within the denomination. Academically accomplished, Dr. Boyd holds advanced theological, leadership, business, mediation, and diplomacy credentials from respected institutions in the United States and Europe, alongside numerous professional certifications in humanitarian practice, nonprofit leadership, and dispute resolution. He is widely engaged in international development consulting for NGOs, IGOs, and UN-accredited organizations, and is recognized as a Fellow of several prestigious learned societies, including the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the Royal Asiatic Society, and the Royal Society of Arts. With deep ancestral roots in Scottish, English, Dutch, and French Huguenot heritage and a lifelong commitment to public service, Dr. Boyd exemplifies principled leadership, intellectual rigor, and a vocation dedicated to human dignity, social development, and the strengthening of institutions that serve the common good.
Board Member
Dr. hc. Michael Hesemann is a noted German historian, author, and cultural scholar whose work has significantly contributed to contemporary understanding of Church history, Christian heritage, and the historical contexts of faith. Widely recognized for his extensive research in European and Middle Eastern archives—including privileged access to the Vatican Secret Archives—he has produced numerous internationally published books exploring early Christianity, the life of Jesus, Marian apparitions, religious persecution, and the historical foundations of Christian civilization. Hesemann’s scholarship is distinguished by meticulous documentation, interdisciplinary analysis, and a commitment to bridging academic rigor with accessible narrative. A respected lecturer and public intellectual, he is frequently invited to speak at conferences, universities, and religious institutions worldwide, where he is valued for his balanced historical insight, cultural sensitivity, and dedication to preserving truth and memory within the Christian historical tradition.
Board Member
Dr. Weiqing Gu, PhD is a highly respected mathematician, scholar, and interdisciplinary thinker, serving as the McAlister Professor of Mathematics and contributing profoundly to both advanced research and higher education. Her distinguished career spans applied mathematics, wave propagation, computational modeling, and innovative scientific inquiry, complemented by influential cross-disciplinary initiatives that connect mathematics with technology, global development, and societal progress. Widely recognized for her intellectual rigor, pioneering research, and commitment to academic excellence, Dr. Gu has mentored countless emerging scholars and played key leadership roles within international research communities. Through her publications, lectures, and collaborative projects, she continues to expand scientific understanding while promoting educational innovation, intercultural dialogue, and the responsible advancement of knowledge for the betterment of humanity.