Academic Administration and Planning

The Office of Academic Administration and Planning provides executive leadership across academic and administrative planning, faculty workforce strategy, and resource allocation for all divisions and units reporting to the Provost. Working in close partnership with the Office of the Provost, the Division Deans, the Vice Provosts, and the Office of Strategy and Planning, the Office ensures alignment between academic priorities, financial sustainability, and institutional governance.

The Office establishes institution-wide frameworks for multi-year academic workforce modeling, financial planning, faculty lifecycle governance, institutional analytics, and performance management. It oversees the Office of Academic Resource Management and Fiscal Affairs and leads the annual academic and administrative planning cycle for units reporting to the Provost. Through scenario planning, policy development, and benchmarking against peer research universities, Academic Administration and Planning advances NYU Abu Dhabi's academic mission and supports long-term institutional effectiveness and sustainability.

Sinikhwe Maphosa, Director, Academic Fiscal Affairs

Sinikhiwe Maphosa

Assistant Provost of Academic Administration and Planning

sm10595@nyu.edu

Sinikhiwe (Niki) Maphosa is the Assistant Provost for Academic Administration and Planning at NYU Abu Dhabi. She serves as a principal advisor to the Provost and provides executive leadership across academic and administrative planning, faculty workforce strategy, and resource allocation for all units reporting to the Provost.

In this role, Niki establishes institutional frameworks for academic workforce modeling and multi-year financial planning related to faculty lifecycle governance — spanning recruitment planning, compensation alignment, sabbatical policy, and succession planning, as well as contract renewal, tenure, and promotion. She convenes cross-divisional administrative and financial planning committees, oversees institutional performance analytics and effectiveness reviews, and represents NYU Abu Dhabi in academic planning and governance forums across the NYU global network and the broader higher-education community. She directly oversees the Office of Academic Resource Management and Fiscal Affairs.

Niki brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining NYU Abu Dhabi in January 2022, she was Director of Finance and Administration at McGill University's School of Continuing Studies. She holds an MBA from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).