Born in Mafraq, Jordan, in 1948, member of the current Jordanian Senate, Prof. Abdullah A. Owaidat, earned his B.A. in Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Baghdad in 1969, Higher Diploma in Educational Qualification from the University of Jordan in 1974, M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Jordan in 1977, M.A. in Educational Planning from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1978, and a PhD in Educational Sociology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1981.

Prof. Owaidat joined the University of Jordan as a teaching assistant in 1975, and after earning his PhD, he was appointed Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. 

As of 1984, Prof. Owaidat took on a number of portfolios, where he was appointed as Minister of Culture, Youth and Antiquities, 1984-1985, Minister of Youth and Sports, 1993-1994, and Minister of Social Development in 2005.

Prof. Owaidat is holder of the Order of the Star of Jordan (Wisam al-Kawkab al-Urdani), and the National Order of Merit (Knight class) awarded by the Republic of France.