Professor Mohammad Kafi began his term as the 17th President of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad on 24 December 2013. Prior to this appointment, Professor Kafi had served in several administrative positions as the Director of Evaluation and Assessment of Education (1990-1992), Deputy President of Students and Cultural Affairs of the University (1997-2002), the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Science Counselor of Iran in India and the sub-continent (2003-2006).

As an alumnus of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in BSc and MSc, he continued his Ph.D. studies overseas and graduated in Agronomy and Plant breeding and received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in plant stress physiology from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and was also awarded the Overseas Research studentship of the UK.

Under the management of Professor Kafi as the President, a Strategic Plan has been developed for the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad for the five year period 2016–2020. This plan has been developed based on the work that has been done during the previous five years and it aims to develop and excel the strengths of the University. Including depth and breadth of research, education and technology; becoming an international university; continuing to be a student based university; and continuing our genuine desire to do good in the province, the country and the world.