Developments in Libya now have a local connection. A former professor at Rochester Institute of Technology now has Libya's top job.

Mustafa Abushagur has been elected prime minister by Libya's parliament. He was the president of the RIT's campus in Dubai.

He is originially from Libya. RIT says the former micro-systems engineering professor returned to his homeland in November to serve as deputy prime minister.

His RIT collegues describe him as a rational thinker with a quiet self-confidence.

"He clearly had a deep conviction that he could come and have an impact and rebuild his country after the civil war bringing back a sense of values around democracy that he felt was important to country's future in that regard," said Jeremy Haefner, Provost and Senior VP of Academic Affairs.

Abushagur is the first elected head of government since Moammar Gadhafi's death last year.