Steering towards a brighter future.

Empowering our students to take the helm.

A Civic Mission with Global Recognition As a leading regional academic institution, the Lebanese American University strives to shape a generation of ethically-minded individuals committed to social change and conflict resolution. Through its holistic approach to education and civic engagement, LAU nurtures well-rounded discerning individuals respectful of diversity, tolerance and the needs of their community. The entire LAU community is involved in countless philanthropic initiatives from volunteer clinics in underprivileged areas and scholarships for disadvantaged students, to empowerment through sustainability projects. An active proponent of human rights, LAU spearheaded the Global LAU Model United Nations program in Lebanon (MUN) and the LAU Model Arab League (MAL) within its Outreach and Civic Engagement Unit (OCE) to train its students in all aspects of diplomacy and negotiation while interacting with top UN representatives and high-ranking opinion makers. The university’s Global Classrooms program has been recognized for its spectacular and unmatched work in the largest Model UN program worldwide which engages more than 25,000 students and teachers annually in over 20 countries at conferences and in classrooms and holds a 16-year track record of success. www.lau.edu.lb & alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016

FEATURES CONTENTS

4 Another successful international conference 6 The art of reconciliation on medical education A growing body of research demonstrates that a variety of creative engagements can positively impact 10 Toward an increasingly patient-centered emotions, attitudes and beliefs, contributing to greater approach individual health and wellness. While the connection 11 Drawing inspiration from the past between art and healing is well known, few have delved into the reasons behind its psychological 12 The art of teamwork benefit. Federica Marsi investigates why theater can trigger change, even in communities torn apart by 14 LAU awarded in UNICEF Global Challenge decades of bloodshed and conflict. 15 Celebrating a leader’s commitment to education 16 Ceilings and barriers 20 Gender equality leads the agenda Women have historically been plagued by insecurity and 21 Q&A Coming home injustice as a result of gender-defined roles that dictate their place within society. Some have fought against the 22 A deep passion for giving back patriarchal and oppressive system while others remain 24 Ending the stalemate in the Middle East shackled by it. Reem Maghribi explores the various cultural, organizational, legislative and familial barriers 25 Op-Ed Deceptive perceptions that impact the relationships between women and work, men and society. 30 Postcard from New York 31 Are you being served?

26 Going with the flow 32 Looking in from the outside Migration has been a hot topic lately, with the 34 The spirit of giving back is alive on campus hundreds of thousands of refugees and economic migrants heading for Europe this past year. But in this 35 Mapping and understanding today’s youth global world, the phenomenon is not limited to Europe and involves more than just poor and frightened people 40 Expanding the field of learning looking for a better life. Irina du Quenoy takes a look 41 Successful scholarship program gains funding at the different categories of migrants that exist and asks what conditions are most conducive to smooth 42 Campus notes relations between new arrivals and the host society. 45 Taking the anxiety out of donating 36 Family matters 46 Hot off the printing press The most prominent family structures of today are 48 Alumni update nuclear, blended and single parent but same-sex and 51 A game changer adoptive families are definitely on the rise. So, in the year 2100 a family might be described as a group of 52 Staying connected people who relate to and share a mutual affection for each other. Rami Saidi discovers how the changing 55 Pulling away the leaves roles of the individuals in a family unit have altered 56 Why I give back the relationships between them.

page 1 President Wherever You Go Joseph G. Jabbra LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin is your platform for sharing photos Editorial Advisory Board and news about yourself, your family and your friends. We encourage Marla Rice-Evans, VP University Advancement you to update us on your professional and personal activities and Peggy Hanna, AVP Marketing & Communications achievements — from wherever you are! Nassib Nasr, AVP Development, MENA and Europe Abdallah Al Khal, Executive Director, Alumni Relations Edward Shiner, Director, Alumni & Special Projects Managing Editor Leena F. Saidi Associate Editor Beirut Linda Dahdah Associate Editor New York Paige Kollock Copy Editor Irina du Quenoy Special guest Jad Melki, Chairperson, Communication Arts Writers Naseem Ferdowsi Reem Maghribi Federica Marsi Selim Njeim Rami Saidi Contributors Zeina Abdallah Amal Abdel Massih Lana Abou Teen Nicole Barghoud Sevine Fakhoury Manwa Ghanoum Palig Haroutiunian Sana Kouatly Ghada Majed Help Tell Our History Nayla Abou Merhi Moujaes We welcome news from alumni, friends, supporters and current and former Nada Torbey faculty and staff members representing all of the university’s current and Editorial Assistants Haneen Bou Ayyash former schools and colleges. Submit your stories and photos for inclusion in Jessica Koueik LAU’s online and print publications. Production Manager Submit to: [email protected], or Sana Kouatly Graphic Designer Marketing and Communications Department New York Headquarters Marianne Amkieh Siblini Lebanese American University and Academic Center Photographers P.O. Box 13-5053/F24 Lebanese American University Chouran, Beirut 1102-2801 211 East 46th St. Emile Ghazal Lebanon New York, NY 10017, USA Bahaa Ghoussainy Jad Jbara Yehia Malla Pro Studio Letters to the Editor Front cover by Bassam Lahoud, senior instructor I must commend you on the latest issue of the Magazine. I found it full of truly interesting of photography, LAU School of Architecture & Design articles. I think it is the best of all I have read! Truly interesting and inspiring! Back cover by Abdallah Hatoum, whose work can —Irma-Kaarina Ghosn, associate professor of English/TESOL be seen at Orient 499 in Clemenceau, Beirut

LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin is published I just want to congratulate you on your Fall 2015 issue. Of special interest, to me at least, were quarterly by the Marketing and Communications the articles: It’s All Relative, Older and Wiser and The Key to Saving Time (about my dear ex- colleague Ahmed Kabbani). I would very much appreciate your printing the e-mails with the Department (MarCom) at LAU and is distributed authors’ names so we can write to them directly if it is possible. free of charge to alumni, students, staff, faculty, —-Claire Clemons Cowan, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. friends and supporters worldwide. Direct comments and letters to the editor may I am writing today to thank you for keeping me connected to my alumni with your publication. be sent to: [email protected]. I am an A.A. graduate of BCW, who immigrated to the USA, where I got a degree in art history in 1984 from the University of Maryland. I was very pleased to read in the fall issue an article Connect with LAU through: written by Zalfa Halabi titled “Art Is Timeless.” Indeed art transcends geographical, political and religious boundaries. It is eternal ... I love this magazine immensely. —-Leila Ankar Deeb, Maryland, USA

page 2 President Joseph individual andexaminetheirevolutionthroughtheages. phenomenon. Join usonourjourneyofdiscovery aswetracetheimportantrolethattheyplayinlifeof LAU isbutafraction, thoughvital, ofacommunityatlargeinwhich socialdynamicsareauniversal of compromiseandcooperationhowtoworktogetherasaunit. share amutualaffectionforeach other. We revealhowsuch afamily isexpectedtohaveabetterunderstanding no longernuclearbutmoreblended—isoften describedasagroupofpeoplewhocanrelatetoeach otherand We alsotrytovisualizesocialdynamicsofthefutureaswehurtlethrough21stcentury, where thefamily — Islamic artandarchitecture anddiscover whatmotivatestheseyoungpeopleintheiracademicpursuits. pages ofthisissue, degreeprogramin wemeetthediversestudentbodyof university’s innovative master’s of theregion’shistory, cultureandartisticheritageallowsscholars todrawinspirationfromthepast.In interaction ontheindividuallevel. A deepergroundinginculturaldynamicsisoften needed. Thus, beingaware culturalbackgroundBeing awareofeach inthegeneralsenseisoften other’s notenoughtoeasetheprocessof existing rifts, atopicwedelvefurtherintobyexaminingnationalandinternationalsuccess stories. broadly, individual-levelartisticexpressionisknowntohaveatherapeutic effectandplaysaroleinhealing and perhapsengageapolitical Arabs followingthe1967defeat—resonatewidelyincommunity. More one hand, ourstudentandmajorproductions, includinglastfall’s playLimaza—which waswrittentoreflect Our longhistoryintheaterisanotherexampleofsocialdynamicsboth withinandoutsidetheuniversity. Onthe — throughnewkindsofinteractionacquiresspecificcommunication skillsrelevanttopatientsafety. School ofNursing.Itillustratesperfectly howeach memberofateamisinfluencedbytheothers’ behaviorand School ofPharmacy, theGilbertandRose-MarieChagourySchool ofMedicine, andthe Alice RamezChagoury is reflectedinourInterprofessionalEducationprogram, ajointinitiativebytheSchool of Arts andSciences, the of truecommitmenttothewellbeingall, complementedbytheintegrationofdifferentculturaldynamics. This At LAU webelievethatacommunitybecomesviableandrich throughthesharingofcommonvaluesandaspirit of migrants, includingrecentones, hasaffectedtheirinteractionwiththehostcommunity. stability atrisk. With thehelpofourInstituteforMigrationStudies, wetakeacloserlookathowtheintegration effective waystointegrate—throughpositivesocialdynamicsthenewcomers withoutputtingtheirown homelands. This movement ofpopulationshasbeenvitalconcerntohostcountriesthathaveseeking Due toconflictsragingacrosstheglobe, 2015sawnearly20millionrefugeesseeksanctuaryoutsidetheir dynamics canbe. outcome, whilethesuccessofSouth Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement illustratesjusthowbeneficialsocial it disintegratesthemintochaos andconflict. The crisesinLibya, SyriaandIraqareprimeexamplesofthelatter members, maybuildordestroyasociety. Constructively, theprocesscementsdiversesocietiestogether;misused, Social dynamics, bestdescribedasthebehaviorofgroupsaresultinteractionstheirindividual Dear Friends, From thePresident’s Desk G . Jabbra page 3 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Medicine

Another successful international conference on medical education By Federica Marsi

The academic preparation of those with student’s progress.” Verifying how much a LAU hosts internationally whom we entrust our lives must be student is able to learn through periodic renowned experts with a priority for every higher institution. assessments implies double-checking the Medical education varies considerably efficacy of the method itself, a process the goal of transforming across the world, making research and that may sometimes lead to spot some the field of medical knowledge sharing paramount in assessing false friends. Strikingly, for example, the most successful teaching practices. computerized 3D images — which many education in the region Key to any research is agreement on would intuitively believe to be beneficial what should be considered as evidence. in the teaching of anatomy — have been “Too often we are looking for proof that found to be ineffective in enhancing what we are doing is right, rather than student performance. factual information,” says Kevin Eva, It is therefore not enough for an director of Educational Research and institution to base its academic strategy Scholarship at the University of British on avant-garde teaching techniques. A Columbia, Canada. “In order to collect study presented by Ross Scalese, assistant proof, we should first identify those director of Research and Technology at variable factors that indicate whether we the University of Miami Miller School are working in a correct way.” of Medicine, advocates in favor of Eva was one of the international experts Simulation-Based Medical Education — a in Medical Education that took place in technology that utilizes simulated human the Second International Conference on patients for competency-based training. Medical Education, which took place in Scalese is also one of the masterminds November 2015 under LAU’s leadership. behind the new diploma-granting “Clinical The youngest of the seven participating Simulation” course that as of January Lebanese medical schools, the Gilbert and 2016 is being offered by LAU ’s School of Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Medicine to all healthcare providers. (SOM) enticed to Lebanon a pool of Another key point, brought forward internationally renowned guest speakers by Dimitri Azar, dean of the College of who, together with local experts, discussed Medicine at the University of Illinois, the advancement of medical education in is the need to periodically innovate the region. the academic program. According to The stunning success of the last year’s him, medical education is affected by conference and LAU’s Dean of SOM “diseases of the curriculum” such as Youssef Comair’s internationally renowned curriculoarthritis or apoplexy curricularis, efforts to improve medical education each of which describes a different type of encouraged the participation of some misalignment between objectives, content of the greatest experts in the field. With and assessment practices. Comair they put together what he deemed While the challenges are many, all an “inspiring program that includes hands- speakers agree on the solution. “We on experience through workshops and cannot do without research in medical roundtables with the aim of promoting education,” said Charlotte Ringsted, quality care and patient safety.” vice-dean and director of the Center According to Associate Dean for for Health Sciences and Education at International Affairs at the University of Aarhus University, Denmark. “We are in Illinois Ara Tekian, who is also co-chair of need of deeper understanding, and such the conference’s scientific committee, understanding relies on international “small building blocks should be built collaboration.” along the path in order to check the

page 4 anet Grant, director ofCenMEDIC (theCentre for Medical Education inContext) andtheFAIMER he variables we are considering ofmedical intheselection students are “ ohn Norcini, President andCEOoftheFoundation for Advancement ofInternational Medical here theneedsofcommunity isamismatch between andmedical “ harlotte Ringsted, anddirector oftheCenter vice-dean for Sciences Health andEducation at Aarhus esearch effect onlearning, hasshown that testing hasasignificant orthe “ person ten years later.”person to guarantee that thecandidate thesame insufficient will stillbe often T that match what isrequired.”figures education. to promote Ourtask must be thecreation ofprofessional T creation oftrails memory.” inandout oflong-term R — — — Centre for Distance Learning inLondon  Education andResearch (FAIMER), Philadelphia J University, Denmark C J ra Tekian, deanfor associate International Affairs at theUniversity ofIllinois AU gives thisprofessional to come together community and theopportunity “ evin Eva, director ofEducational Research andScholarship at theUniversity ofBritish Columbia, Canada thosevariable factors isto identify thatoal enableusto collect factual “ imitri Azar, deanoftheCollege at ofMedicine theUniversity ofIllinois cademic programs set instone. shouldnot be The prevention ofcurriculum “  diseases occurs through oftheprogram’s thecleararticulation aims.” A network by bringingtogether resources andprofessionals.” information, rather thanevidence that what we are doingiscorrect.” L Our g — — —D oss Scalese, assistant director ofresearch andtechnology at theUniversity School Miller ofMiami rior to Simulation-Based Medical Education, teaching was opportunistic. “   A K practice certain whileguaranteeing skills safety.” thepatient’s We taught whenever amedical condition presented itself. Now we can P — R of Medicine  page 5 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 RE U T A E F

LAU students perform in a variety of plays, including Bad Monster, 10 Ways to Survive and Victoria Station

page 6 r communities ofpeople. wider between in healingtherift performances can alsoplayarole therapeutic effect. expression isknowntohavea controversial. mistrust —are variedandoften relationships characterized bymutual reconciliation —ortherestoration of of hatred. long studiedthisself-replicating spiral their owncultural identity. misconceptions asanintegral of part conflict, nonethelessexperience these little ornoinvolvementintheoriginal younger generations, had whichoften guilty perpetrator ofwrongdoings. therivalgroupinvariably portray asthe beliefs, attitudesandemotionsthat of history, captured inalabyrinthof themselvesentangledinthecurse find Communities areas livinginconflict for tool change andbecomes apowerful conflicts social oflong-lasting heart realityBy blurringthelinebetween andfiction, theaterchallengesthefear atthe T B y Federica At theindividuallevel, artistic T hose whoseektobreak ithave econciliation he art of of he art T he meanstoachieve M arsi H owever, artistic I n Lebanon, T he War ontheRooftop Mohsen and during LAU’s 2015 previously givenatalkonreconciliation directed byLucienBourjeily(whohad play organized bythe from theareas ofBabel- communities? and mindsofhistorically conflicting lever thattriggersachangeinthehearts this success are largely unexplored. little ornodoubt, thereasons behind other organizations and performances lastsummer, Festival). Duringthree packed-house building initiativesfail? theatersucceeddoes where otherpeace- shatteredsociety bydecades ofcivilwar. theater torecompose thepieces ofa Common groups like Zoukak andSearch for of AliandAisha, whofall inlove despite Ali Douhiisoneofthe16youngadults W hile its beneficial impact leaves impact hile itsbeneficial G round, of aswellanumber E bbeh who took part inthe part whotook bbeh I nternational recounted thestory NGO W NGO T ebb hat isthe March and Love and s, haveused eneh, Jabal T heater W hy not thatdifferent. common ground,finding ourliveswere of four. westarted “Butastimepassed other,” saysDouhi, a30-year-old father courage toworksidebyside. struggle, ofhowtheyhavefound the the taleoftheirownverypersonal than that, tells theplay-within-the-play torivalcommunities.belonging More T side ofSyriaStreet, which separates crossing timetotheother for thefirst T ofBabel- from therivalneighborhood despite havingtoconfront hispeers enough topushhimjointheproject, of becoming anactorwasappealing ajob.failed attemptsatfinding of curiosityandfrustration athismany together thanwithourownfamilies.” is thatwewere more spending time ebb ebb W “At toeach wedidnotspeak first Douhi attendedtherehearsals out ith time, thetwogroups began eneh and Jabal Mohsen.eneh andJabal “Some eneh. N ext thingyouknow T he idea page 7 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 FEATURE

Scenes from Lucien Bourjeily’s Love and War on the Rooftop people made fun of what we were doing conflict, applauding the actors in a sign become malleable and identities are at first, but many were interested,” he of appreciation. “There was a feeling lost in the multitude of characters. The says. Another actor in the group faced far of gratitude among the audience,” actors are able to see their experience worse intimidation but continued to take concludes Bourjeily. “They had proof that through the lens of aesthetic distance part in the project despite threats and an alternative reality is possible.” — the simultaneous experience of being physical aggression. If a word could encompass the spirit of both participant and observer. Seen from Their motivation was fuelled thanks theater, that word — according to Mona outside, issues can finally cease to be to Lucien Bourjeily and his team, who Knio, an associate professor at LAU’s black and white as they once appeared. brought the actors — some of whom Department of Communication Arts — “Therapy is nothing more than had never entered a theater before — to would be negotiation. “However you look learning how to look at yourself from watch a play, which triggered the fantasy at it, theater teaches you to negotiate,” another angle,” she explains, “and this of putting together a “real performance.” says Knio, “whether it is your space on is precisely what theater enables you to The preparatory process focused on the stage, your role as a character, or your do.” This has a mirroring effect on the building up mutual trust and establishing own interpretation of the play. This, in audience who, by seeing its experience a safe zone of discussion. “At first turn, teaches you to accept and respect from the outside, can reflect on what everyone came armed to rehearsals. By other points of view.” happened to them and what was done to the time of the performance I had to cut Plays involving two conflicting others. a rope and I needed a knife. Everyone communities are even more likely to Many initiatives can have the asked around, but no one had one,” says be reliant on negotiation. The subject beneficial effect of bringing together Bourjeily. Soon enough, the two groups of the play has to be the outcome conflicting communities that otherwise felt comfortable enough with each other of a concerted flow of imagination would have little or no chance of to begin cracking jokes. “What made me that expands imaginative capacities. mingling. However, theater brings feel they were one unique group was how In realities such as certain countries interaction a step further, triggering both they interacted making fun of each other in Africa, where tensions easily flare, a social and psychological response. — which is what I wanted to convey in communities are likely to be very the play.” concerned about receiving what they Several months after the performance, deem to be a fair representation. “ However you look at it, Bourjeily reflects on the reasons behind Negotiation is therefore part of a ritual theater teaches you to its success. “My biggest discovery while process that leads both communities into working with them was that fights are feeling part of a shared experience. “This negotiate.” never initiated by the residents. They process of finding a middle way teaches —Mona Knio, LAU associate do not actually want to fight each other,” important negotiation skills that, once professor of theater he points out. “The play made them acquired, are automatically transferred realize that their real life was an act. We onto the everyday life,” Knio says. had to put them on stage for them to By eroding the distance between According to Craig Zelizer, associate figure out reality.” the expression of reality between two director of the M.A. in Conflict Under the same roof, the mixed conflicting communities, theater also Resolution at Georgetown University and audience from Tripoli’s bloodiest generates empathy, another feeling founder of the Peace and Collaborative neighborhoods laughed at the that is then likely to represent itself in Development Network, emphasizing representation of its own painful real life. Ethnicity, religion and gender common interests like music and dance

page 8 for distance andthemostintimate interact onalevelthatallowsboth the conflict, communities conflicting T a common vehiclefor both Burundi, grave asymbolic wasusedas to create acommon visionofreality.” is distantfrom whatactuallyhappened Lecomte. “ the twogroups are puttogether. exercises” andfeel comfortable acting— groupsboth havecarried out“laughing times are —thatistosaywhen ripe dynamics.its clichésandsocial how eachofthegroups expresses itself, Lecomte isabletogatherinformation on they justwanttoact,” sheexplains. expression. “ group separately, allowingfreedom of Lecomte. Atfirst, sheworkswitheach it,” about is necessary smart tobe says and violence. the memoryofgenocides, masskillings helping c to Burundi, amongotherlocations, Lecomte brought theater organization of extreme violence. to communities thebrunt thatbear career studyingtherightapproaches Frédérique Lecomte mostofher spent and establishmutualtrust. order toestablishasenseofconnection “warm up” exercises are conducted in public spaces become intimate. Several new experiences shared can be and safe space, where newperceptions and role.”within thesafety ofafictional analternativefuture isdone co-creating realities,” saysZelizer. “ dialogue andenvisionnewpossible involved intoconstructive inter-ethnic change.to bringabout “Participants are usefulbutisalonenotenough can be —Lucien Bourjeily, writer and director he play madethem “ utsis toexpr was anact.” realize that theirreal life T By speaking ofthescene,By speaking rather than isourmagicwand,”“Symbolism says T “ andplaydirectorSociologist upacreativeA performance opens T hrough improvisation exercises o putp ommunities come totermswith W eople in conflict together,eople inconflict it e useavisionofreality that T T ess theirsimilaremotions. hey don’t want to speak, hey don’twanttospeak, heater and T hrough her T his process of

R ec H utus and onciliation, W hen I n the course “ According toAliyaKhalidi, whoteaches put anendtoexhaustedconflict. in search oftherightstopbuttonto communities simply conflicting mightbe involvement. the ideathat 2010, shecould notcome totermswith of heryouthwere marked byconflict. of theLebanese war,” giventhattheyears herselfasa“graduateShe likes todefine therapy session,” Khalidisays ironically. history. toanalyze itsown much-needed tool is receptive totheaterasitprovides a Arab multitude ofdifferent visions. kaleidoscope, replacing asingleviewby forms ofinteraction —actsasa now parts ofa now parts W Theater andReconciliation approaches African communities thebrunt ofextreme that bear violence hen shereturned tothecountry in “ Just like in T he wholecountry needsadrama W orld” atLAU, Lebanese society T heater inLebanon andthe T E T rip ast and reunited city. heater —unlike other oli, manyother W est Beirutwere T misconceptions. “ andbreak rifts theater thatcan healsocial and isdedicating herselftoakindof teaching predominantly Christian students of peace.” for reconciliation, are “people dreaming alifetimeconcludes oftheater after forpotential change. Once thisisunderstood, there comes the for sides. ishurtful that whatishappening administered societies. toconflicting generouslytheater isamedicinetobe antidote tofear, itislegitimatetosaythat discussion iswhatthe answers butleavequestionsopen, and out.Khalidi points “Playsdonotprovide theater ishavingthemosttangibleeffect,” in needof.” heater allows people toacknowledge heater allowspeople A A T o fter all,fter asFrédérique the tobe isbelieved s empathy day sheisa M T uslim professor o day isthetimewhen L eb L anese society is anese society ec omte page 9 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 “We have had many students say that the team and would be the one calling work of nutritionists is limited to helping the shots. However, modern trends are Toward an people lose weight,” says Nancy Hoffart, disinclined to even identify one person to dean of the LAU Alice Ramez Chagoury be at the head of a healthcare team. The increasingly School of Nursing. “Others did not even center of attention should be the patient know what social workers do.” The LAU and in some cases their families as well,” Interprofessional Education (IPE) program says Zeeni. patient- — a joint initiative by the School of Arts “The IPE Steps have opened my eyes and Sciences, the School of Pharmacy, to the ways social work ties in with health the School of Medicine and the School of care, especially medicine, and taught me centered Nursing — aims to change this problem how much work still needs to be done of perception. to create harmonious, interdisciplinary approach Through a combination of didactic teams,” says Rama el-Dukar, a senior lectures, role-play exercises and case- social work student who has completed By Selim Njeim based discussions, LAU students of four IPE Steps so far. “What I learned will nursing, pharmacy, medicine, nutrition definitely help me in my profession since LAU’s Interprofessional and social work converge five times over I now have more competencies and more the course of their enrollment for a half- confidence, which has allowed me to Education program brings day event called a “Step,” a workshop- state my opinion to the team and show like training during which they acquire them how important social work is in a health and social care students specific communication skills relevant hospital setting.” together to learn with, from to patient safety. They also tap into the importance of teamwork and conflict and about each other resolution skills in a fast-paced hospital “ Patient care has better setting, as well as the ethical dilemmas associated with taking the right decision outcomes, such as shorter at the right time. hospital stays, when In keeping with the program’s commitment to celebrate diversity, faculty healthcare teams collaborate.” members from the four participating —N adine Zeeni, LAU assistant professor schools and LAU Medical Center–Rizk of nutrition Hospital staff help in moderating the group discussions. So far, over 900 students have participated in the LAU In the near future the program plans IPE Steps and 75 faculty members have to broaden the scope of its work to contributed to the program. include interprofessional simulation “People make friends during the sessions in the simulation laboratory and IPE sessions, which helps them learn interprofessional clinical activities led by more about each other and potentially LAU faculty and outreach clinics. become more comfortable working across Fulbright scholar Chant Kazandjian, disciplines when they graduate,” Hoffart who graduated from LAU with a B.S. in explains. Entrenching the concept of Nursing in 2013, is working on a master’s collaborative practice — working together in clinical psychology at the University of in a way to avoid conflicts and ensure Nevada, Las Vegas. Kazandjian is planning better outcomes — into students is at the to start a Ph.D. program in higher core of the program. education in the United States, with a “It has been evidenced that patient focus on IPE. “Being introduced to IPE at care has better outcomes, such as shorter LAU immensely influenced my decision hospital stays, when healthcare teams to research it. I am looking forward to collaborate,” says Assistant Professor bringing the knowledge and expertise of Nutrition Nadine Zeeni, who is the I acquire back to LAU, if granted the program’s coordinator. opportunity,” Kazandjian enthuses. The LAU IPE program has been actively working toward making patient- centeredness a priority for health and social work students soon to be joining the job market. “Back in the day, the physician would be leading the healthcare

page 10 T ar

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. alumnus witha university’s Kahil, whoisalsothedirector ofthe internationaluniversities,”best explains continue ontodoctorate studiesatthe research andwriting skillssotheycan working withstudentstodeveloptheir learning. further making sure theyare prepared topursue for creative inspiration. However, heis that studentsare drawing oncoursework who coordinates theprogram, ispleased benefit others,”benefit saysJaber, an myselfand,benefit more importantly, and she says. me movetoanotherlevelofexcellence,” a newdimensiontomyworkandhelp curves, willsurely bring butthismaster’s captivating geometricforms andprecise symmetry andcreativity, rooted in the future. students’ support further tuitionfees in A receiving donationstoward the assistantships. their tuitionintheform ofgraduate of to cover aportion support financial heritage. and artistic awareness oftheregion’s history, culture students’with theaimofexpanding who madeagenerous contribution 2015 thanksto B what I orpracticallydissertation through design, theoretically through adoctoral who foresee aPh.D. ahead. “Whether since fall 2015, isoneofseveral students will have the opportunity toimplement willhavetheopportunity rt and rt . A Shady Jaber, an “ A “ M T A I . ininteriorarchitecture. he program waslaunchedinspring ssociate Professorssociate already for haveapassion color, ost A big part oftheprogram bigpart involves I rchitecture. learnthrough thisprogram to IAA A rchitecture graduate studentsreceive I nstitute of I n addition, M B .S. ingraphic designand u’taz andRadaSawwaf, IAA E graduate student ndowment Fund to A I bdallah Kahil,bdallah slamic School ofArchitectureSchool LAU LAU iscurrently A I slamic rt rt page 11 page & Design

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Arts & Sciences

“This is a new approach for LAU. It hasn’t The show’s 30-person crew included The art of been done before,” said communication LAU students not enrolled in the course, arts graduate Rayan Shehab at the end of as well as students from other universities the opening night performance of Vadis who pitched in to both offer and develop teamwork Quo this past November. “Seeing LAU their skills in music, dance, film and By Reem Maghribi developing creativity and technology like theater production. “They are in for the this is great.” experience, not the credits, and have to The interdisciplinary production work just as hard as those who will be Students come together showcased the skills of students enrolled graded,” he explains. in a course titled “Vocal and Instrumental During the performance, presented to produce and present a Ensemble,” which is taught by Martin twice over consecutive evenings, unique and intriguing major Loyato, assistant professor of music at the musicians were projected to the LAU’s Department of Communication audiences via television screens. “During music production Arts. “I told my students, if we screw up a Q&A session with the audience, some I don’t care. We did the job during the asked whether we were playing live. I many hours of rehearsals before the pointed out that actually we were, but performance,” says Loyato. “The show is from behind the stage!” simply the exhibition of what they On stage, complementing the had learned.” musical pieces written by the students

page 12 psychological problem. L professor, teaching at whohasbeen interested inpursuing,” saystheassistant earlier. had onlyconceived theideathree months you uncomfortable,” clarifies please you, butsometimesitshouldmake statement. So, yes, sometimesitmay formthat musicisanart thatmakes a and shouldmake youfeel good. of musicassomethingthatispleasant of contemporary audiovisual culture. harsh andsometimesaggressive critique of complementary elements, presented a performance, withitsuniquecombination were ninedancers who communication department. arts made andeditedbystudentsfrom the alongsideprojections performed offilms and AU “ “ I M t wasachallenge, butone for nearly four years. “ L any of my students at first think any ofmystudentsatfirst oyato, T he mediatellsus T here’s a L oyato, I wasvery I explain T he who don’t haveastandard ensemble. certainly challenging, aswe particularly technical abilityandexperience. “ contributed despitedifferences intheir to whicheachmusicianandvocalist during theVadis Quoperformance, differentperform styleswasevident diverse music. “ says, abilitytoappreciate topeople’s the abilityandinstrumentofstudents write for whomeveristhere, on depending responses are markedly different.” semester andagainattheend, andtheir ofthe musicatthebeginning to define reaction isrejection.their first have neverheard before, andsometimes from pieces andstylesthatmystudents surgery.” so manystudentsresorting tocosmetic what toeatandhowdress, and T T heir abilitytograsp, produce and he lackofindividualityextends, he I consciously playmusic I askthem I haveto I I t’s t’s see artin Loyato,artin LAU assistant to veryone didtheirpart “ experience.” to in nosmallpart the achievementsofstudentsare due electric guitar. “ this craziness together? whetherwewouldmanagetopull at first of liberty. our feedback andinputgaveusalot the technical team. Healwaysasked for together themusicians, thedancers and did agreat jobmanagingandbringing student Karl enrolled,” explains E the max.” T — he success oftheperformances and M professor ofmusic  I t wasareally uniqueandcool B ou Rjeily, whoplayedthe I t wastough, but L L oyato. oyato himself B “Wewondered ut wedid.” M , sayshis artin artin page 13 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Engineering

LAU awarded in UNICEF Global Challenge By Federica Marsi

Students ideate a machine An ever-growing number of Syrian refugees Initially, the project focused on building are fleeing to Lebanon and living in a small automatic waste sorting machine to help solve Lebanon’s informal tented settlements, where there for refugee camps as a partial solution is a lack of organized garbage disposal. The for the waste problem. To make sure their mounting waste problem piles of untreated waste that lie close to final year projects — known as Capstone refugee tents are how diseases spread. A projects — would fit the requirements solution for a proper location to dispose of of the market, the engineering students “These students showed and separate the waste is urgently needed. worked toward the criteria of a Three LAU mechanical engineer prospective client. remarkable motivation and undergrads and a graphic design student “Refugees already have too many ambition.” — Mohammad Hammad, Amani Saleh, problems to be able to focus on the Mahmoud al-Abbassi and Jad Abdo — environment,” points out Mohammad —Barbar Akle, assistant dean of LAU’s have come up with a potential solution Hammad, one of the team members. School of Engineering by designing the Automatic Waste Sorting “Therefore, it is necessary to give them Machine. an economic incentive.” Against all While the principle behind the machine expectations, the cost of the machine is is simple, its functioning is quite amazing. relatively contained, ranging from $1,500 From the outside, it looks like any to $2,000. disposal bin. However, once the garbage The competition, held by the Welfare is inserted, the user pushes a button that Association — a development NGO which activates the automatic sorting. Through aims to help the Palestinian refugees a system of air pistons, the waste is then in Lebanon — allows the students to redirected into the right pile according continue working on their project and to its material, determined by interior respond to the demands of the growing sensors. A voucher is then printed, which number of customers who have already can be redeemed for cash. showed interest. The machine was designed as “We encourage good ideas by young part of the “Vita Mundo” project the entrepreneurs by giving grants so that four students worked on during the they can see the fruit of their hard “Instrumentation and Measurements” work,” explains the Welfare Association’s course taught by LAU Associate Professor Business Development Consultant Allie and Assistant Dean of the School of Kazan, who works with the NGO’s Youth Engineering Barbar Akle. It subsequently Employment Services (YES) program that won second place in the UNICEF Global awarded the prize. “Ziad Abichaker, CEO Challenge competition, which has as its at Cedar Environmental, was one of the stated goal the leveraging of the skills and judges and he was impressed with the talents of young people. Thanks to this idea of the machine, especially using award, the team now disposes of $10,000 sensors to deflect the garbage.” to initiate a start-up company and turn According to its creators, recycling is their creation into reality. at the root of the waste management “These students showed remarkable problem. “In Lebanon it is not possible motivation and ambition,” says Akle. “Their to recycle until you sort the waste,” says passion motivated them to make this Hammad. “We designed a machine that project the core of their future careers and will obviate the lack of a recycling culture dedicate themselves to initiating a startup.” that is still affecting our country.”

page 14 them make apositive impactonsociety. educational aimedathelping opportunities conferences thatprovide studentswith LAU andeducational scholarshipgrants inspired himto contribute to various His specialpassionforeducation has steadfast supporter ofthecommunity. to LAU dating back to 1998, Kassar isa welcoming remarks. said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra inhis for allofusandwe thankyou forthat,” you are anexample. You are arole model School ofBusiness. “President Kassar, toward thenaming oftheAdnan Kassar to Kassar’s generous giftof$10 million theevent paidspecialrecognitionin Beirut, Fransabank. Hosted atthePhoenicia Hotel Kassar, president andchairman of longtime friendandsupporter Adnan Gala DinnerinDecember 2015, honoring LAU annualFundraising helditsfourth B c Celebrating a leader’s y With ahistory offinancialcontributions N ommitment to edu ommitment aseem Ferdowsi all proceeds from gala ticket salesand LAU anditsscholarship program, with came together attheevent to support economic, academicandcultural figures the region’s mostrecognized political, admirable contribution, over 800of assembled guests. education,” saidKassar inhisspeech to the values and missiontoward peace and my ambitionisfortheschool to carry my the university’s school ofbusinessand I specifically wanted to beaffiliated with with LAU, aleading university inLebanon. confidence, Ichose to have my namelinked the region. growth anddevelopment inLebanon and Business continues to bring about positive ensuring thattheAdnan Kassar School of university’s history anditwillgo toward biggest philanthropic investments inthe In additionto paying tribute to Kassar’s “With pride andwithcomplete The $10 milliondonationisoneofthe c ation granddaughters,” Jabbra affirmed. daughters, andforyour and grandsons of hopeforouryouth, foryour sonsand really build a houseofwisdom—city research opportunities. scholarships, innovative facilitiesand benefits studentsandfaculty through “Fulfilling thePromise” campaign, which their contribution to theuniversity’s them fortheircommitment to LAU and scholarships andfinancialaid. allocated anunprecedented $25 millionin For the2016-2017 academicyear, LAU has regardless oftheireconomic standing. students may access anLAU education ways theuniversity ensures thatpromising 2 millioneach year, isoneofthemany Endowed Fund. Scholarship destinedfortheGalaDinner sponsorships “Your giving hasallowed LAU to Addressing theguests, Jabbra thanked The fund,which between raises $1 and page 15 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 RE

U Ceilings T A E F and barriers The success of and resistance to women at work in Lebanon By Reem Maghribi

Photographs on pages 16 & 17 are courtesy of Greg Demarque/Executive magazine

page 16 Collective for Research and A the clergy andarmedforces,” says and combat themalebastions, even accessiblesectors shouldbe towomen engineering programs. percent ofstudentsenrolled inuniversity women stillonlymake uplessthan20 mechanical engineersrespectively; yet success in theircareers asaerospace and A to date, sheremains theonlyone. female pilot16yearsago; airline’s first particular. Rola Hoteitjoined ingeneral marketsociety andthelabor in gender dividestillprevalent in noteworthy, tohighlightthegreat goes gender stereotypes intheworkplace. celebrating womenwhohavedefied issueofa in aspecial ofwomenrecentlya number highlighted technician andawinemaker were among A Najwa Layan stereotypes ofLebanese defy (top andpoliceofficer right) women intheworkplace.(above) Hoteit alongsidemechanical Zeid (top left), technician Elsy Abou Christelle Yared, GMofacar armoringcompany was MEA’sRola Hoteit (left) female pilot whenshejoinedtheairliner16years ago. first Sheremains theonlyone. aer bou-Habib, executive director ofthe rbid and police officer, achef, apilot, an “We needtomake thatall itapoint T ospace engineer, amechanical heir success, whilecertainly E lsy A bou Zeidhavefoundbou L eb anese magazine T r MEA aining on L eb asthe L anese N ina ancy of paternity leave. of paternity however, are stillonlyentitledtotwodays leave, recently increased to10weeks. granted maternity seven weeksofpaid own name. intheir entitled toownproperty became of amaleguardian. right totravel withoutthepermission men andsociety. their reliance on andrelationship with legislative rights, thedynamicof shifting have progressed since the1950s.” can’t prevail forever. Justseehowwomen eventually.that itwillhappen rights andwomen’sleadership. “ that worksonissuesofgender, economic Development (CR that has associated women withfamilythat hasassociated A without theapproval ofamaleguardian. granted toregister permission abusiness L engagement. visionthatrequireslong-term everyone’s eb t theturnofcentury womenwere Since gaining therighttovotein1953, T anese womenhavegainedmore he persistence ofagenderideology T he following yeartheywere B ut I T I n 1974theygainedthe ’m drivenbythefact D I n 1993women A ), anorganization I njustice I t’s a t’s M en, ll sectors should be ll sectors shouldbe “ — employment. isthegrowthidentified ofprecarious World ( women. roles andinformal employmenthinder thatnormativegender thebelief support published inanotherissueofAl-Raida made upofwomen. oftheworkforcethat lessthanaquarter is in Al-Raida, ajournalpublishedby women’semployability issueabout special at for and humansciencesspecialist social Hammoud andSeiko Sugita, program WorkHassan andSocial of Sociology statistics issuedby securityorin not includedinsocial in theinformal sectorandassuchare job withheremployer, wasdismayedto hadfounddelighted thatherfiancé a in facing market women’slabor participation roles isoneofthetwogreatest barriers A I nstitute for Women’sStudiesinthe dministration for Statistics, whichnotes clergy andarmedforces.” male bastions, even the we shouldcombat the accessible to women and A Personal accounts of womenatwork UNE L eb anon, wrote Training onDevelopment of theCollective for Research and Lina I SCO, inaneditorialpublisheda WS A recent graduate, atfirst A Abou-Habib, executive director W). M

T ost womenare employed he second they barrier LAU L eb anon’s Central A ssociate Professorssociate LAU page 17 page A rab ’s

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 17 | issue nº 3 | Fall 2015 FEATURE

1 3

2 4

hear that his starting salary would be 70 training in a field that would benefit them Women’s contributions to Arab society and labor force have been plentiful over the past century. A significant percent higher than hers. “He is a young as mothers. When, upon graduating with number of Lebanese women migrated to nearby man who has to provide for his family,” distinction, Khalaf received an offer of a countries, including Iraq, in the mid 20-th century to join its then vibrant and diverse work force. was the explanation offered by the boss. paid studentship, her aunt was displeased 1/ The Popular Resistance Movement during the 1958 The perception of the man as the at the prospect of a woman in the family revolution, Lebanon. 2/ Nurses of the Fouad Osseiran Hospital, Saida, Lebanon, breadwinner of the family, regardless of in paid employment. Another aunt was 1962. whether his wife works, is still prevalent in concerned that her success and dedication 3/ Dates factory, Basra, Iraq, 1961. 4/ Woman working in a textile factory, Baghdad, Iraq, Lebanon, according to research conducted to work would make finding a husband 1963. by economist and former IWSAW director more difficult. 5/ Secretarial Institute in Baghdad, Iraq, 1961. 6/ Institute of pharmacy, Baghdad, Iraq, 1960. Mona Khalaf. “Even the women, including Khalaf in fact met her future husband those who held a higher position than through her work and together they Photographs on pages 18 & 19 courtesy of the Arab Image their husband, would refer to him as the raised a daughter and a son. “I wanted Foundation. Iraq by Latif El Ani, Lebanon by Chafik Al Sousi. breadwinner. This reflects societal norms to be available to my children while also and traditions, but it varies depending on working. I didn’t prioritize family, but I feel “ Economic independence the social milieu in which you live.” I didn’t penalize them either,” she says, has made women more Khalaf herself was raised within a well- though she acknowledges that there was to-do conservative family. Still, “my father an opportunity cost to being available for assertive.” supported my education and work and her children. “There were articles I didn’t —Mona Khalaf, economist and had an egalitarian attitude toward me publish and a Ph.D. thesis I didn’t finish. former director of LAU’s IWSAW and my brothers,” she recalls. However, But I don’t regret it.” not everyone in her environment was She doesn’t, however, believe that most as supportive. During her time as an women of today would compromise as and aim beyond the glass ceiling at work. economics major at AUB in the 1970s, much. A shift in attitudes, the necessity That ceiling is, however, not an unverified one of Khalaf’s professors, despite having of a two-income household and the assumption but rather a reality of which recently returned from Oxford, encouraged availability of cheap domestic labor Lebanese people are very much aware, her and the two other females in class are, says Khalaf, among the factors notes Hussein Ismail, assistant professor to transfer to the education department, encouraging and enabling women to at LAU’s Adnan Kassar School of Business, where women were perceived as receiving combat abuse and inequality at home in a recently published paper about

page 18 oriented caregivers. within theirownself-concept asfamily- whereas womenare and seenbysociety family fall outside of theirgenderroles, obligations ofsinglementoward their authors, giventhat expected istobe FWC than singlewomen. suggested thatsinglemenshowedhigher of FWC thanmarriedwomen, italso single womenexperienced lowerlevels many householdresponsibilities. parents —are totake stillexpected on women —mostofwholivewiththeir married women, culturally, because single as muchfamily-work (FWC) conflict as single womenin out. stands the university’sbusinessschool during hertimeasafaculty of member byZeinaal-Hakim a studyco-written on marriedwomenandmothers. However, and in globally the region,both most focus workandfamilybetween are ontherise women’s progress intheworkplace. to abarrier family-work tobe conflict third ofthosesurveyedalsoconsidered handle seniormanagementpositions. consider more mentobe competent to compared ofthemales, toonlyaquarter the female studentssurveyedfor hisstudy, I that menare more competent, argues problem andmayyieldtheperception the perpetuates management positions job development.” from acquiring the experience necessary for arrangements atworkcan alienatewomen towomen’sprogress.barriers Structural andstructurespolicies are themajor (43.4 percent) thatcompanies’ believed anese perceptions oftheglassceiling. “ L smail, inabidtoexplain whyathird of 5 I eb n Gender norms, roles andexpectations While thestudyultimatelyshowedthat theconflict While studiesabout T L he fact thatmendominate senior I eb n it the authors hypothesize that n ittheauthorshypothesize anon, mostoftherespondents L eb anon willexperience T his, argue the A

fascinating anecdotes. time shehascome across atrove of researched over theyears, duringwhich are among themanytopicsKhalafhas their attitudestoward workandfamily theirincomeway womenspend and work in and conversations womenat about are attheforefront ofmoststudies she took overtheropes. she took of astudycommissioned by story ofawomansheinterviewedaspart hegemony. have suffered agreat dealfrom men’s and accommodate equality. “Women is for theattitudesofmentoshift of thehomeand thekids, ironing and tothefarm,her husband takingcare busy herdaywas, accompanying between worked. Sheproceeded how todescribe cash asalary. imputed income ofwomenwhodon’t more in theirchildren’s education. works, asitenablesparents toinvest income generated whenamother from theincreased benefit disposable change.” an egalitarianapproach, thatwillfacilitate upbringing. andforemost“We mustfocus first on explain thehighdivorce rate,” saysKhalaf. men don’taccept thateasily, whichcan has madewomenmore assertive, but hida Anani, founder anddirector — e work onattitudes, “ reform.” itselfwillclaim society If w “ Children are ultimatelytheonesto I conducted astudytoconsider the Gender Equality of ABAAD-Resource Center for G L eb E anon. Oneprioritytherefore I f weraise ourchildren with conomic independence I asked onewomanifshe A mong themisthe 6 I WS A W b T he efore sphere andwere considered controversial.” violence from theprivatetopublic from within. gender-based Wetook leaders. “Wedecidedtoreform thesystem attitudes andworkingwithreligious their approach toward reforming men’s report by report women as“caregivers,” notesa2016 continuation ofthe“natural” role of volunteering” displayedasa isoften my share oftheresponsibility inlife.” she says. “ misconceptions women’srights,” about of genderequalityanddispelling for children, promoting understanding “ legal reform effective withoutit. can be ofchangeandnolegislationor bedrock resistance,” says women’s rightsandwehavefaced alotof with thetraditional waysofpromoting “Our strategies inline havenotbeen Gender makingonastatelevel.”policy losing theircollective topressure power to receive fundsandgenderactorsare agendasare parceled“Civil society being into institutionsrather actors. thansocial the womandisagreed andsaid:“ butstillverymuchwork, labor was unpaid explained tothewomanthatwhatshedid would cooking, andthenasked rhetorically ‘when director of something Ghida N within visionandfeministlack ofglobal ideals level,” argue theauthors, notingthatthe still nottackledbygenderactorsatalocal has veryconcrete consequences thatare stereotyped visionofwomenascaring itself willclaimreform.” T GOs workingongenderequalityis Societal reform,Societal says Such unpaid workand“forcedSuch unpaid T he first focus should be programming focus shouldbe he first he lackofcohesion among I N havetimetowork?’” WhenKhalaf E GOs themselvesisturningthem quality, hasherselfexperienced. L I eb f weworkonattitudes, society ABAA anon Support. “ A D-Resource Center for nani, notinginparticular A nani, founder and A nani, isthe T his gender- L eb T his is anese page 19 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Women’s Studies in the Arab World

Gender equality leads the agenda By Reem Mahgribi

LAU institute committed to promoting women’s rights instigates a flurry of activity

Within days of joining LAU as director of interactive play as part of “16 Days of the Institute for Women’s Studies in the Activism Against Gender Based Violence.” Arab World (IWSAW), Lina Abirafeh initiated Each year since 1991, the initiative a new monthly series of talks meant to encourages organizations and individuals encourage the LAU community to actively to plan and attend a plethora of activities engage in the work and mission of the between the International Day for the institute. Elimination of Violence against Women on “Food 4 Thought” began in October November 25 and Human Rights Day on with an informal 90-minute session during December 10. which Abirafeh introduced the principles This year, the institute welcomed of gender equality, drawing on examples hundreds of students and visitors to both she has gained during nearly 20 years in LAU campuses for various events, many the field. “This is a space for discussion, to of which were the result of collaborations ping-pong ideas back and forth,” she said, with other organizations. Initiatives spurring on a vibrant discussion with and included a screening of a film about among students, at gatherings held both in young women and gender equality that Byblos and Beirut. was followed by a discussion with the The guest speakers invited each month Intersectional Feminist and Human Rights to share their knowledge and experience in clubs, the creation of graffiti art promoting the field of gender equality have included AIDS awareness and anti-stigma, and a talk celebrated journalist Saada Allaw, who took with LAU graduate and journalist Diana time from her busy schedule at As-Safir Moukalled about women, war and crime. to walk the LAU community through the Men were equally present, with the trials, tribulations and legal achievements screening of a film about women in the of those who have for decades been media by Jad Ghosn and the women’s striving for feminism and gender justice. rights NGO Fe-male, a talk by Kaadi on Masculinities expert Anthony Kaadi behalf of ABAAD-Resource Centre for introduced the LAU community to a Gender Equality, and an interactive play more recent movement, one that seeks to that tackled the inequality between men engage men and disconnect them from and women in the political sphere. harmful social conditioning. “Ripples make waves, and if my talk with you today can slightly tweak your thinking, then there’s a ripple,” said Kaadi. For more information about the campaign, In a parallel campaign, IWSAW presented the Food4Thought series and upcoming film screenings, engaging talks and an events visit iwsaw.lau.edu.lb

page 20 Q&A equality is the most important isthe mostequality important gender equality, humanrights activist — a firm believer in believer activist —afirm T he third generation of and social justice.and social Gender ingredient for ourfuture.” women inaf “I amafeminist andan have worked at Coming home amily to LAU ( while What attracted youtoacademia? lifetime, while human rightschallengeofourtime. Regardless, for meitisthemostpressing strugglefor aspeople survival. magnified servicesbasic are lost, vulnerabilities are in thecontext ofanemergency, where seemslike task. animpossible it often in everycountry andculture, andending is alwayschallenging. offered. Workingongender-based violence questioniswhat important and understanding, for me the more great dealofknowledge, experience countries, andwhile love andthathastaken metofascinating I violence affected you? focusing ongender-basedthe field How hasover20yearsexperience in daycare here oncampus. Status ofArab Arab womeninthelibrary, whichthenevolvedintotheBibliography onthe with Abirafeh’s auntSamira and thenasexecutive secretary oftheDevelopment I T because because I T Between 1964and1982, call myselfan“accidentalacademic” amfortunate tohaveacareer that n 1938hergrandmother SalmaBalatgraduated from thethenAJC IW his ismadeevenmore challenging he newdirector ofthe SA IW I I wasworkingin mightnotseegreat results inmy W I I SA ) LinaAbirafeh hasalonghistorywiththeinstituteanduniversity. started mydoctoral research started can’t imagineevergivingup. W ’s director center atthattimetodevelopadocumentation on W omen. And, notenough, ifthat’s Abirafeh in wasbriefly I ’ve gaineda I A t existseverywhere, fghanistan. R I I haveactually Balatworked assecretary oftheAlumniAssociation nstitute for afidi wastheuniversity’sheadlibrarianafidi andworked I was was I A

nd W omen’s StudiesintheArab based violence.based preventboth andrespond togender- isalsoasolidwayto empowerment while donorinterest wanes. humanitarian anddevelopmentneeds while weare strugglingtomeetincreasing have alotofworktodo! aslonginequalitiespersist.possible We sustainable progress ordevelopmentis farwould be stronger asaresult. communities, countries andtheregion freebe ofthat kindoffear —individuals, in aworldwhere womenandgirlscould rights.to theirbasic limits their choices and denies their access women andgirls. violence for isenoughofanimpediment decision-making positions. and represented bodies in political women intheregion are notadequately codes, criminallaws, nationality, etc. status a lotofworktodoonpersonal discrimination inlegislation—there is more strongly for theirrights. needs, abletoadvocate theywillbe themselves andmeettheirownbasic things. Once womenare abletosupport for— thisisanentrypoint allother andeconomic opportunities livelihoods increase ingender-based violence. list. and rights, along lackoflegislation—it’s in mass migrations, denial servicesof basic andinsecuritythatareconflicts resulting that are affecting women—continued T in theregion shouldfocus onnow? What are thethree mainissueswomen examine thework framework thatwouldallowmetocritically constructively, withinatheoretical tocomplain sought anopportunity concerned what about he region isfacing dramatic challenges E T A ven theriskorfear ofgender-based he mostpressing issuesare access to ll oftheseobstaclesare fuelingan O A ffice. From 1968-1978, rab womenalsoface I t restricts theirvoices, I was doing. wasdoing. I magine ifwelived I sawandtherefore E W conomic W orld N . o A page 21 page ll the A nd

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Arts & Sciences

Lina Khoury is nothing if not a — was certainly avant-garde, written to A deep passionate thespian. Her pride in reflect, and perhaps engage, apolitical having mentored students through the Arabs during the “overwhelming Arab challenging task of theater production, Coma” that followed the 1967 defeat and passion for her joy at the success of fall 2015’s that many say persists to this day. major theater production Limaza and This is the fifth university major giving back her enthusiasm for the staging of the production directed by Khoury, who was play at the Masrah al-Madina are all herself bitten by the theater bug as an By Reem Maghribi clearly evident as she speaks. “Theater LAU student in the late 1990s. “Students is my passion, I couldn’t possibly work really wanted to be involved in a major in any other field,” says Khoury, an LAU production back then. It was seen as LAU brings to life Issam graduate, theater director and, for the a great opportunity and we wouldn’t past five years, instructor at LAU. leave the theater until security kicked us Mahfouz’s 1971 play Limaza Made up mostly of LAU graduates and out,” recalls Khoury nostalgically. In her students, a 19-person cast participated in students’ course log-books, she often the first performance of Issam Mahfouz’s glimpses similar feelings. “They write play Limaza since its opening run in analyses and show critical thinking, but Beirut in 1971. Renowned poet and they also detail their feelings and many playwright Mahfouz, who died ten years speak of how the experience has been ago, was among the first to write plays in life-changing for them.” dialect, taking Arabic theater away from Some students who worked with her the formal toward the modern. on the major production for credit as The format of the play — set in a part of the “Theater in Performance” nightclub where stoned party-goers act course have now decided to minor out the lives of fallen resistance fighters in theater. “Lina’s passion for theater

page 22 public performance. “ ofputtingona all thevariousaspects production learnedabout backstage interesting andcomprehensible.” actions throughout visually needtobe play alsohasahugecast andtheir their timeisalwaysdifficult, butthis rehearsals are whenpeople contributing Khoury. “ a challengingplaytostage,” confides the 60-minuteperformance. “ all 19remaining onstagethroughout for the L at theGulbenkian talented director,” Housamistresses. rehearsals. “She’sagreat teacherand a infor actorsduring filling occasionally in stagemanagementandenjoyed student RiwaHousami, whoworked made merealize myown,” saysfirst-year AU T M he studentswhoworked on production also occupied thestage production alsooccupied ost of the 19 actors who performed ost ofthe19actorswhoperformed M M asrah al- anaging schedulesfor M T adina rendition, with heater duringthe I t’s a department adepartment t’s I t was always bringtogetherprofessional and professionals and little experience ofacting, therest were adirector.” ofbeing is allpart onthem andshiningaspotlight people visions. Helpingandworking withother andhearnew young tomeetnewpeople fordoors them, italsohelpsmefeel who isan ofaproduction manager,supervision some ofherstudentstoworkonthe great,” enthusesKhoury, whoalsohired andwere involved ineveryaspect super to promotion andticketing, theywere students. From lightingandcostume production, ofall for thebenefit whom Khouryhadherselfstudied. “ pleasure. “ something thatgivesKhouryalotof and workingwithyoungtalent, is M asrah al- M Giving back, through teaching both ost oftheactorswere studentswith LAU M I t feels wonderful to open t feels toopen wonderful adina production, underthe graduate. LAU graduates with I

working onareal production. al- difficult in difficult but graduation, work intheaterfulltimeafter amazing opportunity. in mysecond semesterbutalready experience andlearnfrom others.” to gain students withanopportunity student actorsinmy is Housami, whowasamongthe I heater ismy passion, I “

t’s about giving back andproviding giving back about t’s other field.” couldn’t work inany possibly T M A — mong thosegrateful for thespotlight I adina production crew. “ knowthereality very isthatit’s and theater director  Lina Khour L eb anon.” y, LAU instructor LAU I really hope productions. I ’m only I t’s an t’s M I asrah page 23 page can I ’m

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Arts & Sciences

The year 2015 has reached its closure seven million Arabs today live below the seeing seven Middle Eastern countries poverty line and more than 7.8 million Ending the at war, with some analysts referring to Syrians are displaced or on the run in the spiraling situation in the region as an their own homeland. Half of Syria’s stalemate in “Armageddon.” A coalition of 63 countries youngest population (between 6 and 18 has been formed to counter the Islamic years) is not receiving an education, which State, yet the organization still controls an has prompted some to talk of a “lost the Middle area bigger than 11 Arab countries, and generation.” “Youngsters have no skills, no those who are born Arabs are 30 times jobs, nothing to do all day, yet education more likely than anyone else to become a is one of the most underfunded sectors,” East refugee. Yahya adds. By Federica Marsi “What occurred is the fracture of the According to Makram Ouaiss, assistant national social contracts,” says Maha professor of Political Science and International relations experts Yahya, senior associate at the Carnegie International Affairs at LAU, conflict Middle East Center and keynote speaker resolution is not possible unless certain discuss regional turmoil and at the conference “Wars and Wars’ Ending conditions come into being. “One in the Post-2011 Middle East,” organized condition is that both parties involved reflect on the path ahead by LAU in collaboration with the German are able to visualize a better outcome Institute of Global and Area Studies by reaching an agreement rather than (GIGA). “Local social contracts have fighting,” says Ouaiss. Another possibility is replaced national ones, so that states no what is commonly defined as a “mutually longer matter.” hurting stalemate” or a situation in which neither party thinks it can win without incurring excessive loss. Similarly, mediation is only successful when all parties agree on the third party undertaking the task. Financial incentives are also a viable, yet less explored, option. According to Ouaiss, the road to peace in Syria seems to still be a long one. “There is no indication that any party is willing to push in the right direction,” he says, underlining the absence of a mutually hurting stalemate and the unwillingness of certain parties to engage with some others on any level of collaboration. The option left for exiting the war zone seem to be few, yet the situation is ripe for much needed discussions on the best political structures to mitigate the existing divides. In the face of the strengthening of sectarian fault lines, GIGA’s Stephan Despite the grim picture, Yahya Rosiny advocates a transition phase based “Power sharing is not a does not believe the situation to be an on consociationalism on the way to a Armageddon. Whereas some have blamed unitary nation state based on nationalism technique to overcome the Arab springs for the unrest, claiming rather than sectarianism. sectarianism.” that the alternative to the old regimes is “Power sharing is not a technique to chaos, these popular uprisings have had overcome sectarianism but rather an —Stephan Rosiny of the German Institute the beneficial effect of reasserting citizens institutional design to overcome this kind of Global and Area Studies as sources of political legitimacy. “The of conflict,” he says. “Identities are fluid. power of the individuals has ousted the Thus we need to ask ourselves: in which notion of ‘presidents for life’,” says Yahya. circumstances is an individual willing to “None of these systems were based on drop one in favor of another?” citizens’ rights, which allowed political The regional situation has prompted leaders to manipulate institutions as they LAU to establish the Social Justice and wished.” Conflict Resolution Institute, endowing National identity has been dismantled it with a mission to develop a research- and replaced with sectarian identities, yet based public policy forum that addresses this is not sufficient to explain the rise contemporary issues of social justice and of extreme groups such as ISIS. Thirty- conflict resolution in the Arab World.

page 24 Op-Ed perceptions “Women make up80percent Deceptive at Lebanese universities.” of journalismmajors B y Jad M elki females mostly occupy positions ofhigh- females positions mostlyoccupy company. owning more than10percent ofamedia L circumvent the a mechanismfor to somepoliticians thennotonlyserveas and more often —onlyhavetitularpowers members governance andboard —stockholders that eventhe15percent ofwomenin economy of anyone whounderstandsthepolitical 22 and15percent respectively. Ofcourse, strategic are goals set, womenrepresent positions, where and institutionalpolicies A assigning newsstoriesandsettingagendas. formanagement —critical positions management and29percent ofsenior make uponly36percent ofmiddlenews dropthe numbers startlingly. Women just oneineverytwomalejournalists. the workforce, dwindleto theirnumbers universities. However, once theystepinto percent ofjournalismmajorsat class. Onaverage womenmake up80 large offemale number studentsin instructor tonotice thedisproportionately profession. advancement andforced outoftheir roles,in objectified obstructedfrom career century, theycontinue marginalized tobe accomplished majorfeats half- inthepast the country’s female journalistshave in the the changingrole ofwomenandmen scholar, such perceptions. However, manyunderlyingrealities belie and toreach theyaspire anyposition to. country are free topursueanyprofession T comes togenderrelations andthepress. anese pridethemselvesonbeing nations intheregion, whenit especially one ofthemostprogressive andfree T and genderdiscriminationinthenewsindustry. conduct lawscountering andpenal sexualharassment attheneedtocreatelooks institutionalcodes of chair oftheDep Jad aw thatr he perception isthatwomeninthis he t top-tier managementandgovernance t top-tier B M I A t does nottaket does muchfor ajournalism s aformer journalistandcurrent media ut evenatthelowerprofessional ranks, ove up the managerial ladder and ove upthemanagerialladderand L eb M L eb I haveobservedandresearched elki, professor associate andnewlyappointed estricts anyoneindividualfrom anese newsindustry. L eb L anese media knows anese mediaknows eb anese A artment ofCommunicationartment udiovisual udiovisual A L lthough lthough eb anese anese exhausting. full-time jobs, equallydemandingand both women journalistsessentiallyholdtwo jobs outsidethehouse. while menare free tofocus solelyontheir theprimarydomesticcaretakersto be systemcontinues women social toexpect the industry. prominent reasons whyawomanleaves in theworkplace isoneofthemost institutional obstacles. Sexualharassment face numerous legal, cultural and exposure —suchas future unless concrete stepsare taken. thatthingswillchangeinthe little hope at leastinthenewsroom, andwehave relationship menandwomen, between years intheprofession (68percent). percent), and haveworked lessthan10 married (71percent), havenochildren (73 are under theageof34(71percent), not bymen. occupied technical professions are almostentirely production anddesignpositions, andthe women makeof uplessthanone-third remain dominatedbymen. For example, women, positions whilemostlow-exposure audience ratingsto boost withattractive feminization” oftheindustrythatstrives anchors —thankstothe“market oriented L gender equity—three mattersinwhich groups with missionsdevotedtoadvancing curriculum, andforming professional media literacy andgenderstudiesinthe hostile gendered newsrooms byintegrating preparing journalismstudentsfor the laws, harassment andanti-discrimination T T married womentoquittheindustry. hasforced leavepolicy paternity many for law. theadoptionofadraft pushing Sankari outcryactivistshavebeen ofthe2014Hoda though intheaftermath discrimination)laws,anti-gender even harassmentstill hasnoanti-sexual (nor o AU his includes instituting anti-sexual his includesinstitutinganti-sexual B So, notmuchhaschangedinthe M day, most eyond thenumbers, womenjournalists has much potential to lead. hasmuchpotential oreover, theentrenched patriarchal T L T he country’s weakmaternity/ eb he problem isthat anese women journalists anese womenjournalists T V r T eporters and and eporters his means most his meansmost A rts, rts, L eb page 25 page anon anon

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 RE

U Going with T A E F the flow The process of social adaptation while maintaining strong ties to the country of origin is the essence of successful migration today By Irina du Quenoy

page 26 ennifer Skulte-Ouaiss, LAU in ofseven people — “ daughter, in whowasborn but from anothercountry —andhis hiswifebehind —alsoofmigrant origin for more thantwodecades meansleaving toacountryback where hehasnotlived not wanttorenew hispapers. Deportation hisemployerdoes because deportation over twentyyears, hefaces imminent living andworkinginthecountry for to E her businesscontacts are conducted in to hernewenvironment, asmostof employed in online andtwomonthslaterfound myself in freezing February, didn’tlike it, went move from the A “ and routine. granting bureaucrats streamlined has been and herexperience withwork-permit she feels welcomed authorities bylocal for asatisfactory career inhernewcity, integration intotheculture isunnecessary prices.high local a comfortable life evenwiththesky- glitzy yet, unlike political science/internationalpolitical at affairs Skulte-Ouaiss, assistantprofessor of the worldare onthemove,” saysJennifer jammed. in “Oneoutofsevenpeople is increasingly well-traveled andtraffic- street. century Onethatinthetwenty-first welcome himasanequal. the reality thatisnotready ofasociety to where such skillsare highlyvalued. professional inanenvironment carpenter raising afamily andworkingasa added productive capacity to its workforce, adapted welltohishostcountry and I nglish andhersalaryallowstolive the world are onthemove.” One out squith, explainingherdecisionto wascold,” analystJennifer saysfinancial N A Social adaptation,Social itseems, isatwo-way B L squith hashadnoproblem adapting y allobjectiveindicators, eb ot sofor “ A anon. Despitespeaking Institute for Migration Studies a researcher at theuniversity’s science/international affairs and assistant professor ofpolitical J sian capital. “ A squith, hehastodealwith A A sia.” shoka,” an A merican E ven thoughadeep I woke uponeday I M ndian migrant L idwest toa eb A A shoka had anon. rabic and A nd boats ontheshores ofGreece.boats military disasters, andwashingupinleaky I analystlike or afinancial a successful academic like Skulte-Ouaiss conjure upimagesquitedifferent from this topeople “ or three percent population. oftheglobal million internationalmigrants worldwide from 2010, there are approximately 214 I L members of local society. oflocal members meant toturnthemintoproductive programsand toinvestinsocialization countries’ willingnesstoaccept migrants altruism, explainGermany’sandother shouldpresumablysociety welcome. themselves —allqualitiesthatahost ambition” livesfor toachievebetter the“drive and and mostimportantly educated, means havesomefinancial have noresources abletoleave.” tobe of pace.” secure for individualslooking a“change market andeconomically tohighly-skilled lives tolaborers following thepullof frompopulations for refugees their fleeing migration of today involves aspectrum countries insearch lives. ofbetter Yet, movingtowardpeople rich, white migrants isthatofpoor, colored often of with people crisis of2015, “migrants” are associated or cleanhotelrooms across thecountry. illegally—topickfruitinCalifornia often Central far closertothatof migrant [to Chancellor electorate.local ofthe have tocontend withthemood fornet positive thecontinent. thewelfare tosupport stateisa tax payers rates birth andthearrivalofnewpotential economic declineof all projections were oftheimminent to T outSkulte-Ouaiss. “ points E “migr n nstitute for I AU astern origin fleeing economic and astern originfleeing hus itisthatthemajorityofnewarrivals myself,” says, Skulte-Ouaiss “ama I A “ B I I E E ndeed, perceptions popular ofmigrants n fact, thismay, more thanpure n short, perception thepopular of T ccording toa ut statepolicies, howeverrational, urope, inthewake ofthe particularly urope, Syrianrefugees, especially are andaresearcher withtheuniversity’s he poorest people are people stayinghome,”he poorest ant” tendstoconnote someonefrom A merica arrivingintheStates— A L M ngela eb igration Studies. I N getfunnylooks.” anon], thoughwhen I orth orth n thecase ofGermany, U M nited A erkel’s welcoming E shoka. A urope duetolow frican or N A U ations report ations report T squith, images ntil recently, hey simply I n the M iddle U page 27 page .S., I say

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 FEATURE

Shirahige Jinzya in Biwako, Japan

stance toward arriving migrants was at the On the other hand, there is no bombing took advantage of the refugee/ time widely supported by the population, getting away from the thorny issue of migrant crisis have all contributed to despite some recent far-right protests security concerns. “I don’t buy into the European fears of the “Other” and to a (which seem to be partially inspired by conspiracy theories, but the security issue growing unwillingness to accommodate alleged Russian agents in Germany). is a problem,” says Emel Akcali, senior the newcomers. In Lebanon itself, Skulte- Yet countries as disparate as Hungary lecturer at the department of politics Ouaiss points out that the Lebanese and Denmark are clamping down on in- and international relations of Swansea government has been unwilling to migration, in the former case by closing integrate Syrian refugees, skilled and the border and in the latter by imposing unskilled workers alike, because of a onerous financial sanctions on migrants “ The migration factor is combination of security and economic wishing to settle in Hamlet’s homeland. concerns. In both Hungary and Denmark the embedded in the Lebanese In these circumstances, what are the government have pursued policies in DNA.” optimal conditions for migrant adaptation response to a negative popular mood and social integration, as the worldwide —Elise Salem, LAU vice president against the new arrivals. flow of people across borders shows no for Student Development and The source of negative attitudes from signs of letting up? As seen in the case Enrollment Management local populations is itself context driven. of Jennifer Asquith, migrants from the On the one hand, according to Skulte- middle and upper economic classes seem Ouaiss, Eastern Europeans in particular to have the least difficulty moving and harbor anti-migrant sentiments because University (U.K). She points out that the adapting to other societies, particularly they themselves are living in economically January 12, 2016 bombing of Istanbul’s as they tend to shift either between precarious conditions and are reliant on Sultanahmet square was carried out by first-world environments or from middle- increasingly scarce state resources for an ISIS member, who entered Turkey as a income to high-income countries. survival. The sudden influx of migrants refugee, and that the Syrian refugee father, For unskilled economic migrants or for means having to share an already small who was infamously kicked by a Hungarian refugees, the situation is evidently more piece of the pie. Similarly, at present, right-wing journalist while trying to escape precarious. At the same time, even here Ukrainians who had fled to Russia as a from border police, is believed to be a hope exists in the form of civil society, result of the armed conflict in Eastern member of al-Nusra Front. in which activists devote considerable Ukraine are under increasing pressure to These incidents and the ongoing resources to helping migrants fight for leave as Russia’s own economy implodes. suspicion that the perpetrators of the Paris their rights and maximize life conditions.

page 28 oday, migration ofpopulations involves aspectrum “ for avisit. Holdingontocultural identities countries andrarely ifeverventured back maintained only tenuous ties to their home advances. made easierthesedaysbytechnological community. relations migrants between andthehost at theforefront transforming ofpositively citedglobally,be civicactivistsare local I meet anddiscussadaptationstrategies. the computer anddesigncourses, making from the rights. Volunteers, manyofwhomare a networkofresources for their tofight and theirfamilies, helpingthembuild 400 migrants, mostlydomesticworkers ofapproximatelyserves apopulation racist movement. Currently, thecenter grew outofthebroader B M coordinates thevariousactivitiesof alumnus RamiShukr( moral option. which doingnothingisnotanacceptable anon,fundamentally onanaltruisticideologyin of anumber dedicated tosolvingmigrant issues, based I n thiscase, oneofthousandsthatcould n eirut’s Gemmayzedistrict,eirut’s the economically secure for individuals looking achange ofpace.” from for and refugees theirlives to highly-skilled fleeing T  igrant Community Center ( A For example, according to L eb daptation tonewconditions isalso M CC a focal point forCC afocal point migrants to LAU I n previous centuries, migrants community, holdlanguage, B . L A eb N . ’14), who GOs are anese anti- LAU M CC) in M

CC abandonment ofthepreviousabandonment “Self.” meantthe assimilation tothehostsociety and,was difficult thannot, more often Program Coordinator in generation in which of time, depictsalarge portion Skulte-Ouaiss that willnot, cannot change.” inthe is embedded Student Developmentand view of process. considerably easingthesocialization means givingupone’sprimaryidentity, short, nolonger adaptingtonewsocieties arrayever-expanding media. ofsocial and cultural tiesmaintainedthrough an to lovedones. less permanently, visits torender periodic someone, homemore or whohasleft has meantthatitismucheasierfor and theproliferation oflowcost carriers life inthe newcountry. “Old Country” oftheir part asanimportant quite consciously upholdingtieswiththe for prolonged visitsorevenretirement, M of asapioneerinthisrespect. anagement at A L T L eb he development of open skies policies skiespolicies he developmentofopen eb mong manyexamples, “asafourth anon itself might be thought thought anon itselfmightbe anon’s migratory culture as“circular,” E lise Salem, vice president for L eb L eb anese who leave often return anese wholeaveoften N anese- ot to speak ofthefamilyot tospeak LAU L , “themigration factor eb A merican,” Regional anese D U S AI E nrollment D’s A I t the same t thesame n the n the NA M and and iddle iddle I n E homeland. of commitment tohisfamily’s adopted visits tothecountry, yetfeels adeepsense things astraditional family mealsand connection to A migrants andhostsocieties. relations to assuringsmooth between country ofinterest toallthosecommitted of origin, maintaining strong tiestothecountry offers manylessonsontherole of country whoseculture ofout-migration the process adaptationandasa ofsocial toease efforts coexist withcivilsociety onerous towards statepolicies in-migrants always havebeen.” in andproud ofmyheritage—and harles Kiamie III, USAIDMiddle — generationourth “ ast mericans, Kiamiehasmaintainedastrong always have been.” proud ofmy heritage and Lebanese-American I’m As af I n theend, asamicrocosm inwhich B ureau Charles Kiamie coordinator East Bureau’s regional program C L eb anon willlongremain a L eb anon, reinforced bysuch L ike many III is “interested L eb anese- page 29 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 LAU NY

In the final months of 2015, LAU NY hosted a wine lecture and tasting, a movie and Postcard from popcorn night and a lecture New York and book launch. By Paige Kollock

Heirs of Bacchus Cairo Drive Strangers in the West November witnessed over 150 people In December, LAU teamed up with the LAU NY hosted a lecture and book signing attending a lecture on the evolution of the American University in Cairo (AUC) to host in December with author and archeologist Lebanese wine industry at LAU NY. The a “movie and popcorn night” featuring a Linda K. Jacobs, who spoke about some evening was the fruit of a collaboration screening of Cairo Drive at the New York of the earliest Syrian immigrants to the between LAU, the Consulate General Academic Center. A Q&A with the film’s so-called “land of opportunity.” Their of Lebanon in New York and the Union director, Sherief Elkatsha, followed the story is detailed over the 400-plus pages Vinicole du Liban, Lebanon’s official viewing. The feature-length documentary of her new book, Strangers in the West: association of wine producers. It began explores the life of one of the world’s The Syrian Colony of New York City, with a colorful lecture by wine writer most populated cities from the vantage 1880–1900. Jacobs described how they Michael Karam, who spoke about the point of its streets. Shot before and during arrived equipped with little more than country’s 5,000-year-old wine tradition the Egyptian revolution, it sheds light on business acumen and built a thriving from the Phoenicians through the the country’s collective identity, inherent colony in Lower Manhattan that became Ottoman Empire to the French mandate. struggles and the sentiments that led the cultural and economic center of the He then delved into the structure of the to the historic changes taking place in Syrian diaspora in America. modern industry, discussing Lebanon’s Egypt today. Elkatsha, who was born in The granddaughter of Syrian rank in the global wine market and the the United States, raised in Cairo and immigrants from different parts of what steps the country could take to enhance currently lives in Brooklyn, maintains that is now Lebanon, Jacobs’s quest started its position. “We’re a very small wine- driving is one of the few issues that cut with research into her family’s past. producing country so we have to play across all religions and social classes. “It’s “When I began, it was simply to do a with scarcity,” said Karam. “We have to everyone’s story,” he said. A lively audience genealogy of the family,” she said. “I present the ultimate boutique product of both LAU and AUC constituents was shocked to learn that no one had that everybody wants to have. If we can laughed heartily at the film’s many lighter investigated the Manhattan colony. It do that, we can sell our wines anywhere.” moments — reminiscent of Beirut’s became my mission to reconstruct it Following the lecture, guests flocked to a snarled traffic and colorful drivers — and by discovering every Syrian who had separate room for a tasting featuring nine peppered Elkatsha with questions about ever lived in New York before 1900. I did different Lebanese wines. The audience the production process. that, one name at a time.” In telling the included wine importers, distributors and story of her grandfathers, Jacobs said consultants, bankers, United Nations staff, she wanted to dismiss the myth that all U.S. State Department personnel, Arabic immigrants were successful — while one language students and academics, as well of her grandfathers built a thriving textile as alumni and friends of LAU. business, the other died penniless and in debt. The event was co-hosted with AUB.

page 30 Caren Salha, LAU marketing student T “Hearing stories from graduates with real world experience is so he world’s financial capital he world’sfinancial — educational experience enriches served? Are you Are you LAU being being B y Paige Kollock important.” students’ students’ the nine tiramisu cake …custom-madewith said. kitchencreated “Our pastry agiant shadeofgray,”in aparticular ferrets for aclientwhocollects them received. some ofthemore unusualrequests she’s various rooms andsuitesshared A tour with V an in-room butler, privateelevatorsfor heads ofstate. historically hostingprinces, princesses and Plaza Hotel, a illuminate classdiscussions. sitevisitsto instruction withafternoon T of theGraduate Program inHospitality& at “ andothersinacoursethese pitfalls called products totheinternationalmarketplace. illustrating ofintroducing local theperils in Spanish. that “nova” translates go” as“doesn’t A Chevrolet rolled outits “ — “Finger-lickin’ translated to good”— Chinese market inthe1980s, itsslogan When Kentucky FriedChicken entered the guest discretion. I E ourism I laina merica, thecompany failed torealize nternational Service Ps andsecret entranceways tomaintain at your fingers off”at yourfingers in “Our concierge sourced tworare T One suchvisitwastotherenowned T L LAU aught by AU he studentswere treated toaprivate business students learned about businessstudentslearnedabout

M N -day course combined-day in-class M onblatt, whoshowed them Y inJanuary. T anagement atVirginia he Plaza’sDiplomatic T M hese are justtwoexamples N ahmood ahmood T ew York Citylandmark he hotel offers perks likehe hoteloffers perks M N A anagement,” held M ova car in . Khan, director andarin. When M onblatt M T ech, anager L atin others. service provider expectations, among and customerexpectations gap between or product onit, andhow toexpand the buzz thatexistsaround yourcompany service, “conversational currency” orthe cultural differences whenitcomes to tempt customerstobuyyourproducts), like “servicescape” (thewayinwhichyou broad reach of244millioncustomers. listening totheoriesinclass.” with real than worldexperience isbetter to hearstoriesfrom graduate students together inandoutoftheclassroom, and together,” shesaid. alotoftime “Wespent and easily,” Khansaid, citing convenientlymany customersaspossible isthecase. the opposite consulting andmore. transport, educational facilities, banking, hospitals, airlines, shippingandother sectors, suchasrestaurants, attractions, the services industryincludesmanyother T hotelslike servicesboutique thatfive-star ring inthe team evenorganized a who didn’tdrinkalcohol.” Sheandher no liqueur, for ofaprince thebirthday the world’s financial capital. the world’sfinancial site visitstobusinessesandcompanies in “ immenselyfrom thecourse.benefitted fewer service jobsdowntheroad. necessarilyautomation doesn’t mean said Khan. conducted inthe to instructorsfrom educational experiences through exposure ofenrichingstudents’ with thepurpose at Jimmy Ghosn. friends or his children,” said was incredible. Hetreated uslike his consultant andaprofessor, off. paid “He of experience inthefield, a asboth M a V celebration terrace onthepenthouse for Kassar of School I he Plazaoffer. Ofcourse, hotels, besides really liked thatwewere undergrads, . Classroom topics touched onconcepts “ A T T A M LAU B A I hese are justsomeofthemany his wasthesixthcourse the bout 60percentbout ofallbusiness ll agreed thatKhan’s35years P clientfrom theGCCwhowantedto . arketing studentCaren Salhasaysshe utomation provides waystoreach as A . and ’s N ew York —allofthem outpost A N E nd anincreasing trend toward xecutive ew Year inthesnow. B U usiness hasorganized .S. U .S. isrelated toservices, M universitiesand N . B ew Year’s . A . mixed M A School ofBusiness School mazon’s . B A . A dnan I . student n fact, E page 31 page ve

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 “I’m mesmerized by your storytelling. The process is beautiful and poetic, but I Looking in don’t see it in the final outcome,” said one of the eight jurors who sat in front of an from the LAU fashion design program student as she presented her portfolio and a finished garment for critique. “You stopped too outside early in the process,” concluded the juror, By Reem Maghribi one of 20 external professionals invited to join the university’s faculty to partake in the 85 jury discussions held at the fashion department over five consecutive days. External jurors offer students The jury process is long and often of creative disciplines a fresh critical, but one that is highly beneficial for the students, says assistant professor and critical eye and program director Jason Steel. Sabbagh’s work, agrees. “We are like any “Our students must be thinking about other buyer or client who is not involved commerce from day one. By inviting in the process but is ready to judge based professionals from outside the LAU on the designer’s presentation.” community to join the juries, we reinforce The jurors come from diverse the importance of the industry.” professional backgrounds. “I use different Dozens of external jurors are invited materials than those used in fashion, but to attend one or more of a number of ultimately the design process is not too juries each semester to critique the work dissimilar,” says furniture designer Nada of students in the creative discipline, Debs, who enjoyed the opportunity to including fashion design, graphic design witness the transition of students from and fine arts. “It’s really useful to have education to reality. “I think these fresh fresh eyes look at our work and give us ideas are very inspiring and a reflection of feedback,” says Randa Sabbagh, one of the times.” Steel’s students. Fashion designer Ziad Students with unique concepts, skilled Ghanem, who was among those to judge execution and strong presentation skills page 32 changed mylife, basically,” saysal-Hariri, a lotinproject. from. Fiveminuteswiththemcan change of experience andideasfor ustolearn “We needexternaljurors. and correct useofthe youngsters understandthegrammar an illustrated tohelp educational tool project involvedthedevelopmentof projects ofstudentsgraphic design. year hour jurysessionreviewing thefinal concepts,” explainsKanafani athree- after abletodefendskills andbe their our designershavestrong communication decisive opinions, that important soit’s industry withbusyclientswhogive advice asajuror. “Weworkinasubjective toscoutalso hopes talentwhileimparting showcase atherconcept store. for is alwayslooking newdesignersto jewelry designerRosy them, proud andtobe ofthem,” says L and employers. “ piquetheinterest buyers ofpotential often eb A A anese talent, tohelpandpromote mong themwas executive dvertising I t’s nicet’s todiscover young T hese five minutes hese five N A our al-Hariri, whose A bourous, who rabic hamze. N T our Kanafani hey havealot organized bycreative discipline. “ the multitudeofsessions, whichare invited toeachattendoneortwoof the externaljurors, alarge are number the enthusiasmandfullattentionof “ executive DanielleRizkallah.advertising time asanexternaljuror, amongthem many industryprofessionals tooffer their encourage studentsiswhatmotivates educational tools. encouraged hertocontinue developing jury members, allofwhomstrongly whose workwentdownatreat withthe fashion school, aswellthoseofherown attended someofthesessionsat what that’s sharedto be andif experience that mypresence inthisworldandthe says for them,” ishighlybeneficial fields from differentHaving avarietyofexperts the workofeachandeverystudent. redundantbe ifthesamejurors critiqued I ’m a person whoisengaged.’m aperson T T o ensur his opportunity toguideand his opportunity LAU instructor e each student benefits from e eachstudentbenefits I I waslucky tohaveinmylife is wanttodo.” I N can inspire allmylife, iloufar A sfar, who I think I t would through industryexperience.” they impart. Knowledgetheyhavegained external jurors isthepractical knowledge always agree. “ different aspiringdesignersandartists. were concurrently critiquingtheworkof around oneofthree that jurypanels and Foundation Studies. of theSafadi seenspread be outacross thetopfloor ofFine students intheDepartment directions anyproject can take,” says witness thatandtoconsider thedifferent A ason Steel, LAU fashion design viting professionals from “ T sfar. “ In the industry.” reinforces of theimportance outside theLAU community I he jurors havediscussionsanddon’t — ndeed, manyof J program director  U ltimately, of themainbenefit A I t’s good for studentsto good t’s rts buildinghovering rts A sfar’s studentscouldsfar’s page 33 page A rts rts

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 The spirit of giving is on most people’s an alumna, is one such supporter. The spirit of minds during the holiday season. At “I was a financial aid student whose LAU, however, this spirit is continuously education was at the expense of an present, though often muted. unknown donor who had donated to this giving back “Faculty and staff give back daily, institution to provide equal opportunities starting with how they treat and for all,” says Makadessi. She has named is alive on address students, teach them, advise seats in the Beirut campus Irwin Hall them, care about them, help them Auditorium and contributed to the Annual and celebrate them,” explains Elise Fund appeal. campus Salem, the university’s vice president of “These are difficult times for Lebanon By Naseem Ferdowsi Student Development and Enrollment and the MENA region. As we continue to Management. recruit top students to LAU, we want to Many faculty and staff take it a step be able to financially support those who LAU’s faculty and staff are further and contribute to others in more have severe needs. And those numbers are making a difference and tangible ways, from establishing annual growing,” adds Salem, who has contributed scholarship grants to naming seats on financially to the university for several setting an example for campus to participating in the university’s years. annual Fundraising Gala Dinner. University employees who want to students Nayla Moujaes, an assistant director give back in ways other than financial of Marketing and Communications and have many alternatives. The university’s an LAU alumna, recently named a seat Outreach and Civic Engagement Office in the Selina Korban Auditorium on the (OCE) offers several opportunities for the “Our faculty and staff have the university’s Byblos campus. LAU community to contribute time and “I owe LAU more than I will ever be expertise, whether through Model UN, unique chance to indirectly able to give back. I work here, I met Model Arab League or the countless other serve civil society through my husband here, and I was a merit programs that the office leads. scholarship student here. It gives me great “Our faculty and staff have the unique educating and empowering pleasure to give back to a place that has chance to indirectly serve civil society the student body.” given me so much,” says Moujaes. through educating and empowering the “We are all ‘getting’ from LAU and, student body,” says Elie Samia, assistant —Elie Samia, LAU assistant usually, those who get must give. It’s one vice president for Outreach and Civic vice president for Outreach and Civic of our society’s values,” explains Raed Engagement at LAU. Engagement Mohsen, the university’s dean of students “They train, inspire and educate in Beirut. Mohsen himself has a history of students, who later themselves become giving to LAU, dating back to 2000. trainers, inspirers and educators of middle Reciprocating the help that they had and high school students across the received as students is a popular way of country. Ultimately, our faculty and staff giving back among faculty and staff. LAU’s are our pride and source of knowledge and Assistant Director of Public Relations and skills,” Samia explains. Media Office Bert Makadessi, who is also page 34 understanding understanding A today’s youth today’s Mapping and Mapping and rab- M on youthissuesin editerranean countries to research andadvise The mainreasons that theyouth felt —Ali Fakih, LAU assistant professor E at theproject website: www.sahwa.eu LAU relationship the between quality ofeducationquality and uropean consortium “There isanestablished economists join compelled to leave school Learn more SAHWA about B y Reem of economics growth.” M aghribi A rab is stillover20and 25percent respectively. unemployment among womenandyouth B A country,” explainedFakih, citingreligion in the nuances andlimitationsofeach countries,the five butwehadtoconsider questions toharmonizethesurveyacross We neededtocome upwithcommon M of among them. the researchers institutionsacross from fifteen from the A inandacross opportunities a project researching youthattitudesand of writtenaspart being series ofpapers many results detailedandanalyzedina recent amongthe uprisings—willbe A greatly withwidespread perceptions of country. andtownsacross the neighborhoods in demographically representative conducted surveyof2,000youngsters or websites, according toascientifically use the theagesof15and29never between percent of Sixty-five the noted Fakih during apresentation of three percent, soweare producing jobs,” an employmentgrowth rate ofaround a GDPgrowth rate percent and ofoverfive countries. “ implementation ofthesurveysinallfive following the findings and topic-specific areas that proved challenging. countries. ineachofthefive people asked 250 questionstobe to2,000young the consortiumtoprepare asurveyof by the lgeria, rab youthsince ofthe thebeginning lgeria and politics in lgeria andpolitics eirut toreview preliminary country arrouch and T “ T B I he partners recentlyhe partners gathered in he S LAU A t took some months to finalize. somemonthstofinalize. t took usiness faculty GhassanDibeh, Walid rab E T I A team’sinitialfindings. “ uropean Commission andinvolves T nternet to surf activist blogs activistblogs nternet tosurf unisia, M A HW he finding —whichcontrastshe finding rabic word for “revival,” isfunded editerranean and T he A LAU project, which takes its name A

MENA E li Fakih collaborated with gypt and ’s L A eb dnan Kassar School E region hasenjoyed gypt as examples of gypt asexamplesof anese youth anese youth L eb M E orocco, anon. urope, B ut ut the prepare oneselffor marriage(10percent). education fees (12percent) andtheneedto (14percent),the family financially high education earlywere aneedtohelp reasonsmost significant citedfor leaving education.earn atertiary over 80percent expressing adesire to had completed theirstudies, despite theyfelt because they school youth left the surveyfound thatonly27percent of since the 1990s. most ofwhichwere founded duringor T dozens ofprivateuniversitiesin offer,” headded, referring tothe specifically sector andthewidediversityofqualityon toconsider theprivateuniversity important quality ofeducation andgrowth, andsoit’s an establishedrelationship the between the region inrecent decades. “ substantial investmentsineducation across women andyouth, Fakih noteof took force of lowlabor among participation on theempirical datacollected. across countries based allfive opportunities related toyouth papers and policy is responsible for compiling scientific together with questions,” addedtheeconomist who, five projectfive countries. as theyrelate toyouthin andacross the experiences and internationalcooperation values, genderequity, migration, transition youth empowerment,about culture and compiled institutions being by their partner team willcontribute totheresearch papers to youthopportunities. andanswervariousquestionsrelated pose months willenablethe analyses offulldatasetsoverthecoming data. “ andgraphs charts bar illustrating the contacts,” notedFakih ashepresented 60 percent gottheirjobsthrough personal registered for securityandalmost social without acontract, overhalfare not employment intheregion. marginalized, andburgeoning informal and structures onthepoor andpolicies among otherthings, the effect ofeconomic inclusion.and social focusing onemployment,be education inclusion.” access andsocial orreflect impact tolabor his leadstomanyinteresting andtimely When considering youth opportunities, When considering youthopportunities, Despite theplethora ofuniversities, I T “ n considering causes thepossible A horough quantitativeandmultivariable LAU lmost half our respondents work lmost halfourrespondents work T hese are all important factors hese arethat allimportant researchers will and theirpartners M arrouch andDibeh, T hey are reviewing, LAU I n addition, the A mong the mong the team to both teamtoboth School ofBusiness School T here is L eb anon, anon, page 35 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 RE U T A E F

The extremely popular U.S. sitcom, Modern Family

page 36 Family matters B I r ntroducing thefamily ofthefuture anduntanglingthe elationships withintheunit y RamiSaidi since the1960s. almost 75percent to lessthan50percent marriagehasdropped fromin theirfirst of Center has discovered that thenumber Pewthe Washington-based Research unit.” social basic childrentheir dependent regarded asa nuclear family, as“acouple and isdefined rather thanthenorm. their interrelationships intotheexception variables are turningsuchfamilies and adoptive families andahostofother marriages, step-siblings, same-sex High divorce rates, singleparents, multiple a stay-at-home motherand2.5children. unit consisted ofabreadwinning father, are thedayswhentraditional family families are noexception. aroundeverything usischangingand stepsisters.” elseandtheyhadmy married somebody married mymom. he wasmarriedtohisex-wife. Hethen family. “ at communication student a final-year arts “ U and twostepsisters, I nited Statesthe majorityofchildren are t’s complicated.t’s A T LAU A he traditional family unit, called a s weventure intothefuture, boldly merican children livingwithparents , describingthedynamicofher M y dadhadmyhalf-brother when T U his meansthatinthe I haveahalf-brother M sing a2014census, ” saysDaniaHawat, eanwhile hisex-wife L ong gone

elaborates Jessy the burden ofproviding for thefamily,” She now, thannot, more often shares women’s role haschangeddrastically. increased education amongfemales, the increasing costs time. andlackofdisposable many asprevious generations diddueto have children, buttheymight nothaveas at-home husband. so from home, arole nowknownasstay- the mainincome earnerbuthemightdo a full-timejob. housework butshewillalsoprobably have example, themothermightstilldo intraditionalused tobe families. For are nolonger asblackandwhitethey changing thedynamicswithinunit. ofanuclearfamily,no longerpart thus aed Mohsen, deanofstudents — wadays, women have “ children.” oftheir gaining custody increased chances of No “With thehighcosts oflivingand E ven theroles ofthemotherandfather at LAU Beirut R  T he father might still be he father mightstillbe T ohme, A couple mightstill a specialized aspecialized page 37 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 FEATURE

and experienced Beirut-based couples counselor. These days, both parents share the workload and support the family economically. “They take turns with the household chores and looking after the children,” she explains, adding, “This has led to a gradual reversal in roles between men and women. We see more career- minded women, who place the pursuit of their career before their family. On the other hand, more men are devoting more time to their children, cleaning and cooking.” When it comes to the make-up of a family, things have also changed dramatically. Modern Family, an extremely popular U.S. sitcom, shows just how diverse a family can become by encompassing cultural diversity, same-sex relationships and step-children. It also places an The America TV drama series The Fosters follows the lives of a lesbian couple raising one of the partner’s biological emphasis on the extended family and son along with adopted twins the relationships between them. And independence have allowed many to build who knows, perhaps by the 22nd century the family they want as opposed to the families will simply be described as a group kind their parents or grandparents would of individuals who relate to one another have had, but how are people adapting and share mutual affections. to these many changes and what do they The changes being advocated by make of them? Is blood still thicker than women’s rights groups have also had a water? And most importantly, how is the huge impact on the future of how families ever-adapting family unit affecting those are formed. “Before, divorced women had a nearest and dearest to us? hard time getting remarried,” says Dean of “My experience changed my Students at LAU Beirut Raed Mohsen, who perspective on the fact that siblings is a specialist in human communication don’t have to be by blood, we all have Lebanese society is becoming more lax in and marital and family therapy. “Whereas this really lovely connection between us,” its view of such diverse family units. now,” he explains, “Not only do divorced says Hawat. She goes on to say that any Stepfamilies are the most common women have more chances of remarriage, problems her blended family experienced form of “non-traditional” families, but they have increased chances of gaining were problems that could happen in they themselves come in many variations. custody of their children.” any family. She stresses that she never These may range from two parents with Increasing acceptance of equal received any offensive or negative custody of their respective children rights for both genders and economic reactions from her peers, a sign that to households where one partner has children and the other doesn’t. There are still even more types of families: single mothers, single fathers, grandparents raising grandchildren, multi-generational households and the like. LAU graduate Kalyl Kadri (B.A. ’13) also grew up with two half-brothers and two half-sisters and he feels that his “half- siblings are pretty much full-on siblings.” It never crosses his mind that his two younger sisters have a different mother and that his two younger brothers have a different father. “I get along really well with all of them, but unfortunately my sisters live in Brazil and I don’t get to see them as often as I would like,” he explains. Divorce stands out as an important element changing the traditional family structure and thus the relationships between those in the unit, as well as the

page 38 psychology andeducation at While itistruethat divorce produces thanthoseofparents whoaren’t.off of divorced parents willendupworse available evidence tosuggestthatchildren weekend.” going tohermom’s(ordad’s)house this unusual for themtosay, is “So-and-so theirpeers,his daughtersabout itisnot broken home. didn’t knowofanyonewhocame from a same ageashisdaughtersare now, he describing howwhenhewasaround the broken home.” achildfromlonger ananomalytobe a E whohasdivorcedsomebody parents? A a family where theparents are divorced. in everyclassroom saytheycome from says. “ whose parents were are divorced,” she I Sarouphim- are stillincreasing, outKetty points roles theyplay. etty Sarouphim-McGill, LAU — arents don’t know what “ wasastudent verybody will raise theirhand.verybody So, it isno nd if are many predators.” children doonline—there P On thebrightside, there isn’tany M ohsen echoes Sarouphim-ohsen echoes N and education professorassociate ofpsychology K  I asktheclass, whoknows ow about 5percentow about ofstudents M cGill, professor associate of T I o I n did not know anybody didnotknowanybody day, whenhetalkswith L eb anon separations LAU M cGill, . “When The Jolie-Pitt family areThe Jolie-Pitt a mixture ofadopted andbiological children lives. issue related toourincreasingly digital online,” Sarouphim- not knowwhattheirchildren are doing children iscrucialtoproper development. and lovingtheir parents playinnurturing perception ofparenting. theirchildren’s thatwillshape bonds informing the part plays animportant splittingupthat remain amicable after the degree towhichparents are ableto such asthechildren’s ageandgender. onvariousfactors,situation depends or intensityofadjustmenttothenew ofupheaval,trying periods thelength taking place viaFace year, withthemajorityofcommunication chance toseetheirchildren afew timesa families andsomeofthemonlygeta to workabroad their inorder tosupport online predators.” “Young are people mostvulnerable to harmful tothefamily. “ information toparents thatcan prove young children atriskandprovide false its vastknowledgeishuge, butitcan put from to tapintotheworldandbenefit parents andchildrennetworks giveboth upbringing. andnegativeresultspositive onthechild’s a “third parent,” whichmayhaveboth parenting, functioninginsomewaysas roleon anincreasingly in important T the newfamilial arrangements. it isthattheywilladjustmore quicklyto T o he olderthechildren, themore likely Whatever thefamily type, therole the M day, however, the ohsen brings up another important ohsen bringsupanotherimportant M any L T eb he access mediaand social anese fathers are obliged M I nternet hastaken T cGill explains, ime andSk T he parents do B ype. ype. ut itis even aggressive behavior. todelinquency,the path druguseand parenting can pattern take children down children. have dohouseworkandtake care ofthe parents come home, where theyalso “ uptotheparents alone. increasingly left this communal attitudeandparenting is them ornot. regardlessbeing ofwhethertheyknew eye outfor thechildren’s safety andwell- same time, everyonethere alsokept an themselves into our social fabric.themselves intooursocial 21st century are andbeyond weaving andadolescence.childhood duringboth changes inbehavior time withtheirchildren? are forced lessand toworkandspend average family today, parents whenboth So, applied to the be how can this method Club example, children playingattheSporting to holdtrueinmostcountries. For takes avillagetoraise achild” stillseemed to take off. upwhere heleft to livewiththefamily, itisnotalwayseasy explains replace real interaction withthechildren,” simply communication anddon’t tools through millennia. new roles and interactions, asithas know isthathumanitywilladapt toits next generation willgrow up. knowing underwhatcircumstances the units seeminglyontherise, there’s no with tolerance for thesebrave newfamily willundoubtedlyemergepatterns and, working full-timewithparenting. exhaustion thatcomes ofcombining creative waysofdealing withthefinding on therighttrack, evenifthismeans friends inorder tomake sure they’re an activeinterest intheiractivitiesand with attention. Rather, theyshouldtake lie inparents smotheringtheiroffspring for Sarouphim- empty house,” statesSarouphim- thannot,more often come hometoan are are workingandboth exhausted. listenedto. andbe tell themoff they were loud, complete strangers would eachadultpresent.to respect andobey “ N T Present-day times have seen a shift in Present-day timeshaveseenashift She explainsthatthishadledto I T his doesn’t resolvehis doesn’t theissue. ow, thefather both andmotherwho n therecent past, theoldcliché“ he ever-evolvingfamilies ofthe B each in M I n manyfamilies, thechildren, ohsen. Whenthefather returns B M eirut would be expected expected eirut wouldbe cGill, however, not does T he solution, T A his ll wedo T A M hese are N t the cGill. page 39 page ew I t T he I f

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 School of Pharmacy

of students has come an expansion of their learning activities. LAU Pharm.D. students are now able to obtain the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)-Based Immunization Training Certification. The program “teaches pharmacists the skills necessary to become a primary source for vaccine information and administration,” says Imad Btaiche, the dean of the university’s School of Pharmacy. Houston Methodist Hospital also now offers postgraduate residency training for international pharmacy graduates, including LAU Pharm.D. graduates. “Our mission for this program is to develop clinical pharmacy leaders that can return to their country of origin and expand the Upon their return from their advanced profession there,” explains Vice President Expanding pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) at of Global Patient Services, Education the Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, and Training Summer Dajani, adding, LAU Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) “We began this program in 2013 and the field of students appear to have undergone a have already graduated two incredible life-changing experience. “They return to LAU alumni.” Lebanon with a confidence about them The program also allows a holistic learning that was not there when they arrived,” says approach to education, with the By Leena Saidi Michael G. Liebl, clinical manager of the development of students’ soft skills hospital’s Department of Pharmacy and through training and mentoring the U.S. regional director of the program programs. According to Rana el-Noamani, Pharmacy students since its inception in October 2011. a Pharm.D. student, such rotations are experience firsthand the In collaboration with Houston Methodist crucial to learn what real clinical pharmacy Hospital, the LAU pharmacy program is about and to understand the different mechanisms of advanced provides four months of required APPEs. roles a pharmacist can fulfill. “Direct During this time students receive the patient interaction helped me develop pharmacy practice instruction and experience necessary to self confidence and be prepared for any achieve specific learning objectives related question the patient may ask.” to medical and pharmacy knowledge El-Noamani completed her required and patient care. They also deepen their APPEs at Houston Methodist Hospital “We started in 2011 with eight interpersonal and communication skills. in spring 2015, during which she went students a semester, now Yara Zgheib, currently on rotation through the Drug Information Center, in Houston, believes that since the Internal Medicine, Continuity of Care we support over 30 students university’s Pharm.D. program is and Community Pharmacy rotations. annually.” accredited by the U.S. Accreditation “Meeting experts in their fields and Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), learning from their experience was —Michael G. Liebl, the U.S. it is important to experience the practice priceless,” she affirms. regional director of the program of the profession in that country. “The “The hospital also benefits through difference also lies in the fact that in LAU’s partnership by getting global the U.S. clinical pharmacy is way more exposure for our pharmacy programs,” says developed,” she points out. President and CEO of Houston Methodist “When we started the program in 2011 Global Health Care Services Cathy Easter, we worked with eight students a semester. who worked closely with LAU President We now support over 30 students Joseph G. Jabbra to establish the joint annually,” says Liebl. The students receive program between the two institutions. hands-on training in a fast-paced health “LAU is an elite university with highly care environment in which they utilize talented students. Their participation has innovative tools and technologies to serve added a higher standard of expectations a wide spectrum of patients, enhancing and great competition for other residency their ability to work with multidisciplinary students in our program,” she adds. teams and gain autonomy. Along with the increase in the number

page 40

to continue its scholarship scholarship “University changed my life mor and Ihave LAU andUSAID —M Successful Successful LAU Scholarship Program e in ustapha Hamad, oneof81LAU graduates who have benefitted graduates whohave benefitted program secures millions funding funding B U y S N AI aseem Ferdowsi gains gains D funding D funding U niversity niversity to thank.” from USP ceremony. said el-Fakih hegaveatthe inaspeech blossomed thankstothisscholarship,” for asuccessful future andcareer has university education. would haveachance toexperience a scholars at the initiative. an A U A quality education ateitherthe toaccess ahigh to havetheopportunity least 320additionalstudentsnationwide the nextthree years. continue thissuccessful program over contributing another$37.5millionto knownas which willbe toward aseventhcohort ofstudents, it wasrecently awarded more funding successful sixyearsthat overtheseshort need.financial across thenationandwhohavesevere students whocome from publicschools hundreds oftop-performing benefited L related expenses. that covers scholars’ fulltuitionand Program ( through students withoutthemeanstoattend it hasbecome areality for hundreds of underprivileged youngpeople. However, is anunattainabledream for many Obtaining auniversityeducation school inthe school business business studentatthebest eb merican merican niversity of “ M “ T LAU U T anon in September 2010,anon inSeptember has he program, whichlaunchedin ajd el-Fakih, oneof237current he SP haschangedmylife. ceremony inJanuarytocelebrate A LAU merican governmentis U U A LAU SP), a mbassador Richardmbassador H. Jonesat niversity orthe ’s B M eirut,” explainedinterim U T , iddle neverimaginedthathe his initiative has been so his initiativehasbeen niversity Scholarship U S AI T E D-funded initiative D-funded his willallowat ast. U SP V N A ow my hope ow myhope merican I ama II L . eb anese U SP economy of astheycontributeleaders ofsociety tothe wings whentheygraduate andbecome withtwo gives themtheabilitytofly intheirdevelopment.big part extracurricular activities, whichplaysa to make in certain theyare takingpart they are doingwellacademically and follow upfrom toensure faculty andstaff clear. success ofthe having completed theirstudies, the Samia, whoisinvolved withrunningthe for Outreach andCivic U commented evaluation andcare thatwegivethem,” the supervision, coaching, monitoring, as theydoonce of theyleaveusbecause the jobmarket running. A andamonthlystipend. textbooks housing expenses, medical insurance, scholarship support, includingtuitionfees, said preparation workshops. training incareer and totake part in community service andleadership academic excellence andactivelyengage need.financial on merit, academic performance and fromgraduates whohavebenefitted life and as anundergraduate studentchangedmy studies at a full-timejobwhilecontinuing graduate ll scholarsare required tomaintain SP program. “Graduates of students cohort’s With manyofthefirst “ U “ U T SP scholarsare selectedbased o M SP studentsare provided continual day, ustapha Hamad, one of 81 I have I LAU ’m officially anengineerwith ’m officially L L eb AU . U LAU

T T anon,” addedSamia. SP initiativehasbecome hey benefit from full hey benefit hose four-and-a-half years LAU ’s and A ssistant Vice President ’s U E U ngagement T SP program hit S hey doaswell AI D tothank,” A ll this LAU page 41 page E U lie

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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Campus For more details about these LAU activities, NoTes visit the news section of www.lau.edu.lb.

Art photo by Bassam Lahoud

What kind of artist do you want to be? Renowned Lebanese curator and gallery owner Saleh Barakat treated students and faculty from LAU’s Department of Fine Arts and Foundation Studies to a talk in December. He expounded on the lives and fixations of various “artists on a mission” while projecting photographs of their works, explaining that whereas some obsessed over meaning and The evolutionary process of art is complete message, others wrestled with style, “The linear history of art as witnessed since the Renaissance has come to an end,” said aesthetic and technique. Hoping to Lebanese art historian Cesar Nammour. “It has been replaced by pluralism, in which inspire the students to define their everything can or has the potential to be art,” the expert told an auditorium overflowing purpose and artistic goals, the owner with students from LAU’s Department of Fine Arts and Foundation Studies this past of Beirut’s renowned Agial gallery said, November. In his talk, Nammour referenced American historian Francis Fukuyama and “There are different ways and different German philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Georg Hegel. “Fukuyama types of art. Obsession is one of them. saw the collapse of the Berlin Wall as the end of history, regarding history as an evolutionary I wish that students would focus more process that took its final form in liberal democracy, from which we cannot progress further,” on engagement.” he explained. “Similarly, art has arrived at pluralism where complete freedom reigns and rules no longer bind us to a definition of art.” Improving Skills Faculty and students bolster reading and recital In November, the Beirut outdoor auditorium overflowed with students who had gathered to cheer for contestants of the Poetry Slam, a competition organized by English instructor Omar Baz Radwan as part of a wider initiative titled “Literature at LAU.” “I enjoyed all the poems, both in Arabic and English,” said junior year student Yehia Cheaito, who has been writing poetry since he was 12 years old. The undergraduate degree in English, run by the newly-established English Department, was redesigned last year. Students can now follow one of three distinct tracks — language, literature or creative writing — while taking courses in each. “This has altered people’s perception of English. Students used to think all English majors were headed for careers in academia, but this shift in the program has changed that view,” asserted Cheaito.

The essence of letterforms L etterforms are fundamental elements of communication and the visualization of language. LAU’s Design Department recently organized TypeTalks Byblos 2015, where internationally acclaimed experts shared their thought processes, inspiration and professional insight. According to Melissa Plourde Khoury, associate chair for the Design Department, this setting was ideal for conversations about letterforms because “this ancient yet modern city is the place where the Phoenician civilization laid the foundation of our alphabets.” Attending the event was Khajag Apelian, an award-winning speaker hailed for his typographic work that delves into multiple alphabets. “Typography is a medium that is not widely appreciated, but is one of the most important ones,” said Apelian, whose typeface Arek is among the few to include the Armenian language. Also present were Wael Morcos, senior designer at Base Design New York, Yara Khoury Nammour, winner of several awards in typography and book design, and Paris’s premier calligrapher Nicolas Ouchenir. page 42 Donations &Grants actively for theirinstitution,” shesaid. toengagealumniandfundraiseexpected world, deansplayavitalrole andare in advancingtheuniversity. “ ofthedeans’the importance involvement U added. philanthropicsignificant investments,” he create therightconditions for attracting will joinforces withourdeanstohelp commented Jabbra. “ ofrevenue,”tuition aloneasamajorpart “ isincreasingly necessary.outside support for thesepurposes, tuition insufficient make itsmarkinacademia. Withstudent needsasitseekstocontinue tofinancial of academic excellence anditsgrowing the university’simpressive track record between highlighted thejuxtaposition F A leadership Ramping upfundraising staff, and deans, Conferences, Talks &Workshops LAU undraising,” whichbrought together two-day seminartitled“Deansand two-day niversity cannot continue on todepend advancement anddevelopment M arla Rice- LAU A dvancement at President JosephG. Jabbra, E vans, vice president for T his iswhywe LAU A round the , echoed echoed LAU

ar member states and partner countries. statesandpartner member E L E highereducation andindustry.gap between — togetherwiththe hosted bytheuniversityincollaboration with long commitment,” said is therefore academic institutions. apriorityfor excellence-driven “ A highereducationBridging thegapbetween andindustry ifelong uropean ducation Program, wastheculminationof ccording totheWorld e currently for looking work. nothing butyourconscience,” urged theministerandformer journalist. pockets. You therevolutionaries downtonooneand studentsmustbe whobow “ A audience raised withtheslogan:“ abanner the gathered tohearhimdiscussthe challengesfacing inOctober him, hisministryand corruption, butnotjobs,” “ Labor ministerurges studentstojoinprotests T M zzi agreed withthesentimentandurged hislistenerstojoinongoingprotests. he garbage crisiswascreatedhe garbage intentionally socorrupt individualscould linetheir ost projects undertaken in L eb L anese jobmarket. earning ( U nion tofacilitate its of highereducation cooperation between inthefield EU EU - MILL management. degreeannounced inshipping hisplanstohelpestablisha master’s T is byourstandards,” commented inouruniversityand expressedbelieves toushowimpressed he and shippingcompanytransportation intheworld. “ M during therecognition ceremony. “ lobby, bank hospital’s blood name. thedonor’s whichnowbears anese recently generously donated$500,000 toward therestoration ofthe ofshippingmagnateJacques Saadé,has gainedthesupport who T toLAUJacques Saadéoffers invaluablesupport E representative in T aking ther LAU he conomic Forum, across 73millionyoungpeople theglobe arseille, France, andheadsC his is the beginning ofalongjourneywith his isthebeginning ) initiative, yearprogram fundedbythe athree-and-a-half M L A eb Provost George K. s hespoke, agroup rows ofstudentsintheback ofthe inister of U L nderstanding whatemployersare really for looking eb elationship withtheuniversityeven further, Saadé anon since the1990shaveproduced moneyand A merican L ab L or Sejean eb T T anon —effectivewaysofbridgingthe he event, organized by N he Garbage is he Garbage U N otre Dame E niversity uro- ajjar during an October conferenceajjar duringanOctober MA A M zzi tolddozensofstudentswho editerranean LAU CG A nativeof M U M edical Center–Rizk Hospital President JosephG. Jabbra. niversity ( A , thethird largest container ffecting theJob L L LAU earning isalif eb I LAU ntegration through N anon, Saadélivesin , ” saidSaadé D ’s Continuing U M ) todiscuss r. Saadé M arket.” page 43 page e-

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Ensuring Lebanon’s safety against landslides L ebanon’s rugged topography and location in a zone of relatively high seismic activity make the country vulnerable to earthquakes and landslides. Identifying vulnerable terrain is therefore a priority for anyone concerned with public safety. Research conducted by Grace Abou-Jaoude Estephan, assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, has resulted in the first comprehensive mapping of co-seismic landslide hazards in Lebanon. Abou-Jaoude relied on topography, geology, and the concept of maximum seismic acceleration to develop maps delineating the areas prone to sliding during a major earthquake event on a national scale. The maps — which can be downloaded for free and used as a guideline by public and private institutions — were made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant that Abou-Jaoude received in 2012 under the umbrella of the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program, developed jointly by the National Science Foundation and USAID. In August 2015 Abou-Jaoude and her team were granted a new PEER award ($76,000) to take the research to the risk assessment level.

Community Engagement Together for peace LAU partnered with the Beirut Marathon Association to bring world marathon champion Paula Radcliffe to the Lebanese capital as the ambassador of the 2015 run. While not running herself, having officially retired from the sport earlier this year, Radcliffe joined Beirut 542, a community-based initiative helping first-time marathoners compete. “We are delighted to have in our midst someone to admire, to pay tribute to and to emulate,” said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra, emphasizing Radcliffe’s ability to combine excellence in sport with academic excellence. Despite suffering from asthma, the long-distance runner won her first international title at the age of 19 and obtained a first class degree in languages and economics.

Nursing health fair puts prevention before cure LAU’s Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing students dedicated their time and expertise to the Byblos community last September, organizing a health fair aimed at raising awareness of the importance of regular checkups. Each booth offered free-of- charge services, including electrocardiograms, the measurement of oxygen and glucose levels in the blood and the calculation of body fat percentage. The Remy Rebeiz Young Heart Foundation, founded by Sylvia Rebeiz — whose son, a 20-year-old football player, died of an undiagnosed genetic heart condition in March 2013 — partnered with LAU to offer free electrocardiograms (EKGs). “Don’t think you are healthy, because you never know,” said Rebeiz. “The EKG takes five minutes and could save your life.”

Going Global LAU signs MOU with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations LAU signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) last October, with the aim of establishing the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies, bringing Indian scholars to the university’s campuses. While LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra stressed the importance of exposing students to a globalized world, India’s Ambassador to Lebanon Anita Nayar praised the initiative saying that it was a first-of-its-kind agreement between the ICCR and a Lebanese university.

LAU students present regional politics to the U.S. Early November, Lebanon and the U.S. grew a little closer. Through the medium of video conferencing, a group of political science students at LAU connected with American students and professors at Henry Ford Community College, painting for them a clearer picture of Lebanon and the region. Titled Instability in the Light of Political Vacuum in Lebanon, LAU’s contribution was part of the Annual Michigan Student Political Issues Convention, an event of international caliber attended by congressional and public figures in the U.S. as well as over 700 students throughout Michigan. The discussion touched a chord in this state, home to the highest concentration of Arab Americans (40 percent) and a significant Lebanese community. According to Ayyad el-Masri, who curated LAU’s participation in the conference for the second year in a row, taking part in the event allows students to express their major political concerns and reflect on ways to resolve them. “We presented what we deem is missing from the mainstream media narrative,” said el-Masri, stressing the benefits of engaging in dialogue. page 44 anielle Azar, ofLAU’s chairperson applic evolving program incomputer of donating of donating “This reflects thesound, reflects “This up- anxiety out anxiety out LAU —D Taking the to-date andcontinuously to-date Computer Science andMathematics science that LAU offers.” ation linking donors ation linkingdonors studentscreate an B to recipients y L inda Dahdah Department through thewebsiteandenterinformation Donors can signuponthemobileapp or Donation Campaigns, thestudentsexplain. combination Über, between Dubizzleand the light. forto see business model thenewstartup center andbusinessdevelopment of incubator event andassuchreceived thesupport StepForward. student Georgio from,” couldthat oursociety benefit says around 48hourstocome upwithanidea place inSeptember.took back Wehad hackathon,good #PeaceHack on theother. one sidetotheappropriate organization the appropriate goods, cash orservices on todonate application thatallowspeople students created StepForward, an c refugees. ofSyrian situation andthemassiveinflux now withthedeteriorating socio-economic suffering ofthoseinneed, evenmore so playing amajorrole inalleviatingthe governmental organizations havebeen system. support tothecountry’sgiven birth strong informal protectionsocial program in the absence ofanadequategovernmental Years ofunrest, economic instability, and appropriate channelstogothrough. who wishtocontributethe toidentify However, itisnotalwayseasyfor those kind and/orcash donationshasintensified. omputer science andbioinformatics StepForward istheclosestthingtoa T “ T Charities, andnon- associations T o solvethispr he project prizeatthe wonfirst he idea was born during a social duringasocial he ideawasborn B erytech to work on a viable toworkonaviable erytech A s aresult, thedemandfor in- N oblem, agroup of icolas, current C L BE eb Y, which anon have anon have E LAU O of O of

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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Hot off the printing press L eafing through the latest books by LAU faculty By Federica Marsi

LAU boasts one of the most published university Associate Professor of Political Science at LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences Bassel Salloukh has faculties in the Arab world. co-authored a timely examination of the birth and Faculty research regularly proliferation of the sectarian system in Lebanon. By unraveling the historicity of sectarian identities, appears in academic the book offers clarification as to why such an journals and periodicals, institutional construction is still standing. The Politics of Sectarianism in Postwar Lebanon offers and the outside press an unprecedented insight into the malleability regularly solicits our of sectarianism in Lebanese politics. Rather than being immutable, the clientelist network has been experts. LAU Magazine sustained by its own ability to readapt to social and & Alumni Bulletin takes historical changes. According to Salloukh and co., the emergence of a look at some of the a stable political order in the context of sectarian recently released books states is dependent on the negotiation of new socio- by our professors. The Politics of economic and political power-sharing arrangements. A review by F. Gregory Gause, head of the Sectarianism in International Affairs Department at the Bush School Postwar Lebanon of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M By Bassel Salloukh University, describes Salloukh’s work as a “judicious Published by Pluto Press and well-argued case for why sectarianism continues to dominate the Lebanese political system.”

The Broken Mirrors: Sinalcol By Elias Khoury / Published by MacLehose Press

Elias Khoury, visiting professor at LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences and one of the Arab world’s leading intellectuals, has published yet another breathtaking novel in which fiction and history beautifully intertwine. Against the backdrop of Beirut’s bullet-ridden Ottoman buildings, a mysterious shadow — known only as Sinalcol — lurks in the streets. As the plot unravels, the contours gain clarity, revealing a legendary hero-fighter and a thug, “a ghost woven out of people’s words.” As it is often the case in Khoury’s work, the book raises the specter of the civil war and delves into the self-conflicting topics of identity and return. Karim, a doctor, leaves the life he has built in France to return to Lebanon, despite his vow never to return. From that moment on, Karim’s life takes the form of resurfaced memories and new unsettling questions. Why he has put himself through this truth-seeking journey is, perhaps, the most daunting of them all.

page 46 Scho of thedevelopmentsinar literature. ofmodern a glaringgapinscholarshipthefield M A thought-provoking questionsonthecity’sidentity. of number its architecture interactions. anditsvariedsocial of different realities andperceptions expressed through both andrural,urban sexualizedandgendered, aninteractive mix city inakaleidoscope ofreality andfiction. century onwards, eachpresenting adifferent image ofthe through theeyesof16 Professor of indiscriminately celebrate allthatisproduced.” it critically through multiplelenses, the‘coffee-table’ thusgoingbeyond collections that thetraditionalthe world—beyond limitsofthe‘western’ world,” saysHaddad, “andtoexamine ofarchitectural“What wehavetriedtodoissurveythewidespectrum production around its formal aspects. in termsofitsformal andmore aspects “ideological” avoidanydiscussionof historiesthatoften U T range ofterritoriesaround theworld. movements inarchitecture 1960, after whilethesecond isageographic surveythatcovers awide Dean of By A Critical ofContemporary History Architecture 1960-2010 he book, withDavid Rifkind, co-written alecturer inarchitecture attheFlorida s part oftheseriesinstitutedby s part niversity, reaches amiddleground the“aesthetic” between historiesthatexamine architecture odern odern E ol of lie A LAU rabic G A B rts &Sciencesrts Samira . E ’s School of ’s School eiruts generated bythesenarratives raises H nglish andComparative L addad / iterature, aimstocontribute tofilling thebook A rabic novelsfrom thenineteenth A chitecture from 1960to2010. rchitecture and Design Published by A U Published by By Samira Aghacy Arabic Novel City intheModern ofthe Mappings Writing Beirut: ghacy explores niversity Press E L dinburgh Studiesin iterature at A shgate B eirut becomes E T dinburgh E B he infinite he infinite A LAU lie G. Haddadhasproduced acritical overview eirut rabic ’s T he first sectionpresents major he first Dep monograph featuring theworkofHilmial- Chair of visual record of exclusive interview. visual sensitivitiesofgenerations intheregion, aswellan most prominent will remain alegacyfor theyoungaswelladultreaders.” of emotionally and intellectually driven visual communication pioneer wasanenchantingjourneyintothecareerpainter ofa Hilmial- “Writing about typographers, graphic designersandillustrators from the series, whichfocuses oninspiringdesignachievementsof M T T he book falls intothe he book includesexamplesofhiswork,he book whichformed the iddle artment Yasmineartment I nternational E E LAU ast and gyptian visualstoryteller,” says ’s School of ’s School A N E rab designhistoryofthe20thcentury. gyptian illustrators and book designers. gyptian illustrators andbook orth orth T aan haspr A A T rabic Design frica. Khatt uni asadesigner A rchitecture andDesign’sDesign oduced arichly-illustrated Published byKhatt By Yasmine Arab Culture Evoking Popular Hilmi al-Tuni: B ooks seekstoestablisha ooks L ibrary bilingual T aan. , illustrator and T uni, “Hisproduction oneofthe T aan page 47 page B ooks

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Alumni update October

Traditional pottery in north Lebanon On Thursday, October 22, some 25 BCW Chapter members and friends discovered the hidden treasures of Assia, located 20 kilometers from Batroun. The first stop was at a local potter’s shop to learn more about pottery making with a Hiking through the Cedars live demonstration. Then a short ride to At 9.30 in the morning on Saturday, a hill just south of Assia, to visit the St. October 3, a convoy of Byblos Chapter Touma Monastery and the Virgin of the Fun in the mountains members, family and friends left the Fortress church (Saydet el-Kalaa), which Sunday, October 18, witnessed members Phoenician city and headed out for a is surrounded by sarcophagi as well as of the School of Engineering Chapter day-trip. The excursion to Dimane and grape and olive mills drilled in the rocks. converge on Rikky’z in Faraya. The chapter’s the Cedar Forest included a guided fall gathering took place at an altitude of visit to the summer residence of the 1,700m on the middle mountain, where Maronite Patriarch, with its gardens and the weather was beautiful and crisp and abbey that overlook the Qannoubine a photo opportunity on the terrace was valley. An easy hike in the Cedar Forest not to be missed. Surrounded by the and a sumptuous lunch at Jisr el-Ammar breathtaking views, sumptuous food and a restaurant followed. It was a beautiful great atmosphere, a good time was had by outing that everyone enjoyed. one and all. Discovering lean thinking Over 150 alumni turned up to the first lecture of the academic year as part of the “Keep Learning” alumni lectures program organized by the Alumni Relations Office. On Thursday, October 22, Raed el-Khalil — an assistant professor at the Adnan Kassar School of Business — tackled the topic of “Why Organizations and Managers are Adopting Lean Thinking.” The lecture included a lively Q&A session and was followed by a reception, where the debate continued.

A laugh a minute The Detroit Chapter gathered over 50 alumni, family and friends for dinner and a laugh with the best in local and national stand-up acts at Joey’s Comedy Shop on Saturday, October 17. For the past 25 years, Joey’s Comedy Shop has been serving up live stand- up comedy and giving its audience a night of laughs with hilarious comedians, as well as great food and drink, and that is exactly what the Detroit Chapter experienced. November “Ya Hala” Over 30 New York/New Jersey Alumni Chapter members got together for their festive dinner on Wednesday, November 18, just before the holiday rush. Balade restaurant in New York City’s East Village was the place of choice, with its traditional Lebanese cuisine in an atmosphere true to the Lebanese culture. Alumni, family and friends enjoyed home cooked food that came from the heart. page 48 to untoldcareers andlife success,” heconcluded. I understand andtak emotions isseenasastrong businessworld. leadershipqualityintoday’s “ explainedtoanaudienceand consultant ofover170howmanaging Johnnyel-Ghoul On Friday, organized thesecond lecture oftheacademic year, titled“ A Do you have thisstrongleadershipquality? December f youcan control youremotionsandrespond tothoseofothers, thedoor youcan open s part ofits“Keeps part miscommunication. at understanding thecauses of highly practical sessionaimed interactivefrom and atwo-hour A B B gaveaworkshoptothe el-Ghoul coach, trainer andconsultant Johnny On Wednesday, December 2, life failure here No communication round 50 alumni benefited round 50alumni benefited abylon — Speak my abylon —Speak ahrain Chapter titled“ N ovember 27,ovember theenthusiastic, energetic andversatilelife coach, trainer e control ofyourownemotionsandtheemotionaltriggersothers. L earning” L anguage. E xiting alumnilectures program, the ” M a livelyeveningfulloffunandgreat than 80alumniandfriendsenjoyed Dinner atSeñorPacos restaurant. On Friday, December 4, the Festive spirits Chapter or exican gourmetdelights. ganized its E motional A lumni Relations Office lumni Relations Office A I ntelligence.” nnual Christmas B L earn howto ahrain M ore with mappingandexploringcontemporary artists, designers, andresearchers concerned City inthe , whichexhibitsrecent workby thenvisitedthegroup members showThe to thecapital ofanationstate. evolution from aprovincial Ottomantown collections. together over240worksfrom private is curated bySylvia 160 ansd’images 1800-1960. inaugural exhibitionRegards surBeyrouth: reopened Sursock Wednesday, December 2, sawthe Cultural immersion museum’s permanent collection.museum’s permanent on Saturday, December 12. stunning alumni residents intheSultanateat when theyor Chapter hadnetworkingonthe menu T A roofwithaview B Chapter or he eirut. Finally, thealumniexplored the know eachother. alumni inParis tonetworkandget fora great theuniversity’s opportunity T capital’s Sunday, December 6, attheFrench brunch f T A flyingstart he brunchwasalovelygatheringand he Paris Chapterorganized itsfirst A lumni Relations Office andOman lumni Relations Office M or family andfriendson ganize atourtothenewly- L I uscat Park eb t traces ganized agatheringfor anese restaurant Fakra. M A B useum to check out its useum tocheckoutits gemian and brings gemian andbrings eirut’s historical eirut’s I nn Hotel rooftop nn Hotelrooftop T he exhibition he exhibition T he chapter he chapter B CW CW page 49 page

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Alumni update

Winter gathering On Saturday, December 26, the School of Engineering Chapter organized its annual winter gathering at Amarella restaurant in Beirut’s vibrant district of Mar Mikhael. Over 110 alumni and friends enjoyed a great evening full of fun with a Mexican twist.

Sneak preview The BCW Chapter organized an avant- première showing of the movie Joy at the ABC Grand Cinemas on Monday, December 28. More than 110 alumni and friends enjoyed the story of a family across four generations centered on a girl who grows up to found a business dynasty Celebrating a milestone and become a matriarch in her own right. The 50th graduation anniversary for the classes of 1964 and 1965 — when the Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence university was know as the Beirut College for Women (BCW) — was celebrated at LAU and the scars of love characterize this President Joseph G. Jabbra’s residence on Tuesday, December 8. Jabbra honored the comedy about becoming the head of ladies with 50th anniversary gold medals, which they received with much appreciation a family and enterprise in a world of and love towards their alma mater. unforgiving commerce. January 2016 Say enough As part of its “Keep Learning” alumni lectures program, the Alumni Relations Office organized the third lecture of the academic year, titled “Enough.” On Wednesday, January 27, Walid R. Touma, professor of management at the Adnan Kassar School of Business, shared some of his major achievements to help the audience understand the power of the word “enough” and how simply saying and executing it can make a positive impact on our lives. In Touma’s latest book, My Flowers, he describes what he calls “keys” over the course of our life. Handing over The Alumni Relations Office, together with the Beirut Chapter, organized a gathering on Thursday, January 14, to celebrate the joining of newly-elected committee members and thank those whose terms have ended. The celebration ceremony took place at the Alumni Lounge on LAU’s Beirut campus, in the presence of the association’s President Doha El Zein Halawi, Vice President Majdi Awkal and Treasurer Elias Darwish.

page 50

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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Staying connected

Suman al-Kukreja (A.A. ’64) has had a checkered career, working as an interior designer and a teacher, then later as an art therapist in hospitals and nursing homes in Canada. She even tried her hand at event management for a few years. Due to health reasons she cannot do much now but still manages to do some staging and consultations. Suman is married with two sons and four grandchildren, and lives in Oakville Ontario, Canada. She is thankful for all she has learned and still implements in her daily life. Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi Christina Sawaya

Recipient of the 2013 Alumni Achievement Award Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi (B.A. ’76) obtained her master’s in Arabic literature from AUB and a Ph.D. in history of Islamic art and architecture from Harvard University before moving to Kuwait, where she is now the president of World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region for 2013 to 2016. She has also held the Noha Wadi Moharram Mohamad Kabbani Mazen Hawwa positions of curator at the Islamic Art Museum in Kuwait, deputy for cultural Susan Wadi (B.S. ’94) moved to San Jose, Mohamad Kabbani (B.S. ’96, M.B.A. ’99) affairs at the Department of Antiquities and California, where she is vice president lives in Beirut, where he is the managing Museums, and director of the Department of the Special Assets Division of Bridge director of Kabbani Logistics Services. of Publications and later the Department Bank. Susan is married to LAU alumnus Mohamad was previously CEO of Agility of Cultural Studies in Kuwait’s National Kheireddine Mazboudi (B.S. ’96). Logistics Saudi Arabia. He is married to Aya Council for Culture, Arts and Letters. Three Kheireddine is a senior manager at a high Itani with whom he has two girls, six-year- of her grandchildren are married and she tech company in Silicon Valley. They have old Haya and thee-year-old Dina. has two great-grand children. two boys, a 14-year-old and an 18-month- old, and a lovely German Shepherd. Fadi Yanni (B.E. ’99) obtained his Randa Kotob Jalaleddine (B.A. ’86) lives postgraduate degree from ESSEC Business in Lebanon, where she teaches physical Noha Wadi Moharram (B.S. ’96) is School before returning to Lebanon, where education and art. Randa is married with the founder and director of Art on 56th, he works as a project director. One such three children. Her daughter, who is also a modern and contemporary art gallery project was the construction of Damac an LAU graduate, is currently studying for in Beirut. Noha is married and the Tower in Beirut Central District. Fadi is her M.B.A. at the university. Her two sons mother of three. married and has a daughter. are both studying computer engineering at LAU. She has been an active member of Shakib Daoud (B.S. ’97) is an assistant Mazen Hawwa (B.S. ’01) obtained his LAU Alumni South Lebanon Chapter for the branch manager at Byblos Bank, which he M.B.A. from AUB and is a captain at Middle past five years. joined 16 years ago. He lives in Zahle with East Airlines. Mazen is married to Lina his wife and two children, eight-year-old Ghaly with whom he has two children, Samir Wazzan (B.S. ’88) lives in Kuwait, Mohamad and four-year-old Bashar. 12-year-old Gabriel and 10-year-old Grace. where he works as a general manager. Samir has a 17-year-old son, Raji, and a 13-year-old Samar Aad Makhoul (B.S. ’97) obtained Nadine Ramlawi (B.S. ’01) works as a daughter, Shahed. her M.B.A. from the University of Liverpool corporate credit officer at the Arab Finance before returning to Lebanon, where she was House bank in Sidon, where she also lives. Khalil Fakhoury (B.S. ’90) works as a appointed in October 2015 as Accreditation business development manager in Dubai. and Continuous Improvement Coordinator Businesswoman Christina Sawaya (B.S. Khalil is married with two children, a at AKSOB LAU Beirut. Samar has two ’01) is the owner of Christina Sawaya-La daughter heading for university next year daughters, Bella and Zoe. Boutique and a partner in Smart Parking and a son in tenth grade. Corporation, a firm that manufactures Mirna el-Masri (B.S. ’99) lives in Tripoli, automated parking machines. She is Mohamad Jarrah (B.S. ’92) is a finance where she is a lead ISO 9000:2001 auditor. also an actress, singer, TV presenter and manager in Qatar. He is married with four Mirna was previously a CEO at Mxpand for MC. A former Miss Lebanon and Miss children, a girl and three boys, one of whom healthcare and business development. She International, Christina has tried her hand is a newborn named Hamza. is married and is the mother of two boys at PR management as well as events and and a girl. page 52 postgraduate degree from Rayan Nourallah (B.S. ’02)obtainedhis andasix-year-old boy girl. nine-year-old Didier Raymondandhastwochildren, a Council of Relations atthePresidency of ofProtocolDepartment andPublic Tala (B.A. Khabbaz ’02)worksatthe has twochildren, agirlandboy. wedding organizing. Sheisdivorced and and corporate eventvenue, and alsohas Fady in isapartner the general manager ofSanitaPersona. to Panthéon- postgraduate degree from Fady Fayad (M.B.A. ’05)obtainedhis relatedand conflict topics. consultant, trainer andfacilitator of peace N grassroots levelandservingprimarily a local where heisthedirector ofPeace in studies atthe inpeace andconflict a second master’s Jean-Paul Chami(M.A. ’04)obtained I auditor at Granta senior financial A where ofinternalauditat he isasupervisor in the nternational. R Fady Fayad rabia orth orth eem A L eb ustria before returning to G anon, where hecurrently worksas U L I N haddar nsurance Co. Previously, Rayanwas eb .K. GO working on peace at the GO workingonpeace atthe anon and A before returning to M ssas Paris inisters. E uropean Peace T A T he II kkar. 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Zeina Rizk(B.S. ’06)obtainedherCF in theworldtodoso. this titleandoneofonly287pharmacists year-old to Greta Habibandhastwochildren, five- architect for in for eventsandweddings. Patrick, wholives livestreaming platform and services provider founder andC Patrick Gharios (B.E. ’07)isthe manager. incomefixed portfolio is thefirst pharmacyspecialist. pediatric certified She andisnowaboard Pharmacy Specialties exam givenbythe thePediatricpassed PharmacyCertification clinical pharmacist.pediatric hasjust Hiba ’06) movedtoSaudi Hiba Moubayed agency headquarteredinWashington, D.C. of DigitalRevamp, aninnovativedigital States, where heobtainedhis Roy (B.S. Abdo ’06)movedtothe of the general manager. Heisalsovice president Jounieh Phellipolis, the with agroup offriends, heestablished his ownvenue, Domaine duComte. and movedtoDub Johns Hopkins Youssef Chatila H iba Moubayed iba L eb anon, previously worked asasolution N GO A I nternational Festival, andisits lex andfour-month-old L eb LA E rcission years. for five anese pharmacist to earn anese pharmacisttoearn E RP- N U O ofhipernation.com, a GO incharge ofthe niversity. Heisthefounder (Pharm.B. ’05, Pharm.D. L ai, where sheworksasa A eb merican A anon. Heismarried rabia, where sheisa Farah Al- B M oard of H . B ashem M . A U aria. aria. . from A nited nited long long A

attorney atlawregistered withthe international lawfrom Rola Assi(M.A. ’09)holdsaPh.D. in Celine and19-month-old they havetwodaughters, three-year-old analyst. Sheismarried toShadyKhalife and market analysttoseniorqualityassurance she movedupthecorporate ladderfrom Reuters Company), years where withinfive hercareerbegan at Zawya( lives insouth Reem Ghaddar(B.S. ’06, M.B.A. ’08) documentary film,documentary Details Gone Unnoticed. and Paris hersecond to shoot feature- Farah iscurrently Kuwait shuttlingbetween from Parisbetween and at the oftheyear and wasnominatedasfilm mention at film, Breakfast, inBeirut wonaspecial in the semester. Farah planstoobtain herPh.D. fromin internationalaffairs tograduateand expects withan M Farah al-Hashem(B.A. ’09)obtainedan B Special atthe legalofficer works asanassociate M Phoenicia academic assistanttothepresident at Sara Mouzanar ar .F. arseille A A . andcinematography infilmmaking ssociation. ssociation. N L U ew York Film eb T .S. ribunal f III anese Filmfestival in Her first feature-documentary feature-documentary Herfirst U inFrance. Rola currently lives E niversity inSarafand. Reem gypt’s gypt’s L eb or anon, where sheisthe T A L he Hague, where she A eb lexandria FilmFestival cademy (2013) U anon. Rola isan arah T niversité ony F N ay. T LAU homson homson A this this M ustralia. A . B ix- A page 53 page eirut eirut . .

& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Staying connected

Youssef Chatila (B.S. ’10) moved to began his career as an account executive at Remi Mahmoud (B.S. ’14) moved to Dubai, where he works in acquisitions at Transmed. France, where he completed his master’s the MBC Group and is to be promoted to a in international affairs and is currently senior position in mid-2016. Majed Abou Arraj (B.S. ’12) moved to working for the foreign exchange online Riyadh, where he is managing director broker FXCM in their Paris branch as a Ehab Haddad (B.S. ’10) moved to Abu for Saudi Arabia at Medicals International. market analyst for the Arab world. Dhabi, where he works as a commercial and He is currently taking a 6-month course at marketing manager at Abu Dhabi Media Harvard Business School as part Dima Samara (B.A. ’14, T.D. ’14) is Company. Ehab is currently pursuing an of their Executive Education Program continuing her studies at LAU so as to E.M.B.A. at LAU and hopes to continue for for Leadership Development. Majed obtain an M.A. in education focusing on a Ph.D. He began his career in Abu Dhabi got married in 2013 and has a one-year-old school management and leadership. Dima by working at the Beach Rotana Hotel and daughter. is currently a trainee school manager in then at Finance House as a marketing at Ittihad School in Tyre. Her grandfather specialist. Hadi Fakhreddine (M.S. ’12) moved to established the school, which was taken Paris, where he is a project manager at over by her mother and aunts upon his Fadi Awada (B.S. ’11) obtained his Dassault Systèmes and an active member death. They are now handing over the master’s in financial management from of the LAU Alumni Paris Chapter. Ittihad School to Dima, trusting her to Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, continue its mission. as well as a professional sales executive Sara Mouzannar (B.S. ’12) moved to diploma from LAU’s CEP. Fadi currently the United States, where she completed a Hiba Abou Taha (B.A. ’15) worked as works as a product manager at ITG Holding, postgraduate degree in human resources a videographer and photographer at which he joined in March 2011. and industrial relations at the University of Lebanon’s Filmline Production. Hiba also Minnesota. She currently works as a human worked as a producer for the short film Tony Farah (B.S. ’09, M.B.A. ’11) moved resources representative at 3M. Amal and assistant director for another to Muscat, where he is the national key short film, The Hallway. She began her accounts manager at Arla Foods (Oman). Christian Adib (B.E. ’13) obtained his career in the media as a segment director Tony was previously a sales supervisor at postgraduate degree at Columbia University at An-Nahar newspaper. Nestle (Oman). before moving back to Lebanon, where he works as a strategy consultant at Booz Allen Celina Chatoyan’s (B.S. ’15) has her Karim Hussein (B.S. ’11) obtained his Hamilton. own brand of gold plated accessories, master’s in international business from Chato Accessories. They can be found in the Hult International Business School in Shaza el-Moussaoui (B.A. ’13) moved 75 different shops around Lebanon. Celina San Francisco, CA, before moving back to to New Jersey, where this fall she will be participates in a variety of exhibitions Lebanon to become an entrepreneur. Karim studying fashion design at FIT-NYC. Shaza and hopes to have her own shop in the had previously worked in Lebanon as an designed her own house in New Jersey and next year. equity trader for two years and as got married in May 2014. Her baby boy was an executive administrative assistant born in September 2015. Nicolas Zaatar (B.E. ’15) is co-founder for one year. of Next Automated Robots (NAR), and has Emile Lakis (M.S. ’14) moved to been named one of the “Top 20 Lebanese Marc Abdo (B.S. ’12) moved to Dubai, Montpellier, France, where he is pursuing a Entrepreneurs” by Executive magazine for where he is a regional account executive at Ph.D. at the Montpellier Cancer Research the year 2015. Hasbro Middle East and North Africa. Marc Institute of Montpellier University.

page 54 Pulling away r A ecognition in the field of of ecognition inthefield rt therapy fights to gain therapy togain rt fights the leaves the leaves mental health B y L eena Saidi process and therapeutic. insightful can be by aprofessional therapist, art thecreative own problem-solving capacities. Guided on self-expression toawaken anindividual’s process,” out. Saadpoints process anditsabilityto aid inthehealing with a unique understanding of the creative psychotherapeutic theoriesandtechniques affected bywartrauma, andothers. delinquency, the in violence andsexualabuse, inmates mental disorders, victimsofdomestic who includeadultssufferingfrom severe develop themselves,” shesaysofherclients, challenges inlife andhaveadesire to in 2014shefounded settings between andindifferent with variouspopulations continued therapist toworkasanart for thetechnique. environments togagethecountry’s need projects therapy usingart inavarietyof four yearsago, tolaunch Saadbegan U and mentalhealthcounseling at therapies, therapy inart specializing pursue apostgraduate degree inexpressive affects aperson. Shetherefore decidedto more intriguedbyhowthecreative process A designer between from therapyart center ’05), process ofcreation,” says the endproduct butrather onthewhole class. “ and educ A with life’s challenges. developing healthystrategies indealing them inexploringtheirinnerselves and of thosesheworkswithinorder tosupport focusing on the unique needs and potential approach, She adaptsaperson-centered to promote mentalhealthandwell-being. expression wheneverandhowevershecan nature, Saadisdedicated tousingcreative and herinnatesensitive studies inthefield challenges. “ healthy strategies todealwithpersonal aiming todevelopself-awareness and values similartotraditional psychotherapy, fter awhileshefound herselfmore fter and enjoyable lthough thesessionscan be niversity inCambridge, B A “ herreturn to after Soon Saad earnedadegree ingraphic design L I eb rt therapyrt generally and hasgoals uilding on specialized academic uilding onspecialized work with people whoare workwithpeople facing LAU LAU anese prisons, youthatriskof T he focus is not on the aesthetics of he focus isnotontheaestheticsof alumnaandfounder of ational, therapy art isnotanart andinitiallyworked asagraphic I t integrates traditional L B G L I A oston and n themeantime, she eb BT rtichoke Studio. rtichoke Studio. A anon andCalifornia. population, refugees rtichoke Studio. rtichoke Studio. M M A L rt therapyrt relies yra Saad( assachusetts. assachusetts. eb B anon anon eirut. Finally, L L esley eb B anon’s anon’s .S. .S.

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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 18 | issue nº 1 | Spring 2016 Why I Give Back Romy Bakhos Salamé (B.S. ’15)

Romy Bakhos Salamé, an LAU alumna who earned a business degree in 2015, is applying her expertise to the marketing and management of sports products, aiming to improve their sales and distribution within the local market. In her personal life, she recently got married and generously allocated all the funds of her wedding gift bank account to LAU’s scholarship program. “It struck me that I can give what I don’t need and share it in a way that truly makes a difference for someone wanting an education,” she says.

Why do you give back to LAU? At LAU we are taught to give back and help society on all levels. Having been able to enjoy the university and see its impact first- hand, I wanted to do something that would allow deprived students to have this opportunity as well. I hope that every year I will be able to help students experience the greatness of LAU and to set a precedent for others to follow.

What is your fondest memory of LAU? I love the campus. It is really impressive and of an international standard. I have fond memories of my professors and deeply appreciate that they were always present and available, not only to teach us but also to help us through our times of need and stress. My professors made my university years both fulfilling and enjoyable.

What message would you like to convey to your fellow alumni and current students? I wish that everyone would give back, thereby providing young talent a chance to study and shine brightly. Anyone can help, even in a small way, to eradicate social and cultural barriers in Lebanon.

What would you like to see LAU achieve in the near future? I would really like to see LAU become the number one university in the Middle East, competing with established universities worldwide.

Why are you interested in supporting education, especially in Lebanon? It disappoints me to hear that smart, bright students have left Lebanon due to financial constraints. I think we should all support education here in Lebanon to ensure that talented youth stay in our beautiful country to make it a better place to live. I also wish that businesses would help in this effort and create more job opportunities here.

page 56 The Stoltzfus Family  is Fulfilling the Promise

LAU recently lost a longtime friend and supporter in Ambassador William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. Born in Beirut in 1924, he spent part of his childhood in Aleppo — where his father was head of the North Syria School for Boys — and later moved back to Beirut when his father became president of American Junior College (subsequently Beirut College for Women and now LAU). LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin spoke to his son and Board of Trustees member, Philip Stoltzfus to ask how the family plans to keep their parents’ spirit alive.

“When my grandfather was president of BCW, the function of the college was not simply to educate young people but also to instill in them a sense of civic engagement. My father and mother were totally committed to public service. My father was a career diplomat and also served as a pilot in the Naval Air Corps. My mother Janet Sorg Stoltzfus, who died in 2004, taught at BCW where in 1953 she met my father. She became an accomplished diplomat in her own right and went on to establish the Ta‘iz Cooperative School in north Yemen.

Because of my parents’ lifelong dedication to service, we decided we wanted to establish an award to go to an LAU student who has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to community service. Proceeds from an endowment fund, to be called “The Janet and William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund,” would be credited against the winner’s senior year tuition. My parents taught me that real service comes from a feeling of empathy for one’s fellow man, which depends on being able to understand and appreciate another person’s perspective. LAU excels in educating the student in a civic-minded way, and that’s why we continue to support the university.”

For more information, please contact:

Beirut Development Office New York Development Office Tel. (961) 1 786456 Ext. 1323 Tel. (212) 203 4333 Fax (961) 1 803658 Fax (212) 784 6597 P.O. Box 13-5053 211 East 46th St. Chouran Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon NY 10017, USA Scan this code with your Smartphone Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] to go to our giving page