Winter 2010 Vol. VIII, No. 2 No. VIII, Vol. 2010 Winter AUB LibraryAUB Archives

First Lady Edith Roosevelt in front of Jafet library. Left to right: Alice Crawford, Dale Penrose, David Wilder, Mrs. Roosevelt, President Penrose, Polly Penrose (10/2/1952)

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USA American University of Beirut 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th Floor New York City, NY 10017-2303 New Energy MainGate Winter 2010

21 29 34 New Energy Tamam Face to Face Arab countries hold 61 percent of Top down support for bottom up It is often said that AUB’s strength the world’s oil reserves, but they change has the potential to make is its diversity, and that goes for are also forging ahead in new real, deep change in regional Arab the faculty, staff, and students clean technologies. MainGate schools. as well. Webmasters, dietary takes a look at the potential power technicians, professors—whether that FEA faculty and students are they’ve worked at AUB for one year finding in wind, water, soil, and or more than 50, worked under fire even table scraps. or under water, we’re introducing some of the old and new faces that make up the rich tapestry of AUB’s staff. from the president from/to the editor

New Year, new energy... To welcome in 2010, we’ve dedicated this winter issue to “new energy”. We see it in many ways and places at AUB this year, in the energy that is generated from solar panels on campus buildings to the energy of new faculty on the first day of class. In the feature “New Energy”, we found that the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) is brimming with faculty and students—particularly those in the applied energy and chemical engineering programs—who are dedicated to exploring the potential of renewable and sustainable sources of energy and the impact they can have in the region. We also profiled a PhD student in civil engineering who is studying the use of sustainable materials in the construction industry—including the use of hemp fibers in concrete (see “Current Research” on page 10.) There’s also an extraordinary level of energy and diversity in our faculty, especially in the record number of 66 new faculty members who joined AUB this year, and in the faculty and staff who work in the offices and corridors of the University. In “Face to Face” you’ll meet men and women who have known AUB for more than half a century, and some newcomers as well. A note to alumni for future issues: are you a collector of birds, books, ideas? Of the everyday or the esoteric? Let us know... we’re planning an issue dedicated to collections.

Ada H. Porter Editor, MainGate Dear Alumni and Friends,

[email protected] write us [email protected] write us [email protected] We talk a lot about diversity at AUB. It is one of those concepts that cannot really be opposed by anyone who believes in a campus or in a society that is enriched by different points of view, cultural heritages, and national origins. That belief is at Summer 2009, Vol. VII, No. 4 out the award to the first winners. Fall 2009, Vol. VIII, No. 1 the core of our Mission Statement in which we state that AUB “believes deeply in and encourages freedom of thought and There is no doubt that our father Congratulations to your team on the expression and seeks to foster tolerance and respect for diversity and dialogue.” In addition, I identified “a dynamic and would be equally proud of the accom- excellent fall 2009 issue. From the diverse student body” as one of the University’s three priorities in my presidential inaugural address on May 4, 2009. plishments of AUB and especially the innovative and interesting pie-chart Why is diversity so important? I believe it is an essential ingredient in the vibrant intellectual community we seek to award winners over the years. table of contents to the informative nurture on campus. Yet diversity per se is only a starting point, and its value is actualized in how we choose to deal with it. In 2005, when two of us attended article on brain drain, the interesting We seek to cultivate a community in which we are encouraged not just to examine what others believe or how others may an AUB alumni dinner in Houston, “Open for Questions” section on the think, but also to question what we ourselves believe, and why. The challenge is not in celebrating how different we are, but Texas, we were seated at a table with Lebanese economy, the wonderful in the commonalities we can discover among us in spite of those differences. In a university, this process of questioning some Penrose Award winners. They article on “Darwin and the Evolution requires openness and mutual respect in the knowledge that as we come to know ourselves better, we are able to better to expressed amazement that there were of AUB,” and the lovely interview with appreciate others. still Penroses who after all these years Dr. Salim El-Hoss, it was excellent Not surprisingly perhaps, “diversity” was also the topic I set for the Founders Day student essay: “AUB publicly upholds First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with President followed the successes of AUB and both in terms of content and design. the ideals of tolerance of diversity. In your experience, is the AUB campus a place where all kinds of diversity are indeed Penrose and family members (10/2/1952) its students. There are, indeed, and Given how busy we all are these accepted?” In her winning essay, Zeina Koreitem wrote eloquently about her not altogether positive experience of diversity at The summer issue that focused on AUB will always hold a special place days, I rarely find time to go through a AUB. Although she notes the “unique position of the University in bringing together people who would have never otherwise many AUB traditions brought back in our hearts. full magazine article, let alone an alumni met” and reports that she has “gained greater tolerance for diversity” at AUB, she also challenges all of us to do more. memories of people and places we Thank you for providing us magazine. I could not put down this My colleagues and I are eager to take up this challenge. We are seeking to increase the diversity of our student body— once knew. It was particularly touch- with such pleasant reminders and particular magazine, though. It was a not just geographically, but socio-economically as well and so have launched an initiative to raise $20 million for financial aid ing to see a photograph of the 1948 for another excellent edition of pleasure to read and a great reminder in the next two years. We are also working to increase the diversity of our faculty—some of whom you will meet in this issue inauguration of our father, Stephen MainGate. of the presence and significance of of MainGate. At the same time—and just as importantly—we are working to create opportunities for all members of the AUB B. L. Penrose, Jr., and to read the Margaret (Dale) Penrose Harrell our alma mater in our lives. family to transcend the socio-economic, religious, and political affiliations that too often divide us from one another. names of recipients of the Penrose Norfolk, Virginia Farid Najm (BE ’83) Award which was initiated by our Mary (Polly) Penrose Colby Toronto, Canada mother, Margaret Penrose. She often Madison, Wisconsin remembered with tremendous satis- Stephen B. L. Penrose III President Peter F. Dorman faction being able personally to hand Dallas, Texas

2 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 3 University News

Kamel ABOUGHALI Maya ABOU-ZEID Mahmoud AL-HINDI Fouad AZIZI Renzo DI-FELICE Rabih JABR Mechanical Engineering Civil and Environmental Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical and Engineering Computer Engineering The 2009-10 new faculty orientation beat every AUB record for the greatest FEA number of new faculty members in an academic year: 3 Canadian 2 French Mohamad ABIAD Ali CHALAK Dalia EL-KHOURY 66 scholars from around the Nutrition and Food Agricultural Sciences Nutrition and Food 2 German Sciences Sciences Carole LEVESQUE Matthiasn LIERMANN Danielle NASRALLAH James-Mathew THOMAS Hiam KHOURY Architecture and Design Mechanical Engineering Electrical and Computer Architecture and Design Civil and Environmental 1 Italian world are bringing a whole Engineering Engineering

FAFS 26 Lebanese new level of energy to AUB. 4 Lebanese / You can read their profiles Canadian 1 Lebanese / French in MainGate on-line. Hala GHATTAS Nadine MIKATI Nadine SAHYOUN Nutrition and Food Nutrition and Food Nutrition and Food 2 Lebanese / UK Sciences Sciences Sciences 8 Lebanese / USA Christine ABYAD Abdallah ADRA Jumana ANTOUN Mariam ARABI Marc BASSIM Nursing Obstetrics and Family Medicine Pediatric cardiology Clinical 1 Palestinian Gynecology Otolaryngology 1 Syrian / UK 13 USA 1 Iranian / USA 1 UK / USA FM

Abbas-AL-HAKIM Iver ARNEGARD Carol ARNOLD Monique AZAR Christopher BAUER Hoda BAYTIYEH Martin DARIUS Mathematics English English English English Education Economics Fadi EL-MERHI Marjaneh FOOLADI Eveline HITTI Ibrahim KHALIFEH Fadi MAALOUF Diagnostic Radiology Nursing Emergency Pathology Psychiatry Medicine

Samer FRANGIEH Noel GHANEM Francois-Xavier Joshua-David Coralie HINDAWI Rachel HINES Noel IGNATIEV Political Science and Biology GLEYZON GONSALVES Political Science and Fine Arts and Art Center for American Public Administration English English Public Administration History Studies and Research Samer EL-DIKA Elias RAHAL Arafat TFAYLI Oussama Wazni Rami NASR Internal Medicine Microbiology and Immunology Internal medicine Internal medicine Surgery FAS FHS Chris JOHNS Rola KHISHFE Adam KLEIN Cornelia KRAFT Kathryn LINCOLN Souha RIMAN Randa SERHAN Philosophy Education English Fine Arts and Art English English Social and Behavioral History Sciences Reina ARAKJI Lina DAOUK Ibrahim JAMALI Haitham KHOURY Walid NASR Ramzi KAFOURY Finance, Accounting and Management, Marketing Finance, Accounting and Management, Marketing Business Information 38 percent of new faculty members are women Managerial Economics and Entrepreneurship Managerial Economics and Entrepreneurship and Decision Systems AUB has a student to faculty ratio of 13:1

63% of all AUB faculty are Lebanese; 19% American; 18% OSB from the rest of the world Pamela SHBAT Mayssun SUCCARIE

English Social and Behavioral Sciences Jafet 4 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Walid SAFFAR Ali TERMOS Neil YORKE-SMITH Steven McNAMARA Lokman-Ibrahim MEHO Finance, Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Business Information Finance, Accounting and Jafet Library Managerial Economics Managerial Economics and Decision Systems Managerial Economics Change in the Arab New On-line world: “I would not be AUB in pictures 2009 Ten resolutions we heard around campus surprised to see for the New Year. young people lead the 1. Read half the books I have movement for change 2. Stop smoking in the Arab world, when 3. Get less frustrated by life the moment comes 4. Take cooking lessons for that movement 5. Throw out the pending box – leave nothing undone for more than a week 6. Keep living and laughing to materialize and 7. Improve journalism standards in the Middle East wash away the legacy 8. Play less computer solitaire of authoritarian or 9. Go to yoga once a week autocratic power 10. Continue to rock the boat structures that have reached the end of AUB elections their useful days in our

Seen and Heard region.” AUB elections: lective. Author and Professor Jean -Rami G. Khouri, “My father still follows Said Makdisi, who was one of those Kerpow! culture trends in the world, Mutawa’s director of the IFI. the AUB elections instrumental in making the conference Guest speaker Dr. Naif al-Mutawa heroes are clearly attracting a lot of NYTimes.com a reality, explained that much of the wowed audiences with the television attention. because to him, debate focused on an exploration of trailer of “The 99,” Islam’s first cartoon wherever the younger Arab feminism in all its forms: secu- superheroes that promise to take the generation is going, lar and Muslim feminisms, feminism’s world by storm in a 26 part series What do women want? On being Lebanon’s relationship with the state, and how this is where the New on www.youtube.com/AUBatLebanon produced by TV giant Endemol. Dur- In a groundbreaking three-day confer- first female minister of feminism can be used to advance the country is heading,” Sounding the Critical Black Body ing a lecture sponsored by the Prince ence, more than 40 academics and finance: rights of women in the region. CASAR lecture: “Sounding Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al researchers from around the world said Aya, 20, a second- In her keynote address, Howard "Now, circumstances are the Critical Black Body: Saoud Center for American Studies met on October 4-9 to debate “Arab year AUB psychology University Professor Mervat Hatem suitable to do something Towards a Poetics of and Research (CASAR), Al-Mutawa Feminisms: A Critical Perspective,” the reformulated Sigmund Freud’s ques- major. “Sometimes Performance” presented explained that the genesis of his 99 first conference in Lebanon to address and succeed...I don't tion, “what do women want?” to ask you doubt the voices by poet and perform- teenage heroes – each endowed with present day feminist thought in the believe that because I “what do women want from femi- of the leaders, but you ance/sound artist Duriel a special power corresponding to the Arab region. am a woman it will be nism and from each other?” Hatem know that the younger E. Narris. 99 attributes of Allah – was a reaction The conference, which took place at more difficult,” said Raya defined feminism as a set of analytical to 9/11. “The 99” are an interna- AUB, was organized by the Lebanese people are always and critical tools that enhances the Mohammad Ali Haffar Law, Politics and Common Sense tional band representing virtues such Association of Women Researchers understanding of women’s needs and telling the truth.” IFI and the Center for as light, truth, generosity, strength, (Bahithat) in collaboration with AUB’s (BBA ’87). “I don't see any strengthens their strategies for gender –Nowlebanon.com Behavioral Research lec- and wisdom which, as former clinical Anis Makdisi Program in Literature; difference between myself equality. ture: "Palestinian Refugee psychologist Mutawa noted, are “not Women and Memory Forum, Cairo; Conference organizers are compil- and any other person with Rights: Law, Politics and words used to describe Islam in the and the Institute of Women’s Stud- ing the papers and proceedings that the same qualifications.” Common Sense" present- media.” With Forbes magazine nam- ies, Birzeit University with logistical will be available to the public in book ed by Fateh Azzam, Middle ing “The 99” as one of the top 20 pop support from Lebanon’s Feminist Col- –GulfNews.com form. East regional representa- tive of the Office of the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 6 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate On Switzerland’s minaret ban: “The problem is that there is a very dangerous precedent that has been set here," said Sari Hanafi, AUB sociology professor. “Here the referendum was explicitly racist, based on a poster campaign depicting an evil looking veiled woman beside a minaret...My feeling is that there will be

Chehade Brothers a serious grassroots reaction...Perhaps Revision Time Scora Hit not on the state level Among the recommendations of a three- Assembly Hall rocked and Bliss but as a boycott of the day international conference exploring Street resounded to the vibrant “Social Cohesion Through Education” beat of the dynamic oud-playing people." that the London-based Centre for Leb- Chehade Brothers accompanied by -The Media Line anese Studies (CLS) and the Issam the Oriental Roots Orchestra at a Fares Institute co-hosted were calls for concert on December 15 organised AUB Choir hands-on civic education, the lifting of by the AUB Standing Committee on restrictions on student councils in public Reproductive Health (Scora) and A Christmas Cracker schools, and greater emphasis on criti- the Office of Communications. Pro- Save The Date! In a medley of Christmas music rang- cal and analytical teaching of history in ceeds from the concert, which had ing from the sixteenth to the twentieth schools. The conference also called the audience singing and dancing in The AUB Choir and centuries, the AUB Choir and Choral for better integration of school popula- the aisles, benefit AUBMC and the Choral Society Society and Ensemble Polyphonica tions and more parental involvement. Hotel Dieu HIV/Aids Fund. Join other American and Lebanese gave a cracking performance direct- As a first step in what she hopes will choirs to perform ed by Paul Meers and accompanied be a long-term effort to achieve critical Mozart's Solemn Vespers by Ramzi Sabra on the organ. The changes in the Lebanese educational in New York's Carnegie Hall range and variety of the pieces were system, Maha Shuayb, conference under the direction of Joana Nachef, Director highly demanding but the choirs rose organizer and CLS fellow at St. Antony’s of choirs El Camino College, Torrance, to the occasion magnificently, reflect- College, Oxford, hopes to introduce California, USA ing months of hard work. The concert some of these recommendations in five May 30, 2010 was sponsored by the Zaki Nassif secondary schools in Lebanon. Music Program.

8 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 9 the natural environment. One of the thermal properties over time. From the Faculties Current Research natural resources that is most heavily He reports that hemp is proving to used in construction is concrete. It is be the superior product so far although FHS Environmentally-Friendly the demand for concrete that has led to palm and banana fibers have also Concrete what Awwad describes as “the exten- performed well. Hemp has some other Creating a Song and Dance Elie Awwad is enrolled in AUB’s PhD sive spread of quarries all over Lebanon advantages as well as it is readily The celebratory launch of Y-PEER program in civil engineering and other countries in the region that available in larger quantities locally and PETRI-AUB, a joint venture with the Imagine this: You work in a building have reduced green areas, which is can be more easily purchased from United Nations Population Fund, constructed with hemp-based con- detrimental to the surrounding habitat international suppliers than palm or marks the beginning of a new youth crete, fly in planes that land on runways and the global ecosystem.” banana fibers. empowerment program that uses paved with banana-based concrete, The goal of Awwad’s research is Interestingly enough, although the peer-to-peer training to tackle issues and your children walk to school along to produce concrete using sustain- natural fibers that he is using are avail- including sexual and reproductive Bike diplomacy palm-paved sidewalks. It may sound able materials (such as palm, banana, able locally, there are not yet suf- health (specifically HIV/AIDS), drugs, FEA FAFS a bit far-fetched, but ficient quantities so gender-based violence, and risky Elie Awwad thinks he is using materials behavior. Over the next three to six Energy Boost Working in Unison this day is coming. imported from the months Y-PEER fellows at PETRI-AUB On November 20, AUB joined Intel’s As a project leader in the UN Habitat’s “When my advi- United States and will hone their skills through research, Middle East Energy Efficiency Research “Seeing the South: Good Governance sor first mentioned Europe. Awwad says, outreach, and training activities as Center (MER) in an exciting new joint for Enhanced Post War Reconstruction”, sustainability to me,” however, that if he they prepare to join the Y-PEER venture to develop energy efficient Jala Makhzoumi, FAFS professor of remembers Awwad and others can dem- network of 700 organizations in 45 solutions. Established in coopera- landscape architecture and a mem- (BE ’97, ME ’99), “I onstrate that hemp countries that are confronting youth tion with the King Abdul Aziz City ber of the Architecture Department found it a bit strange can be used suc- issues through a mixture of education for Science and Technology (KACST), Reconstruction Unit, heads an AUB and thought it to be cessfully in concrete and entertainment. MER is Intel’s biggest research initia- team that played a pivotal role in estab- somewhat irrelevant composites, it would tive in the region. In addition to KACST lishing and enhancing the technical to the field of civil increase the demand Free Wheeling and AUB, MER includes Nile University capacity of three Regional Technical engineering.” Two for such fibers locally It was pedal power all the way when in Egypt and Turkey’s Middle East Offices (RTO) serving the municipalities years later, Awwad and regionally thereby students from FHS took to their saddles Technical University (METU) in Ankara. of Sour, Bint Jbeil, and Jabal Aamil in is a PhD student providing Lebanese for a two-hour bike ride that the Zawtar- During the signing of the MER agree- post 2006 war reconstruction planning at AUB work- farmers with an FHS Community Partnership project, ment, AUB alumnus Tawfic Rahal- in south Lebanon. ing with that same incentive to switch AUB’s Center for Civic Engagement and Arabi (BE ’85), Intel’s senior principal Makhzoumi credits the project with advisor (Professor from its “illegal sister Community Services, and the Zawtar el- engineer and MER director, said, “Our helping the RTOs to become more self Mounir Mabsout) plant” to industrial Charkieh Municipality organized as part collaboration with AUB is set to help sufficient and their increased coordi- and Professor Bilal hemp farming. of its ongoing partnership to encourage the talent pool gain access to Intel’s nation on infrastructure, water, and Hamad on environ- Looking to the young people at AUB and in local com- global knowledge and expertise.” sewage treatment. To reinforce the mentally-friendly future, Awwad munities to participate in joint activities. FEA Professor Hazem Hajj believes lessons learned, the AUB team hosted concrete. Along the way, Awwad bamboo, and industrial hemp) instead says that natural fiber reinforced Some 30 bikers from AUB and Zawtar this joint venture will be a national workshop in July 2009 when spent six years working in Lebanon of aggregates (such as sand and rock) concrete is not yet being used rode through the south Lebanon village instrumental in project stakeholders critically assessed gaining valuable experience that is and to demonstrate that concrete pro- in buildings or other structures, stopping to learn about its history attracting high the project. They are currently planning serving him well in his PhD research. duced in this way performs just as well where safety issues are a con- from local youngsters before enjoy- caliber PhD another workshop for 11 RTOs from Awwad explains that sustainability as “traditional” concrete. To do this, he cern. “You need to remember,” ing lunch by the Litani River students. across Lebanon during which the three is a hot topic in the construction indus- is spending a lot of time at AUB’s Civil he cautions, “that it was only after courtesy of the municipality. RTOs that the project established will try today and has led to a growing Engineering Laboratories preparing years of research and testing that we Many thanks to FHS alumnus share their experiences. Makhzoumi interest in “green buildings”—buildings and testing different samples’ tensile began to use synthetic fibers in con- Jawad Sheity, owner of Beirut believes that the outlook for long-term that are designed, constructed, and and compressive strengths to deter- crete such as steel fibers. The use of by Bike, who loaned bikes to planning as a result of these efforts is maintained to minimize their impact on mine and monitor their mechanical and natural fibers will follow a similar track.” those who needed them. very positive.

10 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 11 Turning Green one graduate student to consider mak- take responsibility for society. He also Lebanese medical schools to discuss Sound Calculations children who inevitably needed medi- Greening AUB Neighborhoods, a col- ing “Makhoul Greening” the subject of called for a new approach to busi- the importance of teaching medical Based on data provided by the Leba- cal treatment from time to time, they laboration between Ibsar and the AUB her research thesis. ness education whereby private sec- ethics in academic curricula. nese Ministry of Health and adapted came up with the idea of creating a Neighborhood Initiative, builds on tor input would help shape curricula. "Pandemics cause situations to the WHO’s Fracture Risk Assess- colorful and welcoming environment research by Professor Makhzoumi on OSB Citing the Singapore model where to arise where not everyone can be ment Calculator (FRAX), a medical to make children feel at home and help Beirut’s gardens that includes traditional business leaders work in tandem with saved," explains Thalia Arawi, clinical research team led by AUB’s Dr. Ghada to alleviate their anxiety while visiting domestic gardens, nature vestiges, and A Call to Arms the education sphere, he said: “It’s no bioethicist and coordinator of bioeth- El-Hajj Fuleihan has developed FRAX the Outpatient Department. When the institutional and religious green spaces. Speaking at AUB’s Mikati Corporate good only teaching old case studies. ics teaching and of the Ethics Matters Lebanon, an invaluable tool in the Pediatric Clinic moved to the Pierre Makhzoumi says the Neighborhood Ini- Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative We need to look ahead and better Initiative at AUBMC. In a pilot blended fight against osteoporosis tailored for tiative offers a venue for diagnosing the and the EMBA Joint Lecture Program prepare students for the work force.” learning project—36 percent online Lebanese patients. The first country disappearance of green spaces and for Leaders and Role Models in the and the rest face to face teaching— in the Arab region to offer this service, exploring opportunities for urban green- Middle East, Aramex CEO Fadi Ghan- FM/AUBMC Med III students are exploring the FRAX Lebanon doctors at AUBMC will ing. Taking Makhoul Street as a case dour called on students to rethink their ethical dimension of physician/patient be able to assess patients’ 10-year study, AUB faculty and students evalu- approach to business. "Profitabil- Facing Tough Questions relationships, moral issues pertaining fracture risk and thus offer the best ated all front and back spaces, balco- ity," he stressed, “cannot be the sole In a recent lecture organized by AUB- to surgery, end-of-life issues, medical preventative chronic care to those at nies, and roofs of old and new housing measure of a successful business.” MC’s Ethics Matter Initiative, Dr. Philip error and truth telling, informed con- risk of osteoporosis, which affects one stock and office buildings as potential A regional leader in CSR practice Rosoff, a pediatric oncologist and sent, research ethics, contemporary in three women and one in five men "garden" spaces. With expert input from Ghandour insisted that “sustainability the director of clinical ethics at Duke issues in genetics, ethical conflicts of worldwide. Ibsar’s Salma Talhouk, also a professor is about an activist position of a com- University explored the topic “Who will interest with the pharmaceutical indus- at AUB, they identified suitable plants pany in society.” Aramex’s CSR com- live and who will die? Moral decision- try, and much more. Community Spirit and other vegetation with a view to mitments include scholarship funds, making in an influenza pandemic.” The Ethics Matter Initiative has One family from the AUB community greening these spaces—a change that community development, volunteering The September 18 lecture was fol- started small, but future plans include has worked for many years—always neighborhood residents have indicated programmes, and sports sponsor- lowed by a symposium on the occa- courses for students in all four classes anonymously—to “give back to the they would much appreciate. This posi- ship. Ghandour also announced his sion of Global Medical Ethics Day on (Med I to IV) as well as for residents, a community” by improving the environ- tive response has encouraged further intention to make Aramex—an inter- “Teaching Medical Ethics in Lebanese website, video/web conferences, and a ment for children visiting AUBMC’s research from faculty and students to national freight company—carbon Medical Schools” at the Gefinor Rota- digital repository for a range of materials, pediatric facilities. Drawing on their implement the project and prompted neutral, insisting that businesses must na Hotel that brought together seven workshops, and discussion groups. own experience with four growing Outside the Pierre Abou Khater pediatric clinics

Reviews

Toward Equity in Quality in Mathematics Education Secondary School External Examination (Springer, 2009) by Murad Jurdak Systems: Reliability, Robustness and Resilience In this recently published volume, Professor Murad Jurdak argues that educational equity and quality (Cambria Press, 2009) edited by Barend Vlaardingerbroek are major determinants of socio-economic and human development in both industrial and develop- and Neil Taylor ing countries. Drawing on personal experience and the related literature, he looks at equity-in-quality AUB Assistant Professor Barend Vlaardingerbroek and Dr. Neil Taylor, a senior lecturer in science from different perspectives and presents an analysis and comparison of TIMSS 2003 contextual and technology education at the University of New England, Australia, have edited a volume that data across a sample of 18 countries. (TIMSS is an international assessment of mathematics and will interest not only those involved in educational policy and formal assessment, but interested science knowledge of fourth- and eighth-grade students around the world.) laypeople as well. In addition to 16 case studies of worldwide examination systems including one Murad Jurdak is a professor in the Department of Education. on Lebanon written by two of Vlaardingerbroek’s colleagues, Education Professors Murad Jurdak and Saouma BouJaoude, the book contains four chapters on external examinations that transcend national borders such as the Cambridge International Examinations and the International Baccalaureate. The book docu- ments how external examination systems have evolved over time to adapt to “the changing context of schooling” and the increasing demand for access to higher levels of formal education. Barend Vlaardingerbroek is an assistant professor in the Department of Education. 12 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate 13 Less is More: Architecture and Design Lecturer/ Photographer Marc Nader’s credo and reality were encapsulated in a series of stunning imag- es combining a true artist’s eye with vibrant hi- tech printing on canvas at an exhibition at the Aïda Cherfan Gallery in Beirut in November.

The renovated playground at the Pierre Abou Khater Building

Abou Khater Building, the family’s we think best in cooperation with the students from Sidon, Tyre, Tripoli, and first initiative was to paint the walls in AUH physicians.” Chouf as well as Palestinian and Iraqi warm pastels complete with Disney We, at AUB, just want to say thank refugees enjoyed courses focusing on friezes. That done, they turned their you. basic photography and visual storytell- attention to the rather neglected gar- To learn about giving to AUB, e-mail ing. An exhibition of photographs from den space encased within the building [email protected] the workshop entitled “The World As I that was crying out for development. See It” took place in West Hall Decem- After discussions with the doctors, the Arts ber 7-13. family has spent the last two years childproofing and then furbishing the Adjusting Focus space with climbing frames, slides, see-saws, play cubes, and rockers For Zaher Sobhi Ismael from south "Clay Diary": Mixing skills in ceramics, painting, sculpture, and jewelry, Amal Muraywed, both pro- to create a safe, fun outside play Lebanon, AUB's photography work- fessional ceramicist and senior instructor in AUB's Department of Fine Arts and Art History, pre- space. “We lived in Los Angeles for shop last fall for underprivileged stu- sented a diverse collection of ceramic sculptures a while,” says a family member, “and dents provided an opportunity to pol- in her December exhibition at the Aïda Cherfan Gallery in downtown Beirut. we learned to appreciate the way ish his lighting and composition tech- Americans give back to the commu- niques. Organized by AUB’s Pho- nity. We consider AUH to be part of tography Department and the Office our community, an important part—for of Communications, in collaboration a family with four children—so this is with the Center for Civic Engage- our contribution. Many people do not ment and Community Service, the understand…but it is something we four-day workshop was led by San feel strongly about, so each year we Francisco-based photographer allocate a budget and use it the way Adrianne Koteen. More than 20

14 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate 15 Faculty News support El-Jardali’s research program: Mechanical Engineering Profes- “Towards Evidence Informed Policies sor and Associate Provost Nesreen in the Middle East and North Africa Ghaddar has become the first woman Shortly after assuming directorship of Region: Capacity Development and based in the Arab world to be appointed AUB’s Center for Research on Popu- Baseline Assessment of the Policy to the prestigious Lebanese Academy lation and Health at the beginning Making Process and Research Pro- of Sciences and joins AUB Chemistry duction and Translation.” Professor Makhlouf Haddadin as only Assistant Hospital Director for the second person working in Leba- Nursing Services Gladys Mouro has non to be nominated to the academy. been appointed an international com- Ghaddar was cited for her research missioner for the Magnet Recognition in thermal sciences and renewable Program®. Mouro guided Nursing energy. Thanking academy treasurer Services through the rigorous Ameri- and mechanical engineer Hussein Zbib can Nurses Credentialing Center's for nominating her, Ghaddar insisted, (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program "No one can do this work alone, as it B that culminated in June 2009 when requires the skills of people from many AUBMC became the only hospital in disciplines. There are many deserv- Zurayk receiving the Shousha Foundation Prize the Middle East to receive Magnet ing AUB faculty and researchers who of October, former FHS Dean and status. should also join the Academy." Professor Huda Zurayk was honored Getting to grips with grant appli- Raising the Rafters: Jazz legend Charles Davis and his 10-man band join Lebanese star Ziad Rahbani for the Civic Welfare League’s vibrant musical fundraiser. More On-line at a ceremony in Morocco for her out- cations and research administration, standing contribution to public health the Office of Grants and Contracts at the country and regional levels when offered a two-day workshop in Octo- she received the Dr. A.T. Shousha ber to give faculty and staff a crash Student News Foundation Prize for 2009. In giving course on how to cope with the some- her the award, the Shousha Founda- times onerous process of securing and tion cited in particular Zurayk’s role in managing research funding. Professor the success of the Giza Reproductive Mary Ellen Sheridan from the National Health Project in Egypt. Science Foundation presented 14 case Dr. Fadi El-Jardali (Department studies to illustrate best practices. of Health Management and Policy) FAFS Dean Nahla Hwalla recently Summer Program for AUB Alumni Children (SPAAC) has received a Global Health Leader- became the first person from the Middle Allow your children the chance to begin The American University of Beirut’s Continuing Education Center ship Award from the Global Health East to be appointed a fellow of the building their memories of AUB (CEC), in collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations, and Research Initiative—the first person in International Union for Nutritional Sci- the Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of the Middle East and North Africa region ences (IUNS). Established in l968, July 5-30, Beirut (WAAAUB), is pleased to announce the Summer Program and one of only IUNS seeks to promote international 2010 for AUB Alumni Children (SPAAC) from July 5-30, 2010. Children of 14 global health cooperation and collaboration among all AUB alumni from the entire world will have an opportunity to leaders world- nutritional scientists. The appointment spend time on the AUB campus and experience your alma mater wide to receive came in recognition of Hwalla’s con- and Lebanon as never before. this distinction. tribution to the field of nutrition. In The Summer Program is an educational and cultural program With the award accepting the nomination, Hwalla insist- for high school students, at least 16 years of age, and college comes a three- ed that it was an honor she shared with

students. Courses will include Arabic language instruction, history, year grant of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sporting Prowess: AUB’s athletes swept to vic- culture and more. Several exciting excursions are planned to sites tory against stiff competition from 500 athletes CAD $218,700 Science, the Faculty of Agricultural and in the inter-varsity Friendship Tournament at the across Lebanon and additional leisure activities will round out the that will help Food Sciences, and AUB. Charles Hostler Student Center. days, evenings and weekends. Registration is now open! Fadi El-Jardali

BEIRUT CAMPUS NY OFFICE For more information Arabia Osseiran Eva Klimas http://rep.aub.edu.lb/spaac MainGateplease contact: Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingateEmail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 17 Tel: +961-1-738009 Tel: +1-212-583-7674 Fifth-year architecture student Julie Haddad.

Founders Day Ceremony theme: "AUB publicly upholds the ideal of tolerance of diversity. In your experience, is the AUB campus More On-line a place where all kinds of diversity are indeed accepted?" Read the winning essays and watch the video in MainGate on-line.

Prize Winning Bath On October 15, students and faculty eagerly awaited the news of who had been selected to receive the coveted Fawzi W. Azar Architectural Award that the Azar family and Builders Design Consultants established in 1996 in honor of AUB alumnus and philanthropist Fawzi Azar. The two- stage competition challenged fourth and fifth year architectural students to develop—in one day—an environ- mentally sensitive model of a sus- tainable hammam spa to be located on Bechara el Khoury Avenue. The jury selected Julie Haddad and Dara Dajani-Daoudi, who have just entered their fifth year, to share the $10,000 prize for their separate designs.

Fifth-year architecture student Dara Dajani-Daoudi. Renderings of a sustainable hammam by fifth-year architecture student Dara Dajani-Daoudi.

18 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 19 Supporting Students Of Today and Tomorrow 2,668 students currently receive financial aid from AUB. Can you help one more?

Business major Diana Salman appreciates the opportunity she Can you help has had at AUB to take interesting electives as part of a rigorous support an academic curriculum. “It is really rare to have this chance,” she AUB student? says, “to discover new interests while also taking challenging courses in your major. AUB is Here’s one of their providing me with an educational stories. environment that I wouldn’t have the chance to get otherwise. After I graduate, I aim to be a successful human resources manager. I want to focus on people and their needs in the work environment.” In the meantime, this busy junior is still volunteering for her previous school, the College Notre Dame de Jamhour, and the Social Activities Committee where she Arab countries hold 61 percent of helps orphans, delinquent children, the world’s oil reserves, but they the elderly, and the disabled. are also forging ahead in new Hear from more students at www.aub.edu/development/ clean technologies. MainGate scholarship_initiative takes a look at the potential To speak to someone about power that FEA faculty and supporting financial aid, contact students are finding in wind, us at [email protected] water, soil, and even table scraps.

www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 21 A recent major report reveals that the Arab countries hold 61 percent of the world’s oil reserves and 26 percent of world gas reserves; they also account for nearly 30 percent of world oil production and 11 percent of gas production.1 This same 2009 report goes on to note, however, “that the Arab World has major opportunities to diversify their economies and emerge as international leaders in areas like clean technology, energy-efficient design and water desalination. 2009 is the opportunity to reset diversification strategies, invest in those sectors that will flourish in a global economy increasingly focused on more responsible and sustainable development, and create vibrant, diverse and competitive markets across the region.”2 There have already been some widely publicized projects involving alternative energy such as Masdar City, near Abu Dhabi, that is being developed as the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city, completely powered by renewable energy. In Saudi Arabia, there are ongoing efforts to harvest solar energy not just for domestic purposes but with an eye to making the kingdom “over the next 30 to 50 years…a major megawatt exporter”.3 At AUB, according to Dean Ibrahim Hajj, FEA has launched a number of initiatives in recent years that places the University, its graduates, and its faculty members in a position to play a leading role in efforts to exploit existing opportunities in alternative energy—and also to create new ones. You can see evidence of this Photovoltaic station on the roof of the CCC Scientific Research Building in FEA’s new academic programs in applied energy, chemical engineering, and construction engineering; engineering (ME) program in applied energy in the increasing number of students enrolled in AUB’s developed by the Department of Mechanical four PhD engineering programs, and in the cutting-edge Engineering along with Lund University and research that is being conducted by faculty and students Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan (KTH) in alike. Sweden and Aegean University in Greece. Funded by a European Commission Munib and Angela Masri Institute of Energy and Natural Resources: TEMPUS grant, the program boasts an Supported Research Projects 2009-10 Applied energy: focus on the sustainable Innovative Curriculum on Sustainable “This program is unique in Lebanon,” reports Associate Energy (ICOSE) that includes three lab 1. Microbial Fuel Cells and Thermophelic Anaerobic 4. Portfolio Management of Upstream, Offshore, Digestion: Biotechnology Advancement Providing Petroleum Activities with Application to Lebanon Provost Nesreen Ghaddar, referring to the everyday work courses on renewable energy, energy audit, Sustainable Solutions to Energy Insecurity in 5. Optimized Selection and Operation of Hybrid of AUB students examining how wind, rain, and soil can and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air Developing Countries Air Conditioning System and Reverse Osmosis produce more intelligent energy solutions. “Although conditioning) and refrigeration systems. 2. Synthesis of New Dyes and Their Applications in Dye Desalination to Supply Fresh Water and Cooling there are similar programs in the region,” she continues, Ghaddar explains that it is this combination Sensitized Solar Cells Demands “they don’t include the lab component that we have of a master’s program with a strong hands-on 3. Preparations of Novel Discotic Liquid Crystals for Use designed.” Ghaddar, who also holds the Qatar Chair in laboratory component focused on renewable in Organic Photovoltaics Energy Studies, is talking about AUB’s new master’s of energy and efficient building technologies that

22 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 23 makes the AUB program unique and particularly these courses also promote faculty and student an innovative, environmentally friendly, and effective attractive to employers and students alike. exchanges such as the one that took place way to cool buildings and provide people with fresh Although the program was only announced last in January 2010 when all 12 applied water.” In addition, she points out, “it has the potential spring and only started admitting students in fall 2009, energy students traveled to Lund to be completely powered by renewable energy.” This some 12 students are already enrolled—including five University and KTH to take a two- project is one of five that was selected in 2009 to receive part-time students who are already working in the field. week course on building energy funding from AUB’s Munib and Angela Masri Institute Unlike engineering management and MBA programs, systems performance. of Energy and Natural Resources. (You will find brief mechanical engineering rarely attracts part-time At the core of the Applied descriptions of all five projects on page 23.) students. With the new program, Dean Hajj says he Energy Program—and of many expects the number of part-time applied energy students of the other new initiatives at to increase, particularly because of the program’s FEA—are its well equipped labs. MFC biotechnology and OFMSW: relevance for those professionals being called on to Or, kitchen scraps to run your car design smart and energy efficient buildings. Assistant Professor Pascal Saikaly in the Department Another unique feature of the Applied Energy MECH 670: Catching of Civil and Environmental Engineering is leading a Program is the opportunity it offers students to conduct some rays at the Solar group of researchers on another Masri-funded project research and participate in training in Sweden and Certification Station that explores a very new approach to studying natural Greece. FEA’s European partners are also offering Applied energy students enrolled resources and energy. In what he describes as a “pioneer AUB students courses on fundamentals of energy and in MECH 670 (a required laboratory effort,” Saikaly and his colleagues are researching resource recovery, energy recovery, sustainable materials, course on renewable energy in buildings how microbial fuel cell (MFC) biotechnology can be moisture transport in building envelopes, and for applied energy students, with Professor used to harvest electricity directly from the organic computer modeling and building physics Alan Shihadeh, fall 2009), are working in fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). What is applications. In addition to AUB’s Energy Lab in the CCC Scientific Research that you might ask? The more simplified definition enriching the graduate Building to measure and compare the effects on thermal is “bioorganic fraction of household waste.” Saikaly curriculum, performance of various designed and retrofit devices explains that OFMSW is also “a potentially attractive and to define the devices used in green building design. source of renewable energy if it can be directly converted The HVAC and Refrigeration Systems Lab, which has to electricity,” which is what he and his colleagues are five climatic chambers (three indoor and two outdoor), trying to do by using microorganisms as biocatalysts. provides the ideal environment for AUB students and “To our knowledge,” says Saikaly, “this is the first faculty to test the efficiency of different air conditioning, time that MFC biotechnology is being used to harvest heating, and cooling systems; shading devices; the electricity directly from OFMSW.” optimal size of windows; and the efficiency of different The process, Saikaly explains, “holds great promise types of glazing and wall compositions. One of their as a sustainable solution to energy insecurity in Lebanon latest discoveries is that hybrid cooling systems such as and the region.” This microorganism-based bioenergy chilled ceiling and displacement ventilation are more technology will contribute to sustainable development energy efficient than conventional systems. in the region through reducing risks from depletion of fossil fuels, global climate change due to the net increase of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, and uncontrolled MECH 770: No guilt AC at the release of organic matter that threatens water quality and Refrigeration Lab human health. Students in Mech 770 (another required lab course for applied energy students) are sharing the Refrigeration Lab with Ghaddar and colleagues from FEA’s new Hot and cold and green all over Chemical Engineering Program who are developing It is not only the engineers at FEA who are generating a system that can generate fresh water while also new energy, AUB architects like fourth-year student minimizing air conditioning energy consumption. Wassef Dabboucy are also at it. “I got the idea for Ghaddar explains that the proposed system “offers this project from an architecture design studio class I

Experiment 24 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingatemeasuring the metabolic www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 25 rate of the human body took in which we were required to design a sustainable building,” Dabboucy explains referring to his award winning idea that got him first prize during Project Lebanon 2009’s Sustainability Week at BIEL in June and was featured in an international sustainability exhibition in Mumbai, India in November. Dabboucy’s winning design is for a pottery factory beside Chabrouh Dam that uses the sedimentation collected from the dam as the raw material for clay/pottery products rather than mining clay from the earth. In addition to recycling the sedimentation, Dabboucy’s factory uses passive heating (the sun’s energy) and cooling (natural ventilation) as well as active systems such as photovoltaic panels on the roof and wind turbines. “I think,” Dabboucy says, “this may be the first time that someone thought of dam sedimentation as an asset.”

A breath of fresh air A second team of FEA students was awarded third prize at the same BIEL competition First prize in sustainability: Wassef Dabboucy shows his winning design for an innovative pottery factory to President Dorman for a wind turbine designed specifically for prevailing wind conditions in Beirut. Energy’s new frontiers Construction engineering is also feeling Professor Issam Lakkis, Alternative energy is on the minds of many engineering the impact of energy consciousness. The field is who supervised the students these days including the 24 men and women undergoing dramatic change and is—according to team: Carl Madi (BE who enrolled in FEA’s new BS program in chemical Assistant Professor Hiam Khoury—“by no means ’09), Said Hobeika engineering this past fall. In an informal survey stagnant or outdated.” Khoury joined AUB in fall (BE ’09), Naaman conducted by Professor Mahmoud Al Hindi at the 2009 to lead FEA’s new BS program in construction Bejjani (BE ’09), beginning of the semester, he discovered that the engineering. He says that the field is at the cutting and Toufic Rahal vast majority of students were interested in what edge of knowledge and skills and explains, “Today, we (BE ’09), explains he describes as “new frontier” areas of chemical have to build higher, cheaper, faster, cleaner, and more that although the engineering that include not only alternative energy sustainable buildings—and do so in more challenging turbine configuration and air and water pollution, but bio-process/bio- conditions. Reducing carbon emissions through is not new, designing a chemical engineering, and nano-technology. (Although supporting technological innovation and adoption of turbine “using a vertical there are no immediate plans to do so, there are more efficient working practices in the construction axis rotor-stator configuration discussions underway about offering courses in nano- industry is one important example of today’s that can produce power from wind technology at AUB.) reality.” at low speed and variable directions for Another attraction of the chemical engineering More On-line Beirut wind conditions” is new and that it program is the minor in petroleum engineering, which is “a viable alternative energy solution for remains important in the region. Many petroleum Pumping system for the parabolic solar concentrators on Bechtel Roof communities with limited resources.” engineers these days are working on clean energy 1. Arab Sustainability Leadership Group, Responsible Competitiveness in products that produce fewer harmful carbon emissions the Arab World 2009 Making sustainable development count in regional and although it is too soon to know where AUB’s markets, May 2009, page 90. 2. Responsible Competitiveness in the Arab World 2009, page 51. students will work, they certainly seem aware of the 3. http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/21/saudi-arabia-solar-biz-energy- cx_wp_0822solar.html need for cleaner energy.

26 www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 27 WHAT IT TAKES to get the Master of Mechanical Engineering in Applied Energy:

The Innovative Curriculum on Sustainable Energy (ICOSE) project aims to initiate and strengthen education in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings in order to graduate professional leaders in the field who can meet market needs of Lebanon in sustainable energy development, cleaner energy production, and efficient energy practices.

Core Courses Elective Courses

MECH 671 Renewable Energy: Potential, Technology, and MECH 605 Solar Energy Utilization in Buildings (3 Credits) The course aims to introduce the student to the fundamental The course covers the principles and utilization of solar (thermal and concepts involved in solar energy conversion. The design and photovoltaic), wind, and geothermal energy, as well as energy from assessment of solar energy systems are explored. biomass. MECH 701 Principles of Combustion (3 Credits) MECH 672 Energy Systems Modeling (3 Credits) A course on gas-phase reaction mechanisms and thermo-chemical Indoor space thermal models. Analysis and modeling of building kinetics; theory of ignition, flame propagation, and detonation; energy systems involving applications of thermodynamics, characteristics of premixed, diffusion, laminar, and turbulent flames; economics, heat transfer, fluid flow and optimization. combustion aerodynamics; liquid and solid fuels in practical systems; MECH 673 Efficient Buildings with Good Indoor Air Quality (3 pollutant formation and reduction mechanisms. Credits) MECH 675 Building Energy Management Systems (3 Credits) Energy consumption standards and codes in buildings. Energy The course provides an opportunity for students to explore topics in conservation measures in built in environment to enhance the energy management systems and management strategies for new The Arab education system would There is, however, building’s energy efficiency while maintaining space thermal comfort and existing buildings. and indoor air quality requirement. probably get an F if you graded it based some good news. MECH 676 Passive Building Design (3 Credits) 1 MECH 674 Energy Economics and Policy (3 Credits) This course centers on issues surrounding the integration of Top down on recent headlines. The news makes This course aims to develop an understanding and practical sustainable and passive design principles, into conceptual and for sober reading: “The region has analytical skills of energy economics and planning approaches taking practical building design. Topics will include: solar geometry, climate/ into account the cost of impact on the environment. regional limitations, natural lighting, passive design and sustainability produced fewer educational outcomes initiatives, insulating and energy storing material. support than many competitors, as measured by years of educational attainment in the adult population.”2 It gets worse: “The for bottom education systems of the region are not yet fully equipped to produce graduates with the skills and expertise necessary up change to compete in a world where knowledge in Arab is essential to making progress.”3 schools

Cherbel Farraj and Nabil Audeh assembling the upper body heated manikin for clothing performance testing. 28 www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 29 and Saudi Arabia—are conducting what Alturki describes as “action research” on innovative school- based projects to “recognize needs, discover solutions, and continuously adapt them” to figure out what works and what doesn’t work—and why. (See box on page 30 for a list of the nine original participating schools and their projects. An additional three public Lebanese public schools were added in 2009.) I believe that TAMAM offers a “We believe,” explains Nasri Tarazi who is a teacher at one of the participating schools, “that rich opportunity for profound and empowering women is necessary to achieve change and development in the Arab world.” It is also central to sustainable change in schools in the mission of the Ahliyya School for Girls (ASG) in Amman, Jordan, which Akkary describes as a “school the Arab world—a process that with a long tradition of success and a clear sense of vision” that is staffed with teachers who see themselves is essential to ensuring a bright “as professionals and as having an active role in improving their schools.” It was at a workshop at AUB future for our region. that the team from ASG learned the tools they needed to conduct a survey of students and teachers to determine “whether ASG is fulfilling its mission of providing —Sarah B. Alturki quality education and experiences to its students to help them become empowered human beings.” Tarazi reports that as a result of the survey, they The same World Bank report that warns that too many often, according to AUB Professor of Education Saouma learned that students and teachers have different graduates in the Arab world don’t have “the skills and BouJaoude, “are decreed by governments and don’t perceptions of what empowers students. For example, expertise” they need to compete in today’s world also involve teachers, school principals, and other school and teachers ranked the school’s philosophy and mission notes that most children today benefit from compulsory local staff.” The goal of the TAMAM project, which is documents at the top of the list while students placed schooling and that “learning outcomes are much derived from the Arabic title of the project (“al-tatweer this item in only ninth place. According to the students, better than they were.”4 The teachers, educators, and al-mustanid ila al-madrasa fi al-buldan al-‘arabiyya” or participation in community service was the most researchers involved in AUB’s TAMAM project, which “school-based reform in Arab countries”) is to provide empowering activity—an item that the teachers ranked the Arab Thought Foundation is supporting with a support and encouragement for educational reform that in only seventh place. The ASG team concluded that generous three-year research grant, are working hard to is initiated by and grounded in schools—what BouJaoude teachers need to be more involved in the activities generate some more good news for the region. “I believe calls “top down support for bottom up change.” themselves to gain a better understanding of the that TAMAM offers a rich opportunity for profound Alturki is a member of the TAMAM Project Steering students and what matters to them. Tarazi says, “what and sustainable change in schools in the Arab world—a Committee—as are Dr. Sumaya Muhtaseb from Jordan, we are doing here at ASG would not have been possible process that is essential to ensuring a bright future for our BouJaoude, and AUB Professor Murad Jurdak. Both without the strong support that we received—and region,” says Dr. Sarah B. Alturki. BouJaoude and Jurdak, who have been involved with continue to receive—from the AUB team.” The reason that Dr. Alturki, deputy president of education in the Arab world for decades as students, Nadya Rizk (BS ’06, MA ’09), who is assisting with the Dhahran Ahliyya Schools and the Educational Book teachers, teachers of teachers, researchers, and academic the project, explains that this support includes a process House in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, believes that the consultants, are also members of a team of AUB of technical assistance, ongoing monitoring, and regular TAMAM project has “the potential to make real, deep professors and research assistants including Assistant visits by AUB team members to all the schools. In change in schools in the region” is that it is “based in Professor Rima Karami Akkary that are working on addition, TAMAM provides a mechanism that encourages schools, which is where school reform actually takes TAMAM. participating schools to offer each other moral support place.” This sets the TAMAM project apart from previous Teachers and administrators from the nine schools and encouragement. Alturki notes that this is one of educational reform efforts in the Arab world that all too involved in the project—three each in Jordan, Lebanon, TAMAM’s goals: to develop a community or network

30 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 31 School Project Saint Mary’s Orthodox Studying how teachers and parents view the change of schools that will provide teachers with access to an College (SMOC) from a grading system to a rating system as a way to unprecedented professional resource network so they can Lebanon assess student performance. “share ideas, pool resources, and offer encouragement.” Hariri High School II Investigating the impact of introducing “professional (HHS II) days” on the professional growth of teachers and the Bilal Basha, who overseas the TAMAM project at Lebanon academic environment at the school. Saint Mary’s Orthodox College says, “What we wanted Al Kawthar High School Studying the effect of “cooperative and active to do is examine teacher and parent perspectives of a Lebanon learning” on student learning and teacher new rating system that we introduced to replace the effectiveness. more traditional grading system that is used throughout The Ahliyya School for Exploring teacher, student, and parent perspectives Girls (ASG) of the leadership skills that students acquire as ASG the region.” As a result of Saint Mary’s new rating Jordan students. system, teachers are assessing the qualitative progress Amman Baccalaureate Analyzing the impact of technology on student that students are making by focusing on their mastery of School (ABS) performance. Jordan competencies, abilities, and skills. Al Asriyya School Examining the effect of introducing “the student as an “For us,” says Basha, “this shift from grading Jordan independent researcher” on students’ ability to conduct to rating has transformed the assessment of learning research and on teachers’ classroom practices. outcomes so that it now provides meaningful data that Dar El Fikr School for Assessing the effect of inquiry and project-based both parents and teachers can use.” He goes on to Boys (DEF) learning on students’ motivations and approaches to Saudi Arabia learning. explain that adjusting to this new system has required Dhahran Ahliyya School Investigating the effect of an inquiry program on the teachers and parents to change their view of assessment for Boys (DAS for Boys) ability of students to conduct research. and education. “Genuine educational reform in the Saudi Arabia Arab world will require a change in mentality—among Dhahran Ahliyya School Examining whether—and how—implementing for Girls (DAS for Girls) “cooperative learning” across the curriculum gives teachers, students, and parents too,” he says. Saudi Arabia students the skills they need to work together.

BouJaoude agrees. “My personal journey led me the power of the process begins to spread in schools, to develop beliefs about teaching and learning that have teachers and administrators will begin to want to help with influenced my thinking about TAMAM and are the researching more and more practices and the processes they reasons that I think this project can succeed.” What are using to improve them. If they are lucky enough to be are these beliefs? “That learning is a very personal and part of a network and community of practice like TAMAM, intimate process and that a good teacher has to create they will be able to get the help they need to do so.” a very profound relationship with his/her students for No one claims that the nine schools participating in them to really learn; that an effective teacher does not this project are typical. What BouJaoude and Jurdak—and teach, but instead helps others to learn; and—finally— the other folks involved in the TAMAM project—hope, that change at any level and for any purpose cannot however, is that the TAMAM project is a very promising happen unless it involves those who are supposed to beginning. “We had dreams at the beginning,” Genuine educational implement it in a very meaningful way.” says Jurdak, “and now the dreams seem to be Although the school projects themselves are important materializing.” and address critical issues such as assessment and the reform in the Arab world Photos: Thanks to Nasri Tarazi at the Ahliyyah School for introduction of technology to the classroom, what is just Girls in Amman, Jordan. will require a change in as important—perhaps even more important—is that these projects were proposed by teachers and administrators at mentality—among teachers, the schools themselves. They were the ones who identified You can find more information and regular updates about the a problem and took the initiative to address it. TAMAM project at http://www.tamamproject.org/project.htm

So, in the end, it comes down to teachers. “That’s 1. “Laggards trying to catch up,” The Economist, October 15, 2009; “Arab students, and parents too. education is very elementary,” The Daily Star, October 16, 2009. right,” agrees Alturki. “Real change will not be measured 2. The World Bank, “MENA Development Report, The Road Not Traveled: in a specific project, but in the way people see themselves Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa,” 2008, page 3. 3. ibid. —Bilal Basha vis-à-vis the improvement process. If an awareness of 4. ibid.

32 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 33 50 +

FACE to FACE

It is often said that AUB’s strength is Name Albert Kuran its diversity. This is as true of the Position/ Associate Professor University’s staff as it is of the students. The Department Mechanical Engineering people that keep AUB running, from the professors Years at AUB 56 What gets me My class notes to the janitors, are an eclectic bunch. They each bring through the a wealth of different experiences to their respective roles, day from singing alongside the Rahbani brothers to working In the time he’s been at the University, Kuran has taught around 5,000 students, served as FEA’s under fire during the war. Some have only been at the assistant dean for eight years, and been the acting University for a few months, while others have spent a dean and deputy president on numerous occasions. lifetime at AUB and are part of its fabric. MainGate went out Having studied at International College (IC) before joining AUB as a student in the early 1950s, he in search of some of the old and new faces that make up the remembers when the Engineering Department rich tapestry of AUB’s staff. first came into existence in 1951. Since then, he has seen student enrollment explode from 100 undergraduates in 1951 to 1,730 today. Kuran has been at the heart of the University for half a century, teaching generations of students and leading the way by implementing new technologies in his department.

34 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 35 + Name Iskander Azar 4 Position/ Head Janitor 0 Department Physical Plant Years at AUB 43 What gets me My walkie-talkie through the day As head janitor, a position he’s held for more than 20 years since leaving the Office of Protection, Azar is in charge of a crew of 12-15 janitors spread around the campus. They have to be ready for anything, he says, remembering how his crew had to respond to the campus bombing in 1991 when 175 pounds of explosives destroyed College Hall and damaged almost every building on campus. The two proudest moments of his career at the University were when his children graduated from Name Nadim Berbary AUB: his daughter received her degree in education Position/ Administrative Assistant and his son graduated in electrical engineering. Department Office of Development Years at AUB 46 What gets me The record books of previous and through the currently enrolled students—they go day back to the 1960s Having worked at the University since he was 17 Name Nesta Sagherian years old, Berbary is practically an institution in his Position/ Senior Technician own right at AUB. In addition to his work at the Department Department of Animal and Office of the Development, where he is kept busy Veterinary Sciences with alumni relations, donations, and records, he Years at AUB 41 is also a noted songwriter, singer, poet, and artist. What gets me The safety cabinet—a completely You may have heard his songs on the radio— through the sterile environment indispensable for especially or La Takouli Wada’an El Helwi Bedallah day avoiding contamination during tests Tishtiky—or you may have seen him in action on Because Sagherian’s AUB career started just before the campus where, over the last four decades, he has June 1967 war, one of her earliest memories is of the appeared on stage with the famous Salwa al-Katrib, department being evacuated. But she returned and led popular folk dance festivals, and entertained has stayed ever since, through all the ups and downs, thousands of people on the Green Field with because she says “I feel like I owe this institution. It renditions of his hit songs. has been very good to us, and we in turn have given back to it.” Her favorite thing about working as a technician at AUB is being able to help the students set up their experiments and advise them on their research, even those from other departments who come to use the microbiology labs’ sophisticated facilities. She also enjoys visiting AREC, AUB’s farm in the Beqa’a, where she has helped to research sustainable food systems in the past.

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Name Mariam Ali Kurbani Position/ Food Service Worker Department AUBMC Years at AUB 29 What gets me Our serving utensils! through the day Kurbani works on the food production line at the hospital, ensuring that staff and patients alike get the right meals every day. Her job is very important, she says, because “any slight mistake might result in a serious complication.” She has to verify that the hospital’s meals match the patient’s dietary requirements, and with lots of people suffering from low immunity, sanitation procedures must be second to none. Kurbani’s most memorable Name Maroun Kisirwani AUB moment is particularly dramatic: in 1982 she Position/ Dean of Student Affairs went into premature labor at work and delivered Department Office of Student Affairs her son after a complicated birth. AUH was under Years at AUB 37 heavy fire at the time, so she had to hide out in the What gets me An open door—I couldn’t hospital with her new baby for five days until the through the do my job without always fighting stopped. day having my office door open to students From his time as a lecturer in public Name Sawsan Kreydiyyeh administration in the 1970s, Kisirwani says Position/ Professor his favorite thing about working at AUB Department Biology Department has been “being in contact with the younger Years at AUB 21 generation and being able to guide them.” What gets me My lab coat This has continued into his current role, which through the involves everything from ensuring students day comply with the Student Code of Conduct to Having been in AUB’s Biology Department as both a overseeing the sports facilities. He remembers student and a teacher, Kreydiyyeh has experienced the student protests and demonstrations when he the University from both sides. She says that the was studying at the University in the 1950s and department’s research and technology facilities have 60s, and is keen to ensure that during his tenure, improved tremendously since she was a student, AUB’s famous student activism stays peaceful. noting that “during the war we were so behind, but Kisirwani has announced his intention to retire now we’ve caught up with the rest of the world.” in 2010, 51 years after he graduated from AUB in The new facilities have enabled her to conduct 1959. research on everything from intestinal transport processes to potassium pumps, which is the part of 20 +her job that she likes best.

38 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 39 Name Dr. Ghassan Hamadeh Name Nada Sbaiti El-Zein Position/ Chair, Department of Family Position/ Webmaster Department Medicine; Associate Dean, Department Computer and Networking Services Ambulatory Care, Information Years at AUB 10 Systems, and Continuing Medical What gets me My iPhone—I love listening to Education through the science podcasts from RadioLab Years at AUB 20 day What gets me My iPhone Walking through campus every day on her way through the to work in the Van Dyck Building, past Marquand day House, and the Mediterranean Sea, El-Zein says she In the two decades he has been working at AUBMC, is reminded of what she loves most about AUB—the + Hamadeh says he has seen huge improvements with beautiful environment. Although managing the 20 the introduction of technology that has allowed the University’s complex website is demanding, she hospital to make breakthrough advances such as enjoys the challenges, such as CNS’s current project implanting the Middle East’s first “artificial heart”. to migrate AUB to a new platform. One of her With over 60 staff members, the department hardly proudest moments at AUB was when President resembles the one he came back to manage during Waterbury personally thanked her in a speech after the war, when he and one other person ran the the 2006 war for keeping the web up and running entire Department of Family Medicine. Despite his during the conflict. achievements, Hamadeh sheepishly admits that the one thing most of his colleagues do not know about him is that he is a bad memory, hence the need for the iPhone. 1 + Name John Lash Meloy 0 Name Orhan Saadeddine Position/ Professor, Department of History and Position/ Building Supervisor of College Hall, Department Archaeology; Director, Center for Department Physical Plant Arab and Middle Eastern Studies. Years at AUB 10 Years at AUB 12 What gets me My PC What gets me A medieval map of the world outside through the through the my office day day Having arrived at AUB just before the newly rebuilt Meloy came to Lebanon 12 years ago having College Hall opened in 1999, Saadeddine’s first grown up in the region and spent his childhood in impression was of “walking into a construction Alexandria, Egypt. He was initially attracted to AUB site.” He has been looking after the building by the History Department’s wealth of Middle East and its 300+ occupants ever since, including a specialists. Since he’s been here, he has witnessed weekend spent sandbagging the entrances when the celebrations following the Israeli withdrawal the whole basement flooded after heavy rain, nearly from the south, the birth of his son at AUH, and ruining the University’s archives! Saadeddine’s the 2006 war. This last event led to what he says passion is electronics, so College Hall’s advanced is his most memorable experience at AUB: hastily “smart building” system, which centrally controls arranging the evacuation of 70 foreign students everything from lights to fire alarms, is no problem enrolled in the CAMES summer Arabic program. for him.

40 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 41 Protection Office Staff: 1 12 0 Name Sandy Malak A ten year anniversary Position/ Patient Relations Representative This year, Abdullah Deek1, Mounir Department Patient Relations Office Hamed2, Wissam Aziz3, Butrus Years at AUB 5 Khoury4, Samir Fahkran5, Mohammad What gets me My telephone and headset Ramadan6, Jalal Ismail7, Hussein through the Hussein8 will all celebrate ten years day at AUB. They are members of a staff Malak is in charge of ensuring that patients at of 126 who work around the clock the hospital get the best possible service. She to keep the University and AUBMC conducts regular patient satisfaction surveys as secure. Come rain or shine, they can well as a questionnaire specifically related to nurse always be found patrolling the 44 performance. She feels that the best thing about different access points and ensuring her job is being able to help patients, adding that students and staff can go about their “sometimes they just feel relieved to be able to talk business safely. about their experience.” When she is not at work, Malak’s secret passion is art and painting. 3 4 5 1+ Name Lama Dabbous Position/ Aquatic Specialist Department University Sports Years at AUB One year (and 9 months) What gets me My whistle through the day 6 7 8 Having recently graduated from Université Saint- Joseph with a degree in physical therapy, Dabbous is just beginning her career at AUB. As an aquatic specialist, she is responsible for everything related to the pool at the Hostler Student Center, from lifeguarding to swimming lessons. She chose her career because she loves anything to do with sports, and has been swimming since she was six years old. Although sports are her main pastime, she also enjoys singing and regularly goes to karaoke nights to indulge her passion for music.

—C.A.

42 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 43 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street maingate connections maingate connections

second story room in the Women’s father went to Palestine, so I spent individual, free speech, innocent till Hostel in 1954. She studied art at my early childhood school years in proven guilty...” AUB along with her education major. Nablus and Tulkarm. That was what After graduating from AUB, A treasured photograph shows the five took us to Palestine and it was the Naziha taught in the boys section of of us roommates at St. Michel beach Palestinian problem that brought us the Suq el-Gharb High School, the one spring day when we accompanied back to Lebanon. My father could see only female teacher. Two afternoons Naziha on an assignment to paint a the trouble coming and sent the family a week she took a service taxi down seascape. That was before St. Michel back in 1947.” to Beirut to paint in the AUB art studio became a place for homeless refugees In Lebanon, Naziha went to high and soon began working toward a from the south during the war. We school at the Presbyterian-founded master’s degree in art education. sat very casually, some dressed in Suq el-Gharb School in the Lebanese The same year she completed her bathing suits, others in cotton dresses. mountains where she was a classmate master’s, she became engaged to a Naziha’s hair was tied back by a of one of our Palestinian roommates, young doctor she had gone to see scarf to keep it out of her eyes while Roshan Irani, whose family fled Haifa about a back problem. she painted, a matter of practicality in 1948. Naziha remembers seeing the Naziha and Mohammed raised rather than Islamic modesty. She Irani family arrive in Suq el-Gharb on a their children, Omar and Khouzama, was the only Muslim among in the midst of wartime us in our diverse group of Beirut. “They remember the one Greek Orthodox, one war, but they don’t,” Naziha Baha’i, one Syrian Catholic, reflected. “Khouzama wasn’t and one Presbyterian. She at all interested in politics. The roommates at St. Michel Beach (left to right): Katie Azzam Alonzo, Samia Shammas; Naziha Hamza Knio; was also the only one of She thought it was something LifescapeAnn Kerr-Adams; Roshan Irani Germanos us Lebanese-born, alongside horrible that the older generation Editor’s note: two Palestinians, one Iraqi, did, and she wasn’t interested More than 50 years after they paintings expressed these feelings and one American, a typical in becoming older if this is what Naziha, graduated, Ann Kerr-Adams (JYA in themes of trees with abstracted mix in any cross-section maturity meant. At AUB, she 1954-55) has interviewed six of roots or seeds dividing and sprouting of AUB students. In those buried herself in her science in Beirut her AUB classmates to discover leaves. “I had put some beans in a days, there were no clothing Left to right: Roshan, Katie, Naziha, Samia while Omar joined clubs and the lives they built against the pot to soak overnight—there was a features to distinguish AUB Muslim bus full of other refugees. “My hardest was active in relief work.” Now, both backdrop of the tumultuous recent bombardment and we went to hide; students from Christians. competition in school was Roshan. children have highly successful careers, history of the Middle East. This is the beans stayed, so some of them The merging of identities so Sometimes she would be first and I Omar as an engineer in the United the third in a series. started to sprout. One day these prevalent in Lebanon in those days is second and sometimes the other way States and Khouzama as a professor two leaves came out from each bean exemplified in Naziha’s background. around.” From Suq el-Gharb, Naziha of botany at AUB. “You know how Lebanese pine trees and then it was as if nature was Her grandmother had religious lessons went to Beirut College for Women These days, Naziha leads a less grow—they are so strong,” Naziha changing. Roots came out of another at home and went to a Greek Orthodox (BCW—now Lebanese American active life outside her home than a few said to me as we chatted recently part; eventually the beans fell away. I School run by Greek Orthodox priests. University) and then on to AUB, like years back when she was president in her living room where striking was so fascinated by this process that She in turn sent her daughter, Naziha’s her father, where she had always of the LAU (BCW) Alumni Club and MainGate paintings she had done over many two or three paintings came out of it.” mother, to the Protestant missionary- wanted to go. “My life has really been engaged in various art exhibits. Her welcomes contributions from alumni reflecting on their years decorate the walls along with Painting had sustained Naziha during founded American High School in centered around these two institutions, husband is house-bound but the AUB experiences as well as stories family photographs. “I think there was those seventeen years of shelling and Sidon. BCW and AUB. It was fun, it was household is energized every afternoon about their lives after graduation. something in me in those war years,” car bombs, one of which ripped into “My father went to AUB,” Naziha carefree. I joined a debating club with the arrival of her two small Submissions may be sent to she continued, “that wanted to say her family home late in the war, killing recounted, “and when he graduated, which I enjoyed very much. I learned granddaughters who climb all [email protected] that no matter what, this country some of her family members. he, like so many AUB students, was the beauty of literature. Most of the over her shouting “Teta, Teta.” Lebanon was going to stay, and life I still have vivid mental images of hired by the British Mandate. Some things I believe in happened there. —A.K.A. is going to go on and on.” Naziha’s Naziha painting on the balcony of our went to teach in Iraq and Jordan—my We learned the importance of the

44 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 45 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street maingate connections TOGETHER time flies THROUGH THE AUB YEARS f 1955 o Wonder what’s 2005 s happened on e s campus since then? s Come celebrate a l Class Reunion 2010! C 1960 If youʼre from the Class of ʻ0 or ʻ5, Your AUB memories will come alive! Save the date and come back again, Itʼs your special weekend in 2010! 2000 July 2–4, 2010 1965

1970 1995

1975 1990 For more information about your reunion contact: 1985 AUB Alumni Relations Office 1980 Telephone: +961-1-738009

Designed and produced by the Office ofEmail: Communications I 2010 [email protected]

In 1940, this AUB student worked with his classmates to start the Student Social Group, which AUB sponsored, to create scout troops for delinquent youth where they received basic education, support, and training. A year later, he started a night school for CLASS boys. He returned to campus in fall 2009 in search of his former classmates. Learn more on page 60. 46 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 47 July 2–4 REUNION 2010 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street alumni profile alumni profile

now the G20, and most of the new of the Skolkovo Moscow School of members are emerging markets. Just Management. Last fall I attended the look at Russia and the other BRIC inauguration ceremony of the school. countries—Brazil, India and China It was exciting to see the result of —Brazil has done well, Russia is three years of work with the opening turning around, and India and China of the first academic year. are doing well. We really shouldn’t It was an interesting venture talk in terms of “emerging” markets— which demonstrates that with a bit they’re really developing markets, of persistence you can achieve a lot. and they are the driving force in the Three years ago a group of us went economy these days. The GCC [Gulf to the minister of the economy of Cooperation Council]—Qatar, UAE, the Russian Federation and told him etc., and China are the leading funders about our idea. He was immediately of today’s global development. supportive. We were careful to separate the State from the funding Tell us about the development of of the school and only asked for their LIFE. support in navigating complicated The development of LIFE—Lebanese local bureaucracy. A Russian oligarch 25 Minutes with International Finance Executives—is donated the land and a number of exciting. We launched it in November. local companies donated $10 million The goal is to connect Lebanese each. By being involved in this project, (CE ’84) finance executives around the world Credit Suisse is illustrating its practical Fawzi Kyriakos Saad and leverage these connections and long term commitment to Russia. CEO for Credit Suisse in Russia, the CIS and Turkey to benefit Lebanon as a financial On the academic side, students will center. It’s also about nurturing study in Russia for a semester, then go

Fawzi Kyriakos Saad, second from left, at the opening of the Skolkovo School of Management in September 2009. President Dmitry Medvedev stands at cen- young people interested in finance to China, India, the United States, then ter (fifth from left) with the deans of the School of Management Andrei Volkov, on his right and Wilfried Vanhonacker, on his left. by offering scholarships as well as back to Russia. extremely interesting. Credit Suisse We’ll start at AUB square one: (the likes of FNMA [Federal National can be quite destructive. I remember finding internships, sponsorships, has been relatively well positioned and Why civil engineering? Mortgage Association] and Freddie how in 1992, in order to help training, and mentors. The outcome And when you’re not building has suffered less than other financial I studied civil engineering at AUB Mac), trading, distribution, and the Fannie and Freddie better manage will be a network with a lot of schools or global networking institutions. We are one of the few because I wanted a solid degree, origination desk. In 1994, I wanted the optionality of their underlying expertise that positions Lebanon at systems? banks to have emerged from the a solid base. I also had a passing to experience working in London. I mortgage portfolio, we introduced the the forefront of financial services in I’ve just spent the last few years financial crisis in a stronger position; interest in architecture, but didn’t moved there with Goldman but soon concept of callable debt. Little by the region. Armenia 2020 is one renovating a traditional house in we have grown our client base and think it was my life calling. So I transferred to J.P. Morgan. At J.P. little we convinced them to start to successful example of a network that Ashrafieh. Even with the high-rises are in a very good position to take picked up and went to Columbia Morgan I started as head of Eurobond buy outright optionality in the market has harnessed the expertise of expats being built around it, it’s a wonderful advantage of the new economic [University] Business School right after Trading then ran the credit business to offset the optionality they were abroad to effect change. place to be. I usually spend two landscape. I was attracted to the I graduated. and by the time I left I was head of lacking. I imagine what started as a weeks a month in Moscow, a few company because I saw a potential European Fixed Income and global genuine effort to manage risk, became I hear you’re behind a new days in Zurich, a few days in London, that had yet to be realized. At heart And then? head of Emerging Markets. an instrument to normalize revenues business school in Russia. so I get back to my paradise I’m pretty conservative. I was a trader at Goldman Sachs in and ultimately resulted in the collapse To say I am behind Skolkovo is when I can. New York from 1986 to 1994. I started What was your reaction to the you reference. exaggerating a bit. I am part of a Is there an upside to the economic as a junior trader and my positions collapse of Fannie Mae and group that three years ago reacted to downturn? naturally evolved. After a few years as Freddie Mac? How has the financial rollercoaster the shortage of financial professionals Emerging markets have come out a corporate bond trader, I was asked Disappointment. It was bewildering to affected your work? in Russia by assuming responsibility stronger and suffered less. The G7 is to manage the government agencies see how badly controlled innovation The last 18 months have been for the creation, funding, and building

48 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 49 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street reflections reflections

Lebanon research equipment for our (currently employing seven engineers Suhayl Jabbur Neurophysiology Research Lab, the and seven technicians in various fields) (BS ’52, MD ’56) first of its kind in the region. before becoming assistant dean of 1949: Member of the first AUB Student medicine and retiring as vice president Council reactivated under President Returning to Lebanon with for administration. Stephen Penrose IFeelYourPain degrees, a wife, your first 1952: AUB BS daughter, and a neurophysiology What were some of the other 1956: AUB MD In fall 2009, Professor Suhayl lab, what were your impressions difficulties in adjusting? 1960: University of Washington, Seattle Jabbur, MD, PhD, began his on your return? SJ: The biggest problem was upgrad- PhD fiftieth consecutive year of SJ: It was a period of huge adjust- ing the department. At the time I grum- 1960: Began long career as faculty teaching and researching at ment. I had been in one of the hot- bled a lot because I felt we could not member and researcher at AUB AUB. Starting with his years as test departments of physiology in the survive without recruiting, and I missed 1974: Initiated Interfaculty Graduate a student that began in 1948, he States: a department of 45 full-time having people to talk with, but within a Neuroscience Program 1994: Basic Medical Sciences Award of has witnessed the arrival of 11 professors, not counting post-doctoral few years we were six full-time faculty TWAS (Third World Academy of Sciences) AUB presidents from Stephen fellows, research assistants, graduate members covering various subfields of for discovery of a “spinal loop involved in Penrose in 1948 until President students, and technicians. I returned physiology. the modulation of pain” Dorman today. Over the years, to a one-man department. That man We used amplifiers and oscillo- 1996: Republic of Lebanon’s National thousands of students have been was Henry Badeer, an outstanding scopes and ultimately recorded activi- Cedars Medal, Knight Class, for inspired by Dr. Jabbur’s tutelage teacher who had taught us all aspects ties of cells in the brain in photographs “academic and scientific contributions and many awards and prizes have of physiology before I left for the US. using special cameras. For each hour to the field of medicine” come to him for his research in But when I returned, he was . . . of experimental work, we had to spend 1996: Abdul Hadi Debs Welfare Foundation neuroscience focusing on pain still a one-man department. We had six to seven hours of analysis, which Award “for the best achievement in science and nociception—the ability to the equipment I had brought, but we nowadays can be done in minutes on research in Lebanon” feel pain. needed technicians, assistants, and the computer. 2009: Lebanese Association for the graduate students. Advancement of Science and Lebanese MainGate: When did you first I convinced the dean to recruit, Did you notice any big differences National Research Council Award arrive at AUB and what were your on a full-time basis, an electronics between students at AUB and first impressions? engineer to keep the equipment those you taught in the United that I was interested in their welfare, Suhayl Jabbur: From the very begin- going. That man was George Tomey, States? that I was patient with their ques- ning. My father was a professor of who stayed as my research assist- SJ: Not really. During the early years we tions, that I loved teaching. This fall Arabic for 45 years, and I was born at teachers in certain subjects, but when position at AUB—teaching and doing ant for 11 years—a fantastic man admitted less than a quarter of those semester was the beginning of my the AUB Hospital. I went to IC and then I was assigned to my father for Arabic, research on the nervous system. When who proved himself an extraordinary who applied to the Medical School. fiftieth year of uninterrupted teaching got my BS from AUB in 1952 and my he asked me to leave his class and told I was at Columbia University’s College organizer. He ultimately created the We exerted harsher discipline on our at AUB. I figured recently—up till now MD in 1956. me to find another section. of Physicians and Surgeons in1956-57, Medical Engineering Unit of AUBMC medical students than we do today, I have taught 3,366 medical students, At the end of my junior year I I was granted a Rockefeller Foundation but our students were and plus graduate students. About 17 So, totally immersed in AUB from moved to medicine and at the end fellowship for further study anywhere still are comparable to the years ago I began to find sons and the very beginning, what were of the first year of medicine, as was in the United States, so I spent the best in America. I did not daughter of my former students in my your impressions when you moved the custom at the time, I was granted next three years in the Department feel any difference. classes. from IC to AUB in 1948? the BS. of Physiology and Biophysics at the The students might remember SJ: Well, professors were quite different University of Washington’s School of What do you think your that I was one of the few profes- from high school teachers. Classes were What did you do after you finished Medicine in Seattle. I did a PhD in students would most sors, if not the only one, who invited held all over campus, and schedules your MD? physiology and biophysics with a major remember about your the entire class to our home, and were varied and confusing. Freshman SJ: In my last year I accepted an in neurophysiology. My Rockefeller teaching? the tradition continues to this day. students were all in the same boat. invitation from Dean Joseph McDonald scholarship included a $33,000 SJ: That’s not an easy ques- The students felt at ease and free If we were lucky, we had the better to prepare in the United States for a grant to purchase and ship back to tion to answer. Probably to impersonate me, play their own

Jabbur receiving the 1994 Basic Medical Science Award of the Third World Academy of Science from the President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha, 1995 50 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 51 Beyond Bliss Street reflections

musical instruments, and talk on any the Interfaculty Graduate Neuroscience School was directly associated with During a meeting with President Peter Dorman on October 29, Abu subject. It was great fun having this Program at AUB. In 1974, the program the hospital, they let it survive. Also, Dhabi Chapter President Gisele Nasser and Jirji Bsheer dis- kind of interaction with students. brought together in a master’s degree we decided as a faculty that we would cussed the Chapter’s ongoing support for the Abu Dhabi Chapter program students from the faculties of not stop teaching—and we never did, Scholarship Fund and presented the University with a check that will Abu Dhabi Do you keep in touch with your Arts and Sciences, Engineering and no matter what happened. Not for one benefits dozens of AUB scholarships students each year. students? Architecture, and Medicine. day. And students from all sides of the The Chapter recently elected a new Executive Committee SJ: Well, the first years I used to work combat attended classes, and not one that began its term in November: Elias Assaf (BE ’88), president; at memorizing their names, and getting What can you tell us about the single fighting incident took place. We Samer Gharzeddine (BS ’90), vice president, and Wael Abdul to know them personally, and they changes of the war years? are proud of having stayed open. Malak (BBA ’99, MA ’03), treasurer. President Assaf, who manages used to be surprised when I called out SJ: No matter how I describe the a personal business, and his wife Ghada Najjar Assaf (BN ’89), their names in the middle of a lecture. sheer, insane ugliness of our 15-year have lived in Abu Dhabi since 1990. He has been a member of the But now there are 80 or 90 in a class, civil war, I will be grossly understating Abu Dhabi Chapter Committee since 1992. and I can’t do it anymore. In the 1980s it. The war was just numbing us for I frequently lectured on our research the first two to three years. But then, Although it is only a year old, the WAAAUB Jeddah Chapter has at US medical schools, and wherever ironically, the situation actually stimu- already established an enviable reputation in Saudi Arabia—you I went, former AUB students in the lated research and encouraged us to only have to ask the 300 plus guests who attended the dinner on audience would invariably invite me to work together because the absence November 12 and enjoyed an impressive buffet and entertaining

social gatherings. of social life left us with nothing else music at a memorable event hosted by AUBites Louma Kabalan (Top) Abu Dhabi Chapter's new executive committee; (bottom) to do. Confinement to the strong AUB (BA ’94) and Ghassan Al-Moallim (BA ’91) at the General Chapter's outgoing executive committee Can you think of anything Basic Science [Diana Tamari Sabbagh] Consulate of Lebanon. Arriving through the ballroom entrance that particular which contributed to Building where we moved in 1975, had been decorated in the spirit of AUB’s Main Gate, dinner guests the success of your work in the allowed us to escape the bombs and were ushered by recent AUB graduates to tables bearing the names

neuroscience field at AUB? other dangers of the street. Members of famous AUB buildings. Jeddah Jabbur receiving the Abdul Hadi Debs Welfare SJ: I’m glad you asked that question. of our team were always together— Foundation Prize for "best achievement in sci- Besides having a good time, those in attendance contributed I think the most important contribution eating in, sleeping over, talking. ence research in Lebanon" from the late Prime generously to their alma mater by donating more than $100,000 to Minister Rafic Hariri, 1996 was the creation of a team. Proper The numbing began to disappear the chapter’s scholarship fund at AUB. We also managed to keep our teamwork in research and teaching with the arrival of visitors. It was my job yearly contact with America alive. And has not yet entered into the culture of in the 1980s to encourage teachers The Damascus Chapter held its annual gala dinner at the Khan whenever we went out, wherever we our part of the world. As soon as the from America to come to AUB for short As’ad Pasha in the heart of the Old City on December 10, attended went, people would ask, “How are you Nora El Jundi (BBA ’01), Dina Al Zameli ( BA ’85, MBA ’91), laboratory was complete, I encouraged periods to make up for teachers who by 250 Syrian alumni, friends and distinguished guests including Hiba Dib Al Hajj (BS ’93) fellows managing to do any work?” anyone in any field of neuroscience to had left. I was coordinating that. former Minister and Ambassador Abdullah al-Khani, former Health work in the new facilities. The first addi- If the Medical School had not Minister Iyad al-Shatti, former Parliament Speaker Abdul Qadir What has been the impact of AUB tion was a neuropharmacologist, but stayed afloat, I think AUB would Qaddura, actor Duraid Lahham, and Michel Khury, the Lebanese on your life? soon other neuroscientists and engi- have closed. People were losing their Ambassador to Syria. Chapter and WAAAUB leadership members SJ: There’s no way I can overstate it. I neers joined the team. Our research patience. Even the Board of Trustees spoke at the event and welcomed President Peter Dorman, who Damascus was never far from AUB. Growing up, productivity reached its first peak dur- was losing its patience. AUB peo- visited Syria for the first time during his tenure as AUB’s president. AUB professors were always in our ing the late ’60s and early ’70s, and ple were being abducted and killed. The chapter awarded Certificates of High Distinction to two promi- home, and I was always hearing all the peaked again during the middle of our The day President Malcolm Kerr was nent AUB alumni from Syria, Abdul Rahman Shahbandar, a leading stories from my parents. No one could civil war upheavals. Our productivity assassinated was one of the saddest nationalist of the 1920s, and former Prime Minister Faris al-Khury, claim to have deeper roots. I was born became such that leaders in our field of days of my life. As children of AUB whose award was received by his granddaughter, novelist and presi- and raised at AUB, and now, into my research on pain showed interest and professors, we had a strong personal dential advisor on literary affairs Colette Khury. She spoke about her seventy-ninth year, I have just started volunteered to collaborate, including bond dating back to our school days grandfather’s time at AUB, his graduation in 1898, and his relation- my fiftieth year as professor at the now deceased Patrick D. Wall, the at IC and ACS. ship both as a student and faculty member with AUB founder Daniel this University. Lebanese Ambassador Michel Khoury (right) being greeted most important leader in the field. The But all the combatants needed Bliss. After the speeches, Syrian comedian Ayman Rida led an auc- by WAAAUB Secretary Muhieddine Doughan, President Peter Dorman and Cathy Dorman, Chapter President Sami Moubayed same teamwork led to our initiation of a hospital, and because the Medical —J.M.C. tion to raise funds for a Syrian student scholarship at AUB. and Trustee Abdulsalam Haykal.

52 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 53 On Thursday, November 5, President Peter Dorman joined more at the Cordoba compound in Riyadh on November 5 was thor- than 400 AUB alumni at the Hayatt Hotel for the Oman Chapter’s oughly enjoyed by the 185 alumni and friends who shared an Oman gala dinner. The chapter proudly welcomed HE Darwish Ismail Al evening of good fellowship, delicious food, and delightful music. Baloushi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Mohsin Al The Chapter does not waste any time and has already started to Shaikh, Advisor at the Diwan of Royal Court, HE Dr. Richard J. plan for its next event, tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2010. Schmierer, Ambassador of the United States of America, and Mona Tannir, Counsellor at the Lebanese Embassy-Muscat. The Southern California Chapter recently organized a happy hour Southern California The event kicked off with a “meet and greet” reception, fol- at Bistango Restaurant in Irvine, CA attracting more than sixty alumni

Arab violinist Jehad Akl at the Oman gala lowed by dinner and a rousing rendition of the AUB Alma Mater. from Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Glendale, Pasadena, During his welcoming remarks, Oman Chapter President Fathi Calabasas, and other Southern Californian cities. The next planned Alaaiddin (BE ’73, ME ’75) thanked AUB alumni and friends— event will be on February 21 and will feature world-renowned gui-

and the evening’s major sponsors—for their generous support. tarist Jad Azkoul. AUB alumni residing in Southern California can Members of the new AUB Southern California Chapter (left to right) Riyadh gala dinner Yara Tuhme (Secretary), Lydia Nassoura (President), Bassam Azzam All gala dinner proceeds benefited the Oman Alumni Endowed contact the Chapter at aub.socal(at)gmail.com (Treasurer), Charles Zaher (Vice President), and Dina Abou Salem Scholarship Fund that provides support for financially needy AUB (Member at Large) Riyadh students. Following a report from WAAAUB Treasurer Karam Around 70 AUB alumni from the Switzerland Chapter gathered Doumet, President Dorman spoke briefly about his vision for at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva on Thursday, November 12 AUB touching on some of the themes of his May 2009 inaugural to welcome President Dorman and representatives from WAAAUB. address. He also thanked the Oman Chapter and alumni for After a warm welcome from outgoing Chapter President Akram their dedicated support of the University. After a breathtaking Saadeh (BS ’73, MS ’76), President Dorman briefed Swiss alumni Switzerland performance by Arab violinist Jehad Akl, alumni and guests on AUB’s efforts to increase the diversity of its student body—a goal took to the dance floor. The evening continued until well past that he has identified as a priority for the University in the years to midnight with a fundraising raffle and a live performance by an come. WAAAUB Treasurer Mouhieddine Doughan (BA ’80, MS Arab singer. ’82) spoke next thanking AUB alumni in Switzerland for their support and enthusiasm and updating them on the association’s plans for the The Riyadh Chapter, which has already organized three future. The evening concluded with a reminder to participate in the events this year, was at it again in November. Its gala dinner chapter’s elections. President Dorman with alumni in Geneva

Ghassan Abdul Rahman (BEN ’88, EMBA ’06) Corrected from fall 2009 New WAAAUB Alumni WAAAUB Recently Member at Large Southern California Chapter New York Metropolitan Chapter Council Chair Nour Abou Jaoude (BEN ’05) Member at Large Elected Lydia Nassoura (BS ’82, MS ’89) President Roland Abi Nader (BE ’02) President Wael Al Burji (BBA ’07) Member at Large Congratulations to Samir Abou Samra (BE WAAAUB Executive Committee Charles Zaher (BS ’80, MS ’82) Vice Amin Nadim Khalaf (BA ’90) Vice President Zeina Alameddine (BS ’77) Member at Large President Ziad Azar (BA ’00) Secretary ’68) on his recent election as chair of the H.E. Khalil Makkawi (BA ’54) President Hrair Boutchakjian (BEN ’05) Member at Large Yara Tumeh (BS ’97, MS ’04) Secretary Hussein I. Harajli (BE ’03) Treasurer WAAAUB Council. Abou Samra, who will Genane Maalouf (BBA ’98) Vice President Lina Gebara (BA ’82-MBA ’85) Member at Large Bassam Azzam (BS ’75) Treasurer Sireen Hajj (BA ’00) Member at Large serve a two-year term (2009-11), lives in Karam Doumet (BA ’74, MA ’76) Treasurer Nawar Hage (former student ’90) Member at Dikran Jebejian (BA ’97) Member at Large Emil G. Tarazi (MS ’05) Member at Large Mouhieddine Doughan (BA ’80, MS ’82) Lebanon where he is the managing director Large Diran Jeredjian (BS ’73) Member at Large Secretary to the Board and partner of the United Contracting and Georges Jabbour (BS ’94) Member at Large Fadi Kurdahi (BE ’81) Member at Large Consulting Company and also a partner of Abu Dhabi Chapter Wissam Khalil (BEN ’04) Member at Large the Enterprise General Contractors Co. In Elias Assaf (BEN ’88) President Omar Nuwayhed (BS ’05) Member at Large Northern California Chapter Chadi Chazbek (BE ’96, ME ’00) President addition to being a member of the Lions Club Samer Gharzeddine (BA ’90) Vice Bassam Saab (BBA ’80) Member at Large Rami Hannoush (BS ’97) Vice President and the Lebanese Tunisian Association, he President Akram Tayyar (BEN ’90) Member at Large Zeina Maalouf (BS ’03) Secretary is also a member of the WAAAUB Council, Wael Abdul Malak (BA ’94, BBA ’99, MMB ’03) Fadi Traboulsi (BA ’91, MMB ’95) Member Ramzi Alami (BS ’94, MD ’98) Treasurer president of the Mount Lebanon Branch, and Treasurer at Large Nayla Nassif (BE ’86) Member at Large VP of the AUB Alumni Engineering Chapter. Ula Abdel Ahad (BBA ’03) Secretary Antoinette Yazbeck (BS ’86) Member at Large

54 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 55 Montreal was the site for WAAAUB’s second North American Regional and friends traveled from across the three state region (Delaware, y Gathering on October 9-11 that brought together alumni from Pennsylvania and New Jersey) to enjoy an event-filled evening over throughout North America including New York, the Ohio River Valley, dinner. The proceedings began with a business meeting, including Ottawa, Philadelphia, southern California, Toronto, Washington DC, updates on WAAAUB activities and recruitment of additional volun- and Montreal. A Friday evening welcoming reception was followed teers. Prior to dinner the guests were treated to musical entertain- by a full day of meetings on Saturday that kicked off with welcoming ment provided by Al Bustan Seeds of Culture with Hanna Khoury on 1 remarks from WAAAUB President Makkawi and reports from Dr. violin and Hafez El Ali Kotain on percussion. The evening’s featured Tewfik Zein (BS ’73, MD ’77, acting chair of the Chapters Committee guest speaker was former AUB President Dr. John Waterbury who and member of the Nominations Committee), Maha Zabaneh (BA ’84, talked about his tenure as AUB’s president and the time spent liv- member of the WAAAUB Board and of the Outreach and Nominations ing in Beirut. His presentation was highlighted with a display of his Philadelphia/Delaware Valle

Committees), Elie Moussalli (BS ’69, MS ’72, editor of Al-Jame’a), and own photos. The chapter alumni look forward to making the annual Honored speaker former President John Waterbury Ghada Rihani (BS ’84, Programs Committee member). banquet a repeat success for years to come. Those in attendance included North North American Regional Gathering American chapter representatives and AUB The Ohio Valley Chapter organized a holiday luncheon at TAZ 2 alumni—all of whom enjoyed the lively and Restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 13, 2009 for 100 alumni,

fruitful sessions that were moderated by friends and their families. It was the biggest turn-out the chapter has Ohio Valley WAAAUB VP Genane Maalouf (BBA ’98), had since its formation in 2007. Everyone enjoyed the great food, including a detailed session about the associ- games and WAAAUB prizes. Thanks to everyone who attended!

WAAAUB Vice President ation’s accomplishments to date and its goals Contact the chapter at chaptermail(at)waaaubohiovalleychapter.com Genane Maalouf for the future. One of the more interesting events on Saturday was a roundtable exchange among alumni chap- The WAAAUB Ottawa chapter held their annual Christmas dinner on 3 ter representatives during which they December 5. The first Consul and Chargé d’affaires at the Lebanese Ohio Valley holiday luncheon in Cincinnati discussed their successes—and some of their challenges as well. Saturday’s sessions closed with an entertaining and fascinating presentation by young alumnus Habib Haddad (BE ’02) who post spoke about his entrepreneurial journey a resume 4 tell us as co-founder of Yamli, the Arabic lan- you are guage keyboard. Raghida Dergham, where find UN bureau chief for the London-based - your old lab partner Al Hayat newspaper was the keynote - events speaker at the elegant gala dinner on - a job Saturday evening, which also featured (Top) Honoree Habib Haddad and Johnny Kairouz; (bottom) Keynote 5 live music and dancing for the nearly speaker Raghida Dergham 200 guests in attendance. Sunday’s wrap-up sessions featured news from campus, includ- ing updates on the University’s outreach efforts via echannels such as YouTube and Facebook. Participants had a chance to review a summa- How long has it been ry of their recommendations and observations on all things WAAAUB. since you visited the OLC? The weekend ended with a traditional Lebanese lunch. It’s all here > www.aub.edu/alumni 6 1. Montreal convention; 2. Chapter Roundtable discussion; 3. AUBites and friends descended upon Carlucci’s Waterfront Restaurant Attendees listening to presentations; 4. WAAAUB President Khalil in Mount Laurel, New Jersey for the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Makkawi with alumni and WAAAUB Board member Maha Zabaneh (far right); 5. Alumni at the Montreal reception; 6. Dancing alumni chapter’s first annual banquet on November 14. Over 80 alumni Be a mentor to Look up a recent grad alumni chapters 56 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Look for www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 57 AUBites in Link your your new home town Facebook page to your OLC sign-in Embassy in Ottawa, HE Mr. George Alumni Publications Abou Zeid was among the 150 alumni

Atlanta and friends in attendance. The evening Lebanon – Through Writers’ Eyes began with words of welcome by chap- (Eland Publishing Ltd., 2009) ter President Samir Samaha, and then by T.J. Gorton (former student 1967-68) and A. Feghali by HE Mr. Abou Zeid, followed by sea- Gorton (BA ’69) sonal music played by Jad Hammoud, In this rich anthology, AUB alumni Ted and Andree Feghali Gorton present a a young and talented student. Master diverse selection of writings from some of the many visitors who have traveled Ottawa annual Christmas dinner The Atlanta Chapter brought together several generations of AUBites of Ceremony Maria Ghazzaoui solicited to Lebanon from 1800 BC through 2006 and from the Lebanese themselves at a Ramadan Iftar in September 2009 at the Sultan Restaurant. the audience for two teams, one of men and the other of women, writing about their homeland, their joys, and their sorrows. In addition to for a quiz on Arabic movies and songs. To no one’s surprise, women passages from many well-known authors, Lebanon—Through Writers’ Eyes outdid men by a score of 12 versus 5! also offers some new treasures of description, analysis, and literature that you’re sure to enjoy. Alumnus Rafik Ashkar, Ottawa’s walking encyclopaedia of Lebanese folk literature, took everyone back in time with an epi- Progress-Driven Entrepreneurs, Private Equity sode of Hakaweteh, unravelling the origins of many colloquial say- Finance and Regulatory Issues ings in Lebanon, some going back hundreds of years. The evening (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009) wound up with entertainment by a belly dancer and a live band by Zuhayr Mikdashi (BA ’54, MA ’56) playing popular Arabic tunes, which had a long line of AUBites tire-

New MetropolitanYork This book focuses on a select category of entrepreneurs who have huge On Dec. 11, alumni met for a festive holiday dinner at the renowned lessly dancing dabkeh for hours. New York Brasserie Restaurant. potential to further augment robust growth and sustainable progress in modern economies. It offers case studies of progress-driven entrepreneurs with differ- ing backgrounds and endeavors, selected from both developed and developing In January 2010 the call for nomina- contemporary economies. The cases illustrate the fundamental characteristics tions went out asking alumni who of the type of business leader who focuses on promoting the well being of want to serve on the WAAAUB Board stakeholders and communities. The book pays particular attention to the or Council to come forward. need for ready access to risk capital and know-how that are vital assets for If you or someone you know entrepreneurs starting up with scant resources. is interested in running for office, Mikdashi is a former AUB professor of business administration. please e-mail the WAAAUB Nominations Committee at: nomina- tions-committee(at)waaaub.org no later than March 1, 2010. Marking Beirut: A City Revealed Through its WAAAUB will only continue to thrive and succeed in its Graffiti mission to keep all alumni in touch with each other and with their (Joseph Brakhya, 2009)

Alumni at the New York Metropolitan Chapter event enjoy drinks and alma mater if YOU get involved. by Tala F. Saleh (BFA ’07) views of the Manhattan skyline at the Top of the Tower Restaurant, Please note that the 2010 WAAAUB elections will be held only Beekman Tower Hotel on Nov. 19. Following the 2006 July war, Tala Saleh became intrigued with the writing and electronically via e-ballots. If we don’t have a valid e-mail drawings on the walls of Beirut. She spent four months roaming the streets, address for you, you won’t be able to participate! widely documenting the stencils and slogans sprayed throughout the city. She We must hear from you by March 1, 2010 discovered that much of Beirut’s graffiti—the political logos, slogans, and if you want to be a candidate in the 2010 social commentary—told a story of division, war, and social struggles in a WAAAUB elections. way that history books do not. Through an analysis of local pre- and post-war Thank you in advance for (1975-2009) graffiti in Beirut, this book demonstrates how this art form reflects

Northeast Ohio helping to keep WAAAUB and illustrates the divisions within and among Lebanon’s political communities. strong and effective. Marking Beirut is a unique collection of articles, photographs and stencils that takes the reader on a journey through an intriguing medium that reveals division and unity, the struggle for power, and a determination to be noticed.

Friends and family of the WAAAUB Northeast Ohio Chapter gath- [www.markingbeirut.com] ered for a fun filled afternoon at the annual picnic on September 27, held this year at the Case Western Reserve Squire Farms

58 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s c l a s s n o t e s

1950s Council at Inova Health 1970s time flies ten years old when he first troops for delinquent youth at a similar to what moved Daniel arrived in Beirut. In 1940, he time when there were no reform Bliss and his colleagues when Awni Masri Systems, a five-hospital sys- Rehmat Alibux joined AUB to study sociology schools. He also established they set out on their enterprise. (BE ’59) is chairman of the tem in northern Virginia. He (BA ’71) is retired from Ace but he left in 1945 before a summer camp (International Serving the community has Arab Bureau of Engineers is also chair of the Quality Travel Group in Jeddah and is graduating and returned to Scout Troop 2) in the idyllic Nahr remained a cornerstone at AUB and Consultants. He lives in Improvement Committee of currently a self-employed reti- Colombia because of a severe es-Safa area with tents and where community members Amman, Jordan. [afmasri(at) Inova Alexandria Hospital, ree living in Toronto, Canada. illness, making the return equipment from the British Army. have always helped the destitute hotmail.com having already served as [raalibux(at)yahoo.com] journey on board a cargo ship. The first night in the camp, one during both man-made and president of the Medical Staff He later moved to Venezuela and of the boys tried to attack Elcure natural disasters. AUB faculty 1960s and chair of the Department Saouma BouJaoude founded a commercial airline, with a knife. It says a lot about members, students, and alumni Anne Ricketson a large publicly owned of Surgery. Tawil resides in (BS ’71) is director of AUB’s the Turvinter. He is now its this man that not only did he foil have founded cultural and Zahlan water agency in south- Washington, DC where he Center for Teaching and director general. the attack, but that the attacker environmental preservation (BA ’60) has recently retired ern California. She is also has a private practice in Learning in the Science and While at AUB, Elcure and a eventually became a close friend societies as well. from her position as profes- president of the South Bay urology and urologic oncol- Math Education Center and Elcure credits AUB with In October 2009, Antonio handful of classmates started a and aide. The camp continued sor of English at Eastern Irrigation District Board. Over ogy. He and his wife Hanan a professor of education at night school for boys in 1941 as until at least 1945 and made teaching him the value of public Abrajim Elcure (former Illinois University. She the years she has served on Zurayk (BA ’73) have two AUB. [boujaoud(at)aub.edu. part of their course curriculum. a difference in the lives of a service, but I think that there is student, 1941-45) came back to and her husband, David numerous professional, civic, daughters, one of whom lb] With classmates Philip Khairallah number of young men who went much that he could teach all of campus looking for information Radavich, have moved to and charitable boards and currently lives in Beirut. and Fares Fares, he also set on to become good citizens. us as well. on his former classmates. Charlotte, North Carolina, committees. Thomas was George would love to hear Ghassoub Kawar up a Student Social Group that I imagine that Elcure’s Born in Colombia to Lebanese - Henry Matthews where their daughter Amal recognized by the California from his classmates and (BS ’72) is managing direc- immigrant parents, Elcure was AUB sponsored to create scout passion for helping people was Zahlan Lahbabi lives with her Special Districts Association AUB friends. [gtwailmd(at) tor for the shipping com- husband Rachid and daugh- Leadership Foundation and aol.com] panies Amin Kawar & Sons ters Soraya and Iman. In was recently named to the and their joint ventures: PIL, addition to her new respon- Local Agencies Formation Looking for old friends Jordan and GAC, Jordan. and classmates! sibilities as a grandmother, Committee Advisory [ghassoub.kawar(at)Kawar. Anne keeps busy with her Committee and the Chula com] research and writing, and Vista Charitable Foundation her work as editor of The Board. She has been very Thomas Wolfe Review. active in Sister Cities peo- [zahlan(at)earthlink.net] ple-to-people programs and was recognized as a Sister Teresa “Terry” Cities International Citizen of Do you have any news, story ideas, photos, or Thomas Distinction. Thomas would event announcements that you’d like to share 1943: The International Scouts Beirut II troop 1943: Boys being led on a tour of Nabaa es-Safa by Fares Fares (MS ’65) is a professor love to renew acquaint- with alumni? WAAAUB’s Outreach Committee emeritus of microbiology ances and friendships with would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at: and environmental biology AUBites and dear friends outreach-committee(at)waaaub.org. We welcome and at Southwestern College from the Class of ’65 era. appreciate all submissions for the WAAAUB e-newsletter. in Chula Vista, California. [terrythomas4water(at)cox. Are you receiving Al-Jame’a? As a student at AUB, she net] Don’t forget that you can only receive Al-Jame’a via email, was a National Science Looking for old friends so please make sure we have your correct email address. Foundation Teaching Fellow and classmates! Send it to us at outreach-committee(at)waaaub.org. in biology and conducted You can read back issues of Al-Jame’a at http:// research in biochemistry. www.waaaub.org/news.html. Thomas is an elected offi- George Tawil cial on the Governing Board (BS ’68, MD ’73) is presi- Stay tuned for the next issue of Al-Jame’a! of the Sweetwater Authority, dent of the Medical Affairs Swimming at the Nabaa es-Safa summer camp August 1943: Emile Boustany, head of the gov- ernment's Youth Department, visits the summer camp on behalf of President Beshara El Khoury

60 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 61 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s c l a s s n o t e s

Hagop Bessos Research Laboratories. She the Middle East supervising Samer Fattouh Ezzeddine can be reached at on applied environmental eco- is married to Musa (BS ’77) the London, Geneva, and (BS ’87) is a senior civil bezzeddine(at)yahoo.com. nomics. Nasr married an FAO Help and they have two children, Dubai teams. He returned to engineer at Saudi Oger. colleague from Luxembourg Ramzi, age 20, and Nicole, the Gulf in 2006 to establish [fattouhsamer(at)hotmail.com] 1990s in 2008. [jennynasr(at)yahoo. age 17. After spending years several wealth management Nada S. Tamim com] focusing solely on her work initiatives in Qatar and Saudi Denise Bared and children, Ghannam Arabia. Lorentz received an Raed Omar Sbeit plan your became involved in the for- MBA from the University of (BE ’98) has been a mation of the Philadelphia/ California, Los Angeles. project manager at Verizon 2010 class Delaware Valley Alumni Communications for the past (BS ’73, MS ’76) is a fellow of Department at AUH during Chapter and now serves as Rana Zeine 10 years. He has also worked reunion! the Royal College of Patholo- the 1960s and ’70s cele- the chapter’s vice president. (BS ’83, MD ’87) In addi- as a field engineer in con- gists (FRCPath) and head brated her 81st birthday in She is thrilled to be involved tion to her AUB degrees, struction in the United Arab Attention classes of of the Immunohaematology October 2009. She cur- and to have reconnected with Zeine holds a doctorate from Emirates. Sbeit earned sev- 1955, 1960, 1965, Research and Development rently resides at Crosslands fellow alumni. A former mem- McGill University in Canada. (BA ’90), is a communications eral higher education degrees 1970, 1975, 1980, Department at SNBTS Retirement Community ber of the Beirut Orpheus She reports that her recent (BS ’87) is living in Paris consultant who just finished a and certificates at Southern 1985, 1990, 1995, (Scottish National Blood in Pennsylvania and looks Choir that performed often research on the pediatric where she a representative 10-month appointment with Methodist University (SMU) 2000, and 2005! Transfusion Service) National forward to hearing from at Assembly Hall, Ghannam cancer neuroblastomoa has for SBW-Paris. the telecommunications com- including a doctorate in engi- Science Lab in Edinburgh, former friends from AUB continues to sing choral been published in Modern pany EastLink in Halifax, Nova neering management, a mas- Are you interested in volunteering for your class Scotland. Bessos and his and AUH, where her love music and is a member of the Pathology (2009, volume 22). Dina Zayour Ezzeddine Scotia. While managing a ter’s in software engineering, reunion? We’re looking for wife Kathleen Duffy have of Lebanon remains strong. Palisades Community Choir. [harkzen(at)aol.com] hectic and demanding sched- and executive graduate cer- alumni who want to help two children: Nadia-Eliz, age Although she has resided She writes that AUB is part ule, Tamim mastered the sub- tificates in strategic marketing, organize reunion weekend 28, and Stephen-Bessilios, in the US since 1975, her of who she is and it always Nadim Maluf tleties of preparing an authen- finance and accounting, and events tailored for each class. age 24. fondest memories remain in will be. [afarah2003(at)yahoo. (BE ’84) is EIR (entrepre- tic maritime lobster chowder. negotiations and leadership The 2004 Volunteer Lebanon.” (Editor’s note: In com] neur-in-residence) for U.S. She has joined her family in from SMU’s Cox School of Committee organized a great Karen Hajj 2005, Penny Hajj generous- Venture Partners in Menlo Montreal where she looks for- Business. Sbeit is married to reunion in 2009 – and had a (former student 1979- ly stocked AUB’s Physical Eric Lorentz Park, California. He received ward to resuming her contri- Sara Khayat. They are the great time doing it. 82) received her BA from Therapy Department with (BBA ’82) has been appointed his doctorate from Stanford butions as an active alumna proud parents of two daugh- Villanova University. Karen textbooks as a memorial managing director and global University. [nmaluf(at)stan- working on a regional support ters Heba Raed Sbeit, age 5, Contact us: reunion(at)aub.edu.lb writes: “Penny Hajj, former tribute to her late husband market manager for Société fordalumni.org] (BS ’88, MS ’90, MD ’94) network for WAAAUB. Tamim, Huda Raed Sbeit, age 2, and head of the Physical Therapy and Karen’s father, Amin K. Générale Group. He started has recently returned to who was elected to the a baby boy, Omar Raed Sbeit. Hajj.) Penny can be reached his career at Citibank Bahrain Rada Barraj Lebanon from Ohio with WAAAUB Council in 2009, [raed.sbeit(at)verizon.com] via her daughter’s email at as a foreign exchange trad- (BA ’85) is a her husband Dr. Bilal invites alumni to join the AUB [hajjnell(at)verizon.net] er before running several of research assistant at LAU. Ezzeddine (BE ’83) and OLC (On-Line Community) Fabienne Antonia Congratulations to the the bank’s treasury opera- their two daughters, Lynn and she looks forward to hear- (BS ’99) recently accepted a following alumni for their leadership roles in the 1980s tions in Africa. In 1992, he Naila Khairallah and Jena. Zayour joined the ing from her classmates. position as the director of mar- Lebanese national unity government: Reem Rashash-Shaaban joined Citibank Private Bank (BS ’86) is the technical direc- staff of Clemenceau Medical [nada1_t(at)hotmail.com] keting for L’Oréal, Lebanon. HE Mr. Apraham G. Dedeyan (BE ’61) Minister of Industry (MA ’81) recently became in New York serving its tor for Golder Associates Center as a part-time gas- HE Mr. Mohammad Safadi (BBA ’68) Minister of Economy and Trade the director of the University Swiss, French, and Benelux (United Kingdom), Ltd., an troenterologist and hepatolo- Jenny Nasr Maria Ghazzaoui HE Dr. Tarek Mitri (BA ’74) Minister of Information Preparatory Program at AUB. clients before moving to JP international company which gist. In addition, she start- (BS ’98, MS ’00) has been (BA ’99) is a project officer for HE Mrs. Raya Mohammad Ali Haffar (BBA ’87) Minister of Finance Morgan in 1994 where he provides expertise in ground ed a group practice called working at the UN Food and the Jordan Program (Middle HE Mr. Gebran Bassil (BE ’92, ME ’93) Minister of Energy and Water Asma (Farah) Ghannam focused on the Middle East. engineering and earth Primed that includes special- Agriculture Organization (FAO) East Desk) at the Canadian HE Dr. Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh (former student) Minister of Health (BS ’82) is a director in the Starting in 2001, Lorentz led and environmental serv- ists from all facets of health in Rome for the last four years. International Development HE Mr. Wael Abou Faour (BBA ’94) Minister of State Medical Communications the development of Barclays’ ices. She lives in London. care. She can be reached at She is currently enrolled in the Agency (Government of Department of Merck private banking business in [NKhairallah(at)golder.com] dzayour(at)yahoo.com. Bilal University of London program Canada) in Ottawa.

62 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 63 Beyond Bliss Street Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s c l a s s n o t e s

2000s Jihane Najjar Mary Choueiter vention and control of avian Recently Honored Makram Bou Nassar (BA ’06) is a 2-D designer at George Kikano (BA ’00) After receiving his Wolff Olins, a branding firm in degree in economics, Bou New York City. Nassar earned both an MS in international money and Jacques Khoriaty banking (with merit) and a doctorate from Birmingham University, United Kingdom. graduating last June with her and pandemic influenza at the Almost half of all These degrees are in master’s in environmental sci- Ministry of Health in Pakistan. university graduates addition to his law degree from (BA ’01, MA ’03) is head where he has been involved in ence, Abi Ghannam moved to Zaka works with the govern- entering the labor the Lebanese University. He is of recruitment for Debbane major projects including the Austin, Texas. She married ment on a local and national market in Lebanon acting director of the Foreign Group. [jihanenajjar@gmail. King Abdullah Financial District Chadi El Mohtar, a professor level and with international emigrate each year in (BS ’82, MD ’86) is profes- Affairs Department at the com] in Riyadh and King Abdullah of civil engineering at the NGOs to implement govern- search of better job sor and chairman of Family Central Bank of Lebanon and Economic City in Jeddah. He University of Texas at Austin, ment policies that prevent and opportunities, according Medicine at Case Western a part-time lecturer in econom- Marc Sfeir has advised a number of (BE ’06) is currently pursuing on July 5. [niveen.abi.ghan- control the spread of the flu in to an AUB-led survey on alumni Reserve University and ics and business at various (BE ’01) works as an associ- regional and international a master’s degree in air trans- [email protected]] Pakistan. He is a member of trends. University Hospitals. He universities, including AUB, ate for Merrill Lynch in London, companies including Barclays port management at l’Ecole the National Public Health The 2009 survey, led by AUB was recently honored by the the Hariri Canadian University, United Kingdom. Capital, UBS, Servcorp, Nationale de l’Aviation Civile Basma Al Nabulsi Board, which is responsible professor Jad Chaaban and AUB Northern Ohio Lebanese and the Arab Open University. Société Générale, Philips, and – ENAC in Toulouse, France. (BA ’07) is an executive for creating government policy Director of Alumni Relations Association. Among his many Arabia Osseiran, was conducted He writes, “AUB had a great Dalia El Khoury AVAYA. [saeed.serbeh(at)dtz. Prior to enrolling in the pro- assistant at McGraw Hill on public health initiatives and distinguished awards and in collaboration with the Hariri positive impact on me, and I (BS ’02, MS ’05) has joined com] gram, he worked as an air- Educational Services in the monitoring and evaluating all achievements are the follow- Foundation for Sustainable will always be proud to have the AUB Nutrition and Food port civil engineer for two United Arab Emirates. major public health activities in ing: the Charles L. Hudson, Human Development. The survey been one of its students.” Science Department as an Hanine Estephan years with Almabani General the country. [arifmzaka(at) MD, Distinguished Service results were released at a launch Bou Nassar is engaged to assistant professor. (BS ’04, MPH ’06) is a fellow at Contractors in Jeddah, Saudi Edmond Ramly yahoo.com] Award from the Academy of ceremony hosted by AUB’s Hiba Amro, who works with Harvard Graduate Consortium Arabia. [khoriaty_jacques(at) (BE ’07) is currently an indus- Medicine for Cleveland and Issam Fares Institute for Public him at the Central Bank. She Ramzy Jabbour for Energy and Environment hotmail.com] trial engineering intern at Maryam Fahd Northern Ohio; repeated inclu- Policy and International Affairs in is also a part-time instruc- (BA ’02) is a consultant and a doctor of science can- the University of Wisconsin (BBA ’08) recently became sion on lists of best doctors Bathish Auditorium on October tor at LAU. [MBounassar(at) responsible for Qatar and didate at Harvard University in Rita Mahfouz Hospital and a PhD candi- the catering coordinator at both regionally and nation- 28. Titled “Higher Education and bdl.gov.lb] Kuwait markets with Norman Cambridge, Massachusetts. (BBA ’06, MA ’09) is a senior date in industrial engineering Four Seasons Hotels and ally (Top Docs, Cleveland Labor Outcomes in Lebanon,” the Alex, a specialized recruitment investment officer at Fransa at the University of Wisconsin Resorts in Lebanon. study was introduced by Rami Magazine [2002], Best Ghada company in Lebanon. Jad Khairallah Invest Bank (FIB) in Lebanon. in Madison. Khouri, IFI executive director, Doctors in America [2003-04], Nuwayhed Salha (BS ’05) was Nataly Chebib during a launch ceremony in West Area’s Top Docs, Northern (BS ’00, MPH ’05) worked Safouan Hage promoted to brand manag- Niveen Ghassan Abi Arif Zaka (BBA ’09) recently became a Hall. “It’s important to understand Ohio Live Magazine [2004 to in Abu Dhabi for three years (BE ’03) is an electrical and er, Baby Care at Johnson & Ghannam (MPH ’07) is the national pro- finance assistant with USAID/ why young people move around, with the National Health installation engineer with J. Johnson Middle East in the (BS ’07, MSES ’09) After gram manager for the pre- OTI in Lebanon. how they see themselves, so Insurance Company Daman Ray McDermott ME in the United Arab Emirates. that we could undertake more as a supervisor in the Claims United Arab Emirates. effective policy throughout the TO THE CLASS OF 2004! Rassil Zeineddine (BBA ’04) writes: “It was a great region,” he said. Department and later as Shirin Muhsen pleasure and honor to have all of you with us at the 2004 Class Reunion. It all project manager for e-claims. Saeed Serbeh (BS ’05, MD came together thanks to the hard work of a great team composed of a group More On-line Currently Salha lives in Doha, (BBA ’03) is a senior real ’09) is a research fellow at of 2004 alumni from different majors. We started planning for this reunion in Qatar. She enjoys spending estate consultant at DTZ, one Memorial Sloan Kettering http://www.aub.edu.lb/ spring 2009, and a great team effort made our five-year reunion a reality. We time with her two wonderful of the leading real estate con- Cancer Center in New York news/archive/ mobilized all our resources to contact many of you through Facebook, e-mail, little girls Natalie and Yasmina. sultancy firms in the world. City. [shirinmuhsen84(at)hot- preview.php?id=100000 and phone calls. We were thrilled to finally get the hard copy of the long awaited [ghadasalha(at)gmail.com] He is based in Saudi Arabia mail.com] yearbook as well as a second version of it on a CD. A big thank you to our volunteer team: Wael Kichli, Lamis Jomaa, Hala Sibai, Amer Jombea, Hassan Mohana, and Tala Mahfouz. Without them this event could not have happened. We came from different circles of life, but we were united by our passion 64 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate for our alma mater." www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 65 Beyond Bliss Street c l a s s n o t e s

present]); the 2005 Medical for Human Rights Policy at reform in Lebanon. She has Hassib J. Sabbagh his life: the Lebanese pass- Leadership Award from AUB’s Harvard University’s Kennedy worked for the UN to improve A good friend and benefac- port and his AUB passport— Alumni Association of North School of Government and the humanitarian situation tor of the University, Hassib his degree. He, in turn, has America; and Manchester the Hariri Foundation in the of Palestinian refugees in J. Sabbagh, died Tuesday, helped many young men and Who’s Who Among United States. The award Lebanon, including the crisis January 12 in Cleveland, women to acquire their own Executives and Professionals honors the politician, journal- at Nahr el Bared Palestinian Ohio. Born in Safed, Pales- AUB “passports.” He has tine into a family that owned also provided extraordinary in Managed Care, Medicine ist, and newspaper editor Camp in May 2007. Merhi a fishery business, Sabbagh financial support to programs and Health Care, “Honors Gebran Ghassan Tueni who holds numerous certificates in attended the Arab College at AUBMC and the Faculty of Edition.” Kikano is currently came to prominence in 2000 the field of human rights. in Jerusalem and graduated Medicine that have benefited on the Board of Directors of for his strong political views from AUB in 1941 with a BE students, faculty, and patients the Ohio Academy of Family and who died in a car bomb Ibrahim Federation of Organizations of in civil engineering. He went alike. In 1978, he founded Physicians, and the Council of explosion in December 2005. Duhaini Medical Physics and present- on to found Consolidated the Diana Tamari Sabbagh International Programs in the Merhi is a researcher, human (BS ’95) was elected presi- ed a paper entitled, “Why Contractors Company (CCC) (DTS) Foundation, which was United States. rights activist, and freelance dent of the Middle East Lebanon and Middle Eastern with partners including his established upon the death journalist. She recently con- Federation of Organizations of Countries are in need of a brother-in-law Said Khoury. of his wife, to fund the basic Rima Merhi ducted research at the Middle Medical Physics (MEFOMP) certifying Body in Medical That company has become sciences, medical research (BA ’90, MA ’02) is one of East Institute and the Library during the World Congress of Physics.” Duhaini is the chief one of the largest engineering and academic programs at and construction companies AUB and in the region. In Hassib Sabbagh was a tee emeritus of the Cleveland the very first recipients of of Congress in Washington, Medical Physics and physicist and radiation safety in the Middle East with offices addition to playing an instru- great humanitarian: he was a Clinic Foundation in Cleve- the Gebran G. Tueni Human DC. In July 2005, she testi- Biomedical Engineering in officer in the Radiation Therapy worldwide. mental role in rebuilding Col- founder and past chairman land, Ohio. We know much Rights Fellowship Program fied before the US Congress September 2009 in Munich, Department of Rafik Hariri When Sabbagh received lege Hall, which reopened in of both the Welfare Associa- about his public life, but he Award which is co-spon- on youth aspirations for politi- Germany where he chaired University Hospital in Beirut. an honorary doctorate from 1999, Consolidated Contrac- tion and the Palestine Stu- was also a silent philanthro- sored by the Carr Center cal, economic, and social the meeting of the Middle East [duhaini(at)yahoo.com] AUB in 2003, he recalled that tors Company and its found- dents Fund; a founder of pist, an extraordinarily gener- when he started his life jour- ers also supported the con- the Carter Center and of ous man who quietly sup- ney in 1948 as a Palestinian struction of the CCC Scientific the Georgetown University ported those in need. refugee, he had two pass- Research Building, which was Center for Muslim Christian Peter F. Dorman ports that enabled him to build completed in 2007. Understanding; and a trus- President, AUB

Friends and and after the 1948 Arab- at Georgetown, he served as Colleagues Israeli war. He received a the director of the Center for Frederick Robert Korf master’s degree in political Contemporary Arab Studies, Become a card-carrying passed away in Carmel, science and Islamic studies published dozens of schol- AUBite and apply for the California on September 8, from Germany’s University of arly articles and reviews in 2008. Korf, who was a Heidelberg in 1964 and a English, German, and Arabic, new AUB alumni ID today. professor of education and doctorate in Middle Eastern and edited several books. He director of tests and meas- history and political science is survived by his wife, Mary urements at AUB, taught at from Oxford University in C. McDavid of Washington, the University from 1953- 1967 before moving to Leb- DC; two brothers and two 70. He is survived by his anon in 1968 to take up a sisters. You can apply on campus at College wife Ann Marie Korf. position as assistant profes- Hall, 3rd floor or by email if you are sor at AUB. He left AUB and Alumni a registered user of the AUB On-line Former AUB faculty member 30, 2008 in his Washington, academia in 1972 to work Dr. Puzant Krikorian (MD Community (www.aub.edu/alumni). Ibrahim Iskandar Ibrahim, DC home. He was born in in the United Arab Emirates, ’35) passed away on October 75, a prominent scholar of 1932 in northern Palestine but later went to George- 31, 2009. He was born in Aint- Your AUB alumni ID gets you: Middle Eastern history and and went on to study in town University where he ab, Turkey in 1909 to Coffing • quick and easy access to campus public policy and an author- Jerusalem and teach Pales- became a research profes- and Lucia Krikorian. In 1919, • discounted membership at the ity on Egypt, died November tinian refugee children during sor in 1979. While teaching after surviving the genocide, Charles Hostler Student Center • access to Jafet library with an annual membership More benefits for AUB alumni are on the way. 66 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate www.aub.edu.lb/maingate | MainGate Winter 2010 67 • the latest job postings on the Get your AUB ID card today! On-line community. Write to us at alumni(at)aub.edu.lb. his family was deported and study medicine at AUB. In Professor Emeritus Fuad associate professor in the moved between Syria, Leba- 1935, he graduated from the Hanna Tarazi (BA ’57, Department of Arabic and non, and Cyprus before set- Medical School and moved MA ’60) passed away on Near Eastern Studies. He tling in Jerusalem, Palestine. to Tripoli, Lebanon to work November 13, 2009 at the left to get his PhD from Cairo Although he did not receive at the Presbyterian Mission age of 95. Born in Gaza in University before returning Hospital under Dr. Boys. He 1914, he graduated from the once again to teach at AUB married Margaret Badeer in College of Arabic in Jerusa- in 1968. After his retirement 1941 and moved to Beirut in lem (1931) and received a he was appointed profes- 1949 where they established teaching diploma in 1933. sor emeritus in 1995. His the Christian Medical Center He then worked as a teacher many publications included Hospital. He stayed at the at Al-Rashidiyya School in Muslim bin Al Waleed and hospital for 26 years partner- Jerusalem before becoming Al Ishtiqaq, both printed by ing with Dr. Peter Manoogian the principal of Al-Omariya AUB Press. He also translat- and Augustine Badeer, Mar- School. He arrived in Bei- ed Margaret Mitchell’s novel garet’s brother, who acted as rut in 1952 to work as a Gone with the Wind and the hospital administrator. In teacher in AUB’s Preparatory The Study of the History of 1975 Krikorian and Margaret School (later known as IC). Science by George Sartori. moved to Fresno, California He decided to continue his He is survived by his sons where they lived together own education while teach- Wael (BE ’79, MBA ’82) and a formal education until he until Margaret passed away ing and earned his bachelor’s Raed Fuad Tarazi (BS ’84, was a teenager, Krikorian in 2008. in Arabic literature from AUB MD ’88), daughters Randa immediately showed strong with high honors in 1957 and Fuad Tarazi (BS ’74, MD ’79) academic promise so his par- Department of Arabic and a master’s degree in 1960. and Mona (BARCH ’88), and ents sent him to Beirut to Near Eastern Languages In 1961 he was appointed their families.

Partnerships for AUB William Mitri Endowed Scholarship Nahia Mitri, one of seven siblings born in the Golan Heights in the early 1900s, lived in a tightly knit but very poor family. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, her mother was illiterate. Nahia was very close to her younger brother William: they looked alike, acted alike, even had the same mannerisms. Although all the children went to school, limited funds meant that Nahia had little higher education. Even so, she found a job teaching in Iraq and would send money to help William. William went on to graduate from AUB, found his own accounting company, and support his siblings' families. Though he never married, he became well-known in Beirut, at one time serving as the president of the Lions Club. Just after World War II, Nahia married a British officer and spent the rest of her days in the United Kingdom. She died in 2006. Her wish was to endow a scholarship in memory of her beloved brother. It was the greatest gift we could give to her and to AUB. Leila Maw Straus, New York, USA Antony Maw, Javea, Spain Giving makes a difference. Contact [email protected] to learn more. 68 MainGate Winter 2010 | www.aub.edu.lb/maingate http://give.aub.edu Last Glance Photo © Mazen Jannoun

MainGateAmerican University of Beirut Quarterly Magazine

Departments: Letters 2

Inside the Gate Views from Campus 66 new faculty faces on campus; environmentally-friendly concrete; 4 FEA’s prize winning bath; Founders Day 2009

Beyond Bliss Street

MainGate Connections Lifescape 44 Art, nature, and the knowledge that Lebanon was going to stay, and life will go on and on. Alumni Profile Fawzi Kyriakos Saad (BE ’84) on financial rollercoasters, LIFE, 48 how to launch a Russian business school, and paradise in Ashrafieh. Reflections I Feel Your Pain: Speaking with Suhayl Jabbur (BS ’52, MD ’56) 50 Alumni Happenings Alumni publications; WAAAUB elections; chapter holiday extravaganzas; 53 Class Reunion 2010 Class Notes Alumni in government leadership; Rima Merhi (BA ’90, MA ’02) 60 receives the Gebran G. Tueni Human Rights Fellowship Program Award; and plenty of news on families, friends, and alumni on the move.

In Memoriam 67

MainGate is published quarterly in Production American University of Beirut Cover Beirut by the American University Office of Communications Artwork by the Office of of Beirut for distribution to alumni, Office of Communications Randa Zaiter Communications former faculty, friends, and PO Box 11–0236 supporters worldwide. Riad El Solh 1107 2020 Photography Beirut, Lebanon Editor Mazen Jannoun Tel: 961-1-353228 Ada H. Porter Hasan Nisr Fax: 961-1-363234 Director of Communications Nishan Simonian AUB Library Archives New York Office 3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Responsible Director 8th Floor January 7, 2010 Nabil Dajani Contributing Writers New York, NY 10017–2303 Maureen Ali Tel: 212-583-7600 Carolyn Anning A beautiful winter day in Beirut: clear skies after the storm. More On-line Art Direction and Design Fax: 212-583-7651 Office of Communications Jean-Marie Cook Najib Attieh Ann Kerr-Adams Zeina Tawil Susanne Lane [email protected] Printing Tomoko Furukawa Barbara Rosica www.aub.edu.lb 53 dots (Dar El Kotob)