VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017
Equipped for the Future
42 30 6 academic self. development ofthewholeperson andnotonlythe Reem MaghribiinvestigateshowLAUfosters the classroom, thoughnotnecessarilyoutsidetheuniversity. and personal attributeshappensmostlyoutsidethe goal ofacademicprograms, thedevelopmentofskills While theattainmentofknowledgeisverymuch top Employability, morethanjust of Leadership skillsaspillars FEATURES Halting thebrain
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grades grades university studentseagertoimpress future employers. leadership training becomesahotcommodity with for themarketplace,IrinaduQuenoystudieshow increasingly prioritizetheirabilitytoprepare graduates in youngpeople.Asinstitutionsofhigherlearning been floodedwithprograms aimedatdeveloping it desirable thatalllevelsoftheeducationsystemhave the qualityof“leadership” hasemerged asatrait so Across thelandscapeofAmerican-styleeducation success, evenamongthenation’s underprivileged. initiatives thathavemadeheadway andare yielding ideas tofruitioninLebanon.LizziePorter explores new a mechanismforpeopletoremain andbringtheir partners. ThisisexactlywhatLAUtryingtocreate, the university alsoinvestsmoneyintheirideaas students. Theyare notonlygivethemaplacetowork, invest intheentrepreneurship ideasoftheirgraduating Top U.Suniversities havecreated venture fundsto
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& alumni bulletin |issuenº 2 |Summer2017 68 63 62 58 57 56 54 53 48 46 40 39 38 36 34 28 27 26 24 20 19 18 16 15 14 10 4 CONTENTS T From theboardroom A from Diversity inthespotlight Campus notes on Putting studentsontherightcareer path Honoring sixdecades ofthe Promoting education through exchange the Young designersmake theirdebutinto GenderequalityintheworkforceOp-Ed medical Q&A Chasing theirdreams Why Staying connected We recycle for acause A T A B T L scholarship Students’ achievementsunderline A Postcard from L T A ackling pr AU ife expectancy of family-owned businesses ife offamily-owned expectancy he valueofcollaboration andlearning whatmakeshat’s themagicanddance occur he key valueofsimulated-based n essential part of the medical body ofthemedical body n essentialpart brightfuture for sports lumni update researchn indispensible tool mathematical solution eyond theclassroom
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 President Wherever You Go Joseph G. Jabbra LAU Magazine & Alumni Bulletin is your platform for sharing Editorial Advisory Board photos and news about yourself, your family and your friends. We Gabriel Abiad, AVP Marketing & Communications encourage you to update us on your professional and personal Nassib Nasr, AVP Development, MENA and Europe activities and achievements — from wherever you are! Abdallah Al Khal, AVP Alumni Relations Edward Shiner, Director, Alumni & Special Projects
Managing Editor Leena F. Saidi
Associate Editor Linda Dahdah
Copy Editor Irina du Quenoy
Writers Lina Abirafeh Lina Beydoun Naseem Ferdowsi Sima Itayim Reem Maghribi Lizzie Porter Victoria Yan
Contributors Zeina Abdallah Amal Abdel Massih Lana Abou Teen Nicole Barghoud Sevine Fakhoury Manwa Ghanoum Ghada Majed Nayla Abou Merhi Moujaes Nada Torbey Help Tell Our History Zoya Zahabi We welcome news from alumni, friends, supporters and current and former Editorial Assistant faculty and staff members representing all of the university’s current and Hoda Hilal former schools and colleges. Submit your stories and photos for inclusion Production Manager in LAU’s online and print publications. Sana Kouatly
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page 2 Pr Joseph students areequippedforthefuture. life, inaddition tolearningandcivicengagementofallsorts. Inthisissue, wehighlightsomeofthemanymeansbywhich our thinking person, thecultivationofcreativity, thematurationofsocialandculturalsensibilitiesevenincreasedpassionfor higher education, thebestoutcomesofauniversityexperiencegofar beyondthis. They includethedevelopment ofthewhole, Although technical andpracticalknowledge, aswellskillsforcareerpreparationareimportantandnecessarygoalsof training and high-school students, aswellitsownModelEuropean UnionandModel Arab League, inadditiontootherleadership have beenrunexclusivelybytheuniversitysince2016. The unitalsocuratesLebanon’sModelUnitedNationsformiddle- head oftheliststandsGlobalClassroomsInternationalModelUnitedNations, whoseflagshipconferencesinNew York a rangeofprogramsexplicitlyfocusedonfosteringleadership-relatedsoft skillsinyouthbothLebanonandabroad. At the In this, asinmanyotherareas, LAU hasbeenaheadofthecurve. The university’s Outreach andCivicEngagementunitoversees philosophy thatsuch skills—thekeytothesuccessofyouthintoday’sworld—arebestenhancedthroughsystematictraining. for instance, hasemergedasaqualitysodesirablethatuniversitiesprestigious Yale andStanfordhaveembracedthe One resultoftheseeffortshasbeenidentifyingthetraitsthatemployersvaluemostinrecentgraduates. Leadership, a centralconcernofmanysuch institutesworldwide. to mountingcallsmakeuniversityeducationmorerelevanttheworkplace, enhancinggraduateemployability hasbecome Throughout thesectors, recruitersarelookingfor “work-ready” graduateswithclearevidenceofjobspecificskills. Inresponse In today’seconomicclimateandcompetitiveglobalmarket, enterprisesareunderpressuretoincreaseproductivity. Dear Friends, From thePresident’s Desk job tests thathelpstudentsidentifythetypeofjobandworkenvironmentmostsuitedtothem, andcoaches studentsfor information andsupportoncampusthroughourcareerguidanceoffice, which organizescareerfairs, runsinterestinventory evolution ofthejobmarket. As theyneargraduation, studentsseekingemploymentinthesemarketsfindawealth of The universityisalsoconstantlyadaptingitsprogramsthroughacultureofself-assessmentinordertomeettheconstant wishing toexcelandhonetheirskills. Enrollment Management, theLAU divisionthatoversees manyoftheunitsofferingextracurricularinitiativesforstudents skills andpersonalattributes—which happensmostlyoutsidetheclassroom—ischief goalofStudentDevelopmentand While theattainmentoffield-specificknowledgeisverymuch theobjectiveofacademicprograms, thedevelopmentofsoft provides studentswithgreatinternshipopportunitiesinwell-establishedindustriesworldwide. To thatend, LAU’s involvementwiththeInternational Association fortheExchange ofStudentsfor Technical Experience make better-informeddecisionsabouttheircareerchoice andpath, shorteningtheirtransitionfromuniversitytoemployment. The experiencestudentsgainduringinternshipsorotherreal-lifeprojects—whetherathomeabroad—clearlyhelpsthemto opportunities tostudyabroad. of InternationalServiceshasestablishedagreementswithmorethan40partnersworldwide, givingstudentsawealthof with organizationalpractices. Furthermore, asinternationalexposureincreasesstudentsuccessafter graduation, ourOffice international enterprisesenablestudentstoacquireprofessionalknowledgeintheirdisciplinesandfamiliarize themselves market intheirchosen fields, findandretainjobs, anddeveloptheircareer. CollaborationbetweenLAU andlocal Beyond leadership, employability dependsonstudentsdevelopingtheskillsnecessarytosuccessfullynavigateemployment esident
interviews. interviews.
G programs. . Jabbra page 3 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 During a groundbreaking ceremony held Sehnaoui, the Chairman and CEO of A bright in April, LAU laid the foundation stone Société Générale de Banque au Liban of the Antoun Nabil Sehnaoui–SGBL (SGBL), pledged a generous $7 million Athletics Center on the Byblos campus. allowing the university to add the 8,500 future for SGBL senior management, university square-meter three-story athletics center leaders, community members and to the Byblos campus. The facility is dignitaries and hundreds of students expected to open in mid-2021 and will sports attended the milestone event. include a swimming pool, multipurpose By Naseem Ferdowsi “Sports can change the world,” indoor court, outdoor football pitch, stressed Khalil Khamis, an LAU student basketball and tennis courts, as well as a on the men’s football team, citing gym and several other related amenities. LAU breaks ground on Nelson Mandela. “Since athletics is “The center will include everything based on global ethics, fair play, respect that any young man and woman needs in a multi-million dollar and friendship, it can have a positive terms of forming a sound mind and body,” influence on peace within a society, as explained LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra. athletics center well as on its development,” he told the Describing Sehnaoui’s long-held passion gathered audience. for philanthropy and his interest in the Addressing Antoun Sehnaoui himself, benefits of sports for community building, the athlete added, “Thank you for Jabbra said, “Antoun wanted to contribute believing in youth and our potential for a in a major way to building an athletics better future.” center on the Byblos campus because he
page 4 President for Development commitment,” said donation to forhe seeksthebest mankind, and his years, the destroys people,” between allbarriers said and bysociety the isolationimposed and divisionsin problems andsocial to ourpolitical andhealthysolution an important can be solidarity andfoster coexistence. “Sports tocreate unityand ofsports the power and womenfrom diverseenvironments.” interaction youngmen and social between but also a platform for discussion, dialogue facility,complex asports willnotonlybe different backgrounds.” Headded, “ felt from itwouldbringtogetherpeople “Having known I ndeed, strongly Sehnaouibelieves in
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Leadership RE
U skills as pillars T A E F of success Integrating civic engagement with extra-curricular activities encourages students to broaden their horizons and gain leadership qualities sought by employers
By Irina du Quenoy
page 6 business major conference hostedat oversaw thetraining ofmore than300 General ofthe me andhasstuck,” hesays. and the a suddeninterest in last June. Withitsunfortunate outcome, leadership experience ofhisown. his agehaveacquired —substantial to thetablesomethingfew youngpeople nation,most powerful the presence oftheleadersworld’s Washington, at the thesummer internship andisspending from mytimeat respond withanexampleandexperience unrelated questions, itwasalwayseasyto my role init. to learnmore theprogram about and “ as Director-General spring. thispast students,high school ofwhichheserved university’s around “ internships atthe on thephonewithaninterviewerfor A “Overlooking the smooth running ofthe thesmooth “Overlooking task,difficult butonethatherelished: E history, ofthe functionsandpolitics L the day involved. “ M MEU T T eb uropean few months ago, uller jumped atthechanceuller jumped tobecome When, 2016, inOctober While hewillcertainly learnalotin he interviewerwasextremely intrigued he conversation revolved heavily anese high school studentsinthe anese highschool toitsroster ofsimulationprograms, U MEU .S. E uropean U HouseofRepresentatives in I happened to be in tobe happened nion, culminatinginafinal B M
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 FEATURE
T ypically, the students engage in role- as Yale and Stanford have embraced the of character building — the teenage play, meet high-level politicians and philosophy that leadership skills are key years are, after all, formative — on the visit national monuments, all with the to youth success in today’s world and college level, their purpose takes on a goal of fostering leadership capabilities. that they are best enhanced through different meaning altogether. Namely, as According to a New York Times article systematic training. In this as in many institutions of higher learning increasingly from 2009, although most participants other areas, LAU has been ahead of the prioritize their ability to prepare report high levels of satisfaction, a number curve, particularly through the university’s graduates for the marketplace, leadership of questions surround the concept. For Outreach and Civic Engagement Unit training becomes a hot commodity with example, participation comes at a cost, (OCE), which oversees a range of programs university students eager to impress sometimes of thousands of dollars, closing explicitly focused on fostering leadership- future employers. the door to this opportunity for students related soft skills in youth both in Lebanon Indeed, a quick investigation into the from disadvantaged backgrounds. And and abroad. At the top of the list stands corporate world reveals that “leadership” according to the college admissions the Global Classrooms International Model as a concept encompasses a range of counseling company College Confidential, United Nations (GCI MUN), of which traits that employers are looking for in admissions officers “usually just yawn flagship conferences in New York have eager young applicants. These include when they see [one of these for-profit been run exclusively by LAU since 2016. confidence, communication skills programs] mentioned on the application,” But OCE also curates Lebanon’s own including public speaking, the capacity because the selection criteria for taking MUN for middle and high school students to take responsibility and negotiation part are actually quite loose and have (GC LAU MUN), the already-mentioned abilities, as well as networking and more to do with ability to pay than Model European Union (LAU MEU) and problem-solving competences, among anything else. the Model Arab League (LAU MAL), in others. All of which LAU students Luckily, the for-profit sector is not the addition to offering other leadership may gain under the auspices of OCE, only player in the leadership training field. training opportunities. as every single one of the simulation Government entities such as the U.S. While the benefits of such programs programs mentioned above is run by Department of State, non-profits such as aimed at middle and high school students themselves. the YMCA and universities as prestigious students seem to rest mainly in the realm “I was always interested in public
page 8 and deliverables, andbuildingasense activities to communications, onits reporting involving “coordinating thesecretariat’s resume ofanexperienced manager, for studentsread middleschool like the General of theGC B his Frederick and fell inlovewithitatonce,” says speaking, andwhen at here isapositive “ yblos. Hisresponsibilities asSecretary- employability.” programs and student leadership correlation between T LAU M lie Samia, LAU assistant vice — . A
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Chasing their dreams
The graduating class of Thousands of guests and hundreds of to share in the joy of graduating classes graduates filled both the Beirut and Byblos of 2017. However, the focus was of the 2017 celebrated the end campuses this June, attending a series of speeches was very much on the future and commencement ceremonies to celebrate how LAU, its students and alumni could of a rewarding journey the end of the arduous and fulfilling shape and improve it — for themselves, and the beginning journey of the 1,814 students who earned their community and their country. Four degrees from one of LAU’s seven schools. recipients of honorary doctorates, three of a bright future for Before offering an overview of the valedictorians and two keynote speakers university’s strategic and academic all joined President Jabbra in encouraging themselves and Lebanon. accomplishments, LAU President Joseph the graduates to use the knowledge and G. Jabbra told the audiences that the key skills they gained at LAU in the service objectives of these ceremonies was to of Lebanon. celebrate the achievements of the LAU family during the past academic year and
Never tiring of encouraging young people as they embark on their lives post university, Joseph G. Jabbra, in his 13th year as president of LAU, urged the graduates to “strive for excellence, be ethical and uphold your values, and most importantly, to serve and love the other.” Referring to the university, he pointed out, “Through continued success… LAU has become a powerhouse, taking its rightful place in the constellation of leading institutes of higher education.” However, the president stressed, “We need to do more, to be indefatigable, to continue to self-improve in serving the young people of Lebanon, the MENA region, and beyond.”
page 10 During the commencement ceremonies, LAU presented honorary doctorates in humane letters to four eminent figures and outstanding achievers from the fields of finance, media and advertising: innovative banker Naaman Azhari, award- winning journalist Marcel Ghanem, regional advertising pioneer Joseph Ghossoub, and visionary financier Salim Sfeir.
“ We are in need of you, to stand up to the deteriorating political and economic situation in Lebanon … so the Lebanese here can achieve the miracles that those abroad have.” —Naaman Azhari The former Minister of Finance, Economy and Planning in Syria and current chairman of BLOM Bank Group, was in 2013 awarded for Distinguished Service to Banking by the Arab Bankers Association.
“ I hear too much about emigration and thoughts that this country is not worthy of your success and achievements … Don’t let the divisions, political parties and politics affect you … Come together for the benefit of Lebanon.” —Marcel Ghanem Through his popular show Kalam Ennas, the award-winning journalist has been a powerful and influential voice for democracy, freedom of expression, social justice and political autonomy.
“ You have no choice but to think outside the box and be innovative enough to look for roles that would differentiate you from your peers, and strangely, from machines.” —Joseph Ghossoub A pioneer in the MENA region’s advertising industry, the founder of the holding group MENACOM was the first recipient of the first-ever Dubai Lynx Advertising Person of the Year Award.
“ You are the generation who will breathe new life into our nation and its people … Each and every one of you can make a change. You can not only change your fate but also that of your community and your country.” —Salim Sfeir Under the leadership of the Bank of Beirut Chairman and CEO, the financial institution was in 2014 recognized for being the “fastest growing bank in Lebanon” by Banker Middle East.
page 11 The president told the 46 graduating has progress been so fast and drastic. Dean of Gilbert and Rose-Marie medical students and ten residents of the Technology is allowing humanity to Chagoury School of Medicine Michel Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School automate most basic tasks…paving Mawad implored the graduating class to of Medicine in Byblos, “You are coming the way for a new industrial revolution prioritize compassion in their burgeoning out at a time when your education, that will transform our lives at an careers. “Sympathize and empathize experience and expertise are thoroughly unprecedented pace…so, you will move with patients, hold their hands, be there needed in order to meet the challenges from being simple users to sophisticated for them and let them feel deep down that medical education and healthcare designers and manufacturers.” Dealing in their inner selves that that day, you delivery systems face.” Touching upon with a “world full of uncertainties, have made your best effort,” said Mawad, current global crises, Jabbra urged all challenges and opportunities” requires professor of neurosurgery, neurology, students to remember that not only were strength of character, Hasbani pointed radiology, ophthalmology and practicing they students, but more importantly out, urging them to be self-confident and interventional radiologist at LAU Medical “students who heal.” undaunted by failure, but rather to learn Center–Rizk Hospital. “It is only in For his part, Lebanese Deputy Prime from it while remaining passionate and your discovery of the fears, anxieties, Minister and Minister of Public Health curious. “You will undoubtedly face all and desires of your patient that you will Ghassan Hasbani offered words of the existing ethical challenges of today’s become a doctor.” encouragement for the students facing world, but remember new ones are arduous times ahead. “Never before rapidly emerging.”
LAU’s Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing celebrated its 33 graduating students in the presence of former Minister Leila el Solh Hamade. An LAU honorary doctorate recipient (2006), el Solh Hamade spoke fondly of her special ties to the university, saying that this event was the only such ceremony she has accepted to attend this year. She paid homage to one of the “most noble and human professions,” reminding the audience that Lebanon, which currently counts 7,000 practicing nurses, needs no less than 17,000 nurses, which opens up great job opportunities for the graduates. “We need you,” she told the students before presenting them with pins and awards, alongside dean of the nursing school Anahid Kulwicki and LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra.
page 12 In turn, valedictorians thanked LAU and their families for being role models and nurturing them during their academic journey, and promised to come back and help the community that had given them so much.
“ LAU has exceptionally encouraged us to actualize our potential and to be great citizens of our community. We should follow the steps of our President Jabbra, who left Lebanon to actualize his intellectual potential but came back to share the harvest with his country.” —G hazi Ousmat Bou Ghanem, biology major Valedictorian, Beirut campus (Schools of Arts & Sciences and Architecture & Design graduation)
“ Today we celebrate the end of our journey at this prestigious university that has opened the doors for us into the real world, that has pushed us persistently beyond our limits, towards academic excellence, personal and social development, promoting respect, equality and being a true source of inspiration to every one of us to become leaders in our society.” —M arwan Hteit, business major Valedictorian, Beirut campus (Adnan Kassar School of Business graduation)
“Role models are not only physicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs and politicians, they’re plentiful. The strength of having you, dear parents and friends, by our side will get us to our next goal and destination. We will make you proud.” —M ahmoud Merhi Valedictorian, Byblos campus (Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine graduation)
“ It is at LAU that we learn how to have a stake in our country’s progress and in our destiny … Let’s leave our mark on a world that is different because we passed through it, because we are able to shape it and not only be passively shaped by it. Let’s dare to be extraordinary.” —H awraa Raoof, biology major Valedictorian, Byblos campus graduation
page 13 Adnan Kassar School of Business
Q&A Understanding Lebanese and Arab youths Survey explores the For three years, thirty researchers from their family and the deficiency of an fifteen Arab and European institutions affordable educational system. problems shaping the life conducted an ambitious cross-country They place very little confidence in project, titled the SAHWA Youth Survey. national and international institutions, of the region’s youth in Recently concluded, the EU-funded study especially their politicians, parliament and the aftermath of the so- examines the needs, expectations and political parties. Only one in three young difficulties faced by youth in the Arab people of voting age participated in the called “Arab Spring” that world. Adnan Kassar School of Business last elections. The main reason for not faculty members from the Department exercising their right to vote is disinterest started in 2011 of Economics Ghassan Dibeh, Walid (44.58 percent). The media (national and Marrouch and Ali Fakih took part in the foreign) are also regarded with distrust. initiative. We asked the LAU team about the results and impact of the study. Among the many papers written by LAU faculty as part of this initiative What are the main findings of was one that looked at emigration the survey? among the youth of Lebanon. What The SAHWA Youth Survey 2016 provides a are the main factors at play and what diverse database on various aspects of the policy recommendation did you make youth in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt to stem the brain drain? and Lebanon. Ten thousand young people International Migration published our aged 15 to 29 participated, allowing us to paper titled Decision to Emigrate amongst compile a more complete vision than ever the Youth in Lebanon on the causes of their life and concerns. behind youth emigration in Lebanon. The survey found that the youth in Based on the SAHWA Youth Survey, we these countries mainly live at home with established a socio-economic profile for one or both parents and are mostly single. a typical young Lebanese who reports a They are equally divided between urban willingness to emigrate. and rural areas, and around 85 percent The results indicate that youth from still live in the place they were born. Of non-wealthy backgrounds living in smaller those who do move out, one in three do dwellings have a higher propensity to so because of marriage. The vast majority emigrate. We also found that being male is currently at or has attended school in and unemployed has an effect. Moreover, the past. Males tend to have a slightly while residents of poor regions are more higher rate of school attendance (97.46 likely to express willingness to emigrate, percent) than females (93.7 percent). But university education also promotes among those, females attain a higher rate such willingness. of tertiary education (27.09 percent) than Policy-makers might want to intervene males (23.09 percent). However, despite by improving the labor market in order to high level of school attendance, one out of absorb more youth. This means creating three youths consider that their education more jobs, improving the education- did not prepare them for the labor market. to-work transitions for young people, One in four of those surveyed are reducing the problem of skill mismatch currently employed. Roughly 33 percent between education and job requirements, are currently studying and 40.70 percent and solving the problem of regional are unemployed or housewives. Males disparities in income and wealth. tend to start work at 17 and females at Currently, access to the data of this 20 years of age. The lack of professional survey is restricted only to members of opportunities, the income gap between the SAHWA consortium and will made their home country and abroad, and poor available to the public in April 2018. living conditions are the main factors influencing a willingness to emigrate, with Europe being the preferred destination. Additional considerations include helping
page 14
SAHWA Youth Survey 2016 Descriptive Report
Elena Sánchez-Montijano, Irene Martínez, Moussa Bourekba and Elena Dal Zotto
and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary L T meetings here inLebanon.” five years,five the to really understand what’s eb “For members usasboard rustees heldits Boardroom happening and be ableto andbe happening add someinsight, it’s very anon, atuniversity’s important that we have important For timein thefirst annual gatheringin — campuses of From the Clay Pell, LAU member board for International andForeign Language Education . Saidi B and y L B eena F B oard of M B yblos eirut arch and integrated strategic planfor the expansion.” aglobal next phasewillbe geographically.expand “ idea ashewouldlike toseetheuniversity investment committee, welcomed the even of havingbranches inthe delivery andbyexploringthepossibility ofprogramof technological modes itsfrontiersbeyond through avariety part. is adaringmoveontheuniversity’s facultyboth andstudents. of learning through effective participation classroom, andencouraging interactive inthe and effective teachingmethods new advances andinnovationtosupport the learningprocess, usingtechnological atthecuttingedge of university’s position andisaimedatsecuringthe pedagogy funding agencies. attract more research grants from outside that agrant issetuptohelpfaculty office and research budget, andmakingsure years,five fostering afaculty development new faculty overthenextfour positions to end, and disseminationofknowledge. faculty andstrengthening thediscovery by recruiting andretaining excellent dedicated tofostering intellectualcapital composed ofthree pillars. strategic planthatis new five-year beyond. for eminence inthe key the that willbe topositioning madetwostrategicboard decisions and thecommunity atlarge. commitment itsstudents toserveboth institution’s drivefor excellence anddeep andexperience first-hand the staff to meetwithf T better known aroundbetter theworld, he board members took the opportunity theopportunity took members he board T T T A Peter he board alsoapprovedhe board anambitious he third pillar, he second pillarisdedicated to fter thorough consultations,fter the
LAU T beyond. beyond. his pillarwillhelptake T I will be adding over eighty-five addingovereighty-five willbe t approved SP anous, aculty, studentsand chairman of the board’s chairmanoftheboard’s LAU MENA without III A , theuniversity’s s A T LAU region and rab worldand he first is he first LAU becomes B I orders, thinkthe
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York State counteract backwardness.” and thatcan deterpoverty only weapon — civic engagement, SheikhWalidKatibah of instilling initsstudentstheimportance Pointing totherole playsin eachschool university’s education anditsvalues. members, inthe believe whofirmly scholars istaken bytheboard toheart the future oftheuniversityandits strong publicrelations program. communicate itssuccess storythrough a sustainabilityand financial the latter’s L of andRose- Gilbert and physics. resolution andanalysis, humanresources legal studies, communication, conflict undergraduate programs inarchitecture, timely andexcitingnewgraduate and of registration formalities withthe also approved completion —pending needs andjobopportunities, theboard students, aswelladapting tomarket enhance clinical education practice at itseducation mission, to effectivelyfulfill initsdrive to sustainthemedical school Rizk Hospital. the history ofthisuniversity,” saidChairmanof a transformationalbeen inthe person an innovatorandPresident Jabbra has “ unanimously extendhistermuntil 2020. have attestedtothis, to leadingtheboard President JosephG. Jabbra’s achievements leading itfrom strength tostrength. theguarantorshave been ofitsmission, history, thepresidents oftheuniversity clinics, for example, onWorld as amedical student, wouldvolunteerin recounted howhisson, duringhistime E AU ach oneoftheprevious presidents was “ T M T
M the father oftwo I o r hrough B feel proud,” hesays. “
aking strategic decisionsthatimpact edicine andthe M oard PhilipStoltzfus. espond totheneedsof espond edical Center-Rizk Hospital, ensure E LAU ducation Department — ducation Department T he purpose ofthisplanis he purpose ’s nearly nine decade-long ’s nearlyninedecade-long M arie Chagoury School arie ChagourySchool LAU LAU alumni—
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N page 15 page ew
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
More than 300 health practitioners LAU’s medical school has established The key and students flocked to Beirut’s Hilton a pioneering clinical simulation center Metropolitan Hotel for LAU’s Third (CSC) at the university’s Byblos campus, International Conference on Medical allowing students from different health- value of Education. Organized by the university’s related disciplines to practice their craft in Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School a patient-safe and controlled environment. simulation- of Medicine, this year’s conference The center puts the most recent centered on the use of simulation for technology at the service of its trainees, education and patient safety. The event via a large array of simulators ranging from based was held in collaboration with the Society low-fidelity task trainers to high-fidelity in Europe for Simulation Applied to computerized mannequins. Medicine (SESAM) and the Gathering “Medical simulation can and should medical of Healthcare Simulation Technology play a major role in preparing our trainees Specialists (SimGHOSTS). to face the challenges of real life once education “Preventable medical errors result in the they go out in the community and deaths of more than 400,000 American deliver healthcare,” said the Dean of the By Irina du Quenoy citizens each year and are the third cause medical school Dr. Michel Mawad. “Our LAU’s Third International of death in the United States,” said LAU goal today is to prepare young physicians President Joseph G. Jabbra, citing a report of the future to deliver healthcare with Conference on Medical published in the Principles and Practice of a minimum number of mistakes in the Clinical Research. Deficiencies within the shortest learning curve possible,” he Education focuses on the medical education culture are at the root said, adding that medicine should take importance of simulation for of these alarming statistics, highlighting its cue from other industries — such as innovative educational approaches such as construction or aviation — that have education and patient safety simulation-based learning. simulation at their core.
page 16 r. Vanda Abi Raad, director ofLAU’s he conference created a “ emphasized the importance ofstriking emphasized the importance speakers invited togiveaplenaryaddress, de Santéandoneofthenineinternational safetypatient atFrance’s Haute in medical error andsenioradvisoron response, Dr. René which iscritical tothehealingprocess. manner,the practitioner’s bedside medical education mightundermine the growing practice ofsimulationin raisedmember theissueofwhether thorny questions. One audience wecanimpact have.” hesaid. [addressing medical error] isthehighest improvements system, toourhealth-care which healthcare isprovided. “ is taught, butalsothefundamentalwayin only toradically changethewaymedicine T feedback andevaluationbyfaculty. simulation center activitiesfor real time recodingthat allowsfor ofall audio-visual simulatorsandan pediatric more with division, once in2014theCSCpartnered andHospitals Schools funding from the Dr.the medical school ZeinatHijazi. A without harminganypatients,” explained clinical skillsandassessmentabilities on thehumanbody, their tosharpen students. “Ouraimistotrain ourstudents care bythe orinterventionsperformed that improve orworsenaccording tothe with thelearnersandpresent conditions mannequins actlike real patients, interact information tothetrainers. High-fidelity connected tomonitors, provide real-time that simulatevitalcueswhich, esnier ssociate Deanof ssociate the medical simulation in ofadvancing ultimate goal professionals withthe community ofLebanese T N For S I LAU — nitially established with significant nitially establishedwithsignificant ew technologybringsnew, potentially
’s CSCuseslife-like mannequins country.” Clinical Simulation Center D e, not simulationhasthepotential E S AM A SH president Dr. A / U U M A S S AI malberti, aspecialist edical AI D topurchase A D’s broad ( A E A merican A ducation at ntoine -V system when A I n termsof A SH utorité A ) I n offer flexibility,” shesaid, adding, “ educational faculty,specialist it can also resourceoften intensiveandrequiring professionals andstudents. “ healthcareapproach tosupporting can provide ahighqualityandethical N M of simulationeducation inhealthcare at approaches totheaudience, professor privileged amongotherslearning simulation asaneducational method theoretical knowledge. simulationand a balance between E the Copenhagen work andorganizational psychologistat For example, Peter Dieckmann—a education. ofsimulation-based aspects numerous workshopsonthepractical the nineinternationalspeakers led audience bymeansofplenaryaddresses, stressful.”though itcan attimesbe also mostlyenjoytheexp procedural skills. For educationbased for developingclinical contemporary approaches tosimulation- simulation exercises. sessionsthatfollow ofdebriefing impact technical skillsandonmaximizingthe can teach healthcare professionals non- workshops onhowsimulationinstructors ducation andSimulation—led estel heldaplenarysessionthatexplored onash Pleased with the opportunity to have Pleased withtheopportunity I n additiontoenlighteningthe U niversity in A cademy for N A estel simulation ustralia, Debra erience even A lthough M edical L earners all medical schools in all medical schools simulation andfrom different disciplines. from arange ofexperiences intermsof impressed bythequalityof to thetable, Dieckmannadmittedtobeing educationexperience insimulation-based conference, national andregional level.” beyond ofthisconferencethe importance goes L education intheregion andthisisthefirst medical ofsimulation-based the field “We at committee oftheconference.scientific moves asit move simulationanditspotential I reflective,” hesaid, adding, “ event. “Participants were very engaged and healthcare practitioners whoattendedthe it created acommunity of Dr. Vanda in ofadvancingmedicalgoal simulation learn from eachotherwiththeultimate professionals who can commune withand committee.scientific “ ofthe director oftheCSCandco-chair of the Department think this mix is really important to thinkthismixisreally important eb L T T B anese conference ontheissue,” said he organizers madesure toinvolve he mostvaluableresult ofthe eb ringing almosttwodecades of anon.
forward.” LAU LAU A bi Raad, professor associate at are among thepioneersin A , being a landmark at both the alandmarkatboth being bi Raadinsisted, isthat A nesthesiology and L B eb ut we believe that ut webelieve anon inthe L eb T hey came anese L eb page 17 page anese
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Pharmacy
For the second year in a row, LAU has The interns, go out and witness actual An partnered with the pharmaceutical physicians’ visits, as well as product company MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) specific trainings, they also attend team Lebanon in a program that equips soon-to- meetings and are even able to interview essential graduate pharmacist with work-ready skills. MSD leaders. The selected candidates are “Employability is not limited to just always matched with a “buddy” to guide part of the securing a job, but also having a life-long them when they need additional support. rewarding career. This requires equipping This year, five LAU pharmacy students students with a set of skills, abilities and were selected out of 35 applicants. LAU medical attributes for them to be work-ready as Magazine & Alumni Bulletin spoke to three soon as they graduate,” says the Dean of of them: B.S. in Pharmacy graduate Michel the School of Pharmacy Imad Btaiche. The Khairallah, and 2018 Pharm.D. cohorts body program aims to do exactly that. Amjad Hamdan and Carole Najd. B y Leena F. Saidi However, it is LAU’s commitment to While Najd decided to apply to the the education of the whole person that academy after MSD’s presentation at Pharmacy students get has been fundamental to the repetition LAU, Khairallah’s previous knowledge of this spring of the initiative known as the the company steered his. “My decision up close and personal MSD Aim Hire Academy. “Besides the was based on a belief that it is the right excellent caliber among the LAU alumni place for a fresh graduate interested in with the profession of a that we witness in our MSD Lebanon team pharmaceutical sales to get proper training medical representative — where 30 percent of the organization and mentorship,” he explains. are LAU graduates — both institutions Although part of the program grooms share similar goals and aspirations for the students in the social behavior of a sales future,” points out the company’s Human representative, the students also attend Resources Lead, Layal Zeineddine. sessions on how to recognize and relate The initiative selects pharmacy students to different customer personalities, who are nearing graduation and who have as well as assess their own strengths “Employability is not limited the distinguished skills and attributes and weaknesses. to be considered as future hires by the “The academy helped me get hands- to just securing a job, but company. “The selected students, who go on training in the field of work I aspire to also having a life-long through the training program, receive a join,” says Khairallah. It also helped him certificate of completion,” explains Clinical pinpoint aspects about his character and rewarding career.” Associate Professor Lamis Karaoui, who is personality that he hadn’t noticed. The —Imad Btaiche, LAU dean of also the director of experiential education same sentiment was echoed by Najd: the School of Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy, adding, “They “This experience gave me a clear idea then become part of a pool of ‘more about my future career path and helped competitive’ candidates whenever the me identify my strengths, weaknesses and company has an opening.” personality type.” Through a program that is balanced By the end of the program, the interns between practical and theoretical content, had gained a deeper insight into the the academy exposes the students to profession of a medical representative. “I both the corporate world and the end know now that medical representatives costumer. Spread over a couple of months, are not sellers,” explains Hamdan.” They the program is open to both under- are an essential part of the medical body. and postgraduate pharmacy students They are the experts who guarantee that graduating within the same year. Potential physicians are properly informed about participants are asked to apply online and medications to make sure every patient go through almost the same assessments receives the best treatment possible.” as any other MSD employee. page 18 A equality will not be achieved willnotequality be birafeh tacklesobstacles Director ofthe but without major political in the engagement isattainable, workforce and socio-cultural shifts, shifts, and socio-cultural f or Women’sStudies to economic parity “Women’s economic equality equality Gender Gender A rab World in our in the in the I
nstitute lifetime.” L ina Op-Ed is economic equality. societies, womenandmen do notenjoy harassment intheworkplace. coverage andzero tolerance tosexual services,family support security social leave, paternity paid childcare andother should provide improved maternityleave, equal work. programs Structural support promotions for andensuringequalpay their careers, obtainingmerit-based “glass ceiling” for womeninadvancing byrecognizingfirstly theexistence ofthe include equalemploymentopportunities, promote byreforming parity to policies market would increase GDPinmany inthelabor and ensuringgenderparity another 170years. economic reached equalitywillnotbe for Gender GapReport, atthiscurrent pace, GDP by2025. add upto$12trillionannualglobal the economic sector, genderequalitycould is critical tosustainabledevelopment. gender inequality. country outof144countries intermsof men. women participate, versus70percent of economic sector, where only24percent of inthe aregender disparities magnified to whateffect? gender equalityintheirconstitution, but of 2014, 143countries includedclausesfor practices.by oppressive socio-cultural barriers,and political andremain shackled other developmentgoals. isnecessaryalone goal—it toachieveall peaceful world. achieving aresilient, prosperous and that genderequalityisnecessary for Development Go T countries. he I However, eveninthemostprogressive B Research hasshownthatgenderparity A celand— the first countryceland— toeliminate thefirst nd yet, womenstillsuffer from legal uilding women’seconomic capacities U L nited eb anon isranked the135thworst T he onusisonemployersto N ations’ Sustainable A ccording tothe Global I N n al Fiveexplicitlystates ot onlyisthisastand- L T eb he global aspirationhe global anon, for instance, A A I rab n s exists. women andyeta21percent income gap agriculture sectoremploys40percent legal rights. high risksofexploitationwithlimited migrant domesticworkers, theysuffer workers in legislation ishardly enforced. discrimination intheworkplace, this women are notincludedinthe force 20 percent intermsoffemale labor country asawholeranks inthebottom earn 23percent lessthanmen—andthe this isfar from reality. forthe righttoequalpay equalwork, yet womenandmenhave states thatboth A gap.the genderpay conditions, includingviolence. working withpoor myriad risksassociated working environment womento exposes and sustainedwages. instance, our shifts, achievedin equalitywillnotbe andsocio-cultural without majorpolitical economic engagementisattainable, but region islowestintheworld. Women’s inthe participation that women’slabor to equality. presents oneofthegreatest constraints U marriage andtransactional sex. strategies, suchaschildlabor, early are forced toengageinnegative coping not haveworkingfamily and members householdsdo Syrian female-headed vulnerable. percent ofdisplaced Sixty-one L void where rightsdisappear. comprised mostlyofwomen, isanother the possibility ofprotectionthe possibility andsupport. aw rab region hasalongwaytogo. For nion wasdeclared illegal, even abolishing Refugee womenandmigrant domestic A T
he informal sectorin cross the , workingwithoutbenefits, protection lifetime.
participation. participation. A lthough M L oroccan legislationclearly I I eb t therefore isnotasurprise n 2015theDomesticWorkers A anon are evenmore rab region, patriarchy L eb anese lawforbids U T nfortunately, the M his dangerous oroccan women L eb T anon, hese L L A eb ab s for anon’s page 19 page or
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Architecture & Design
Young designers make their debut into the world of fashion By Reem Maghribi
Eclectic show reveals “Our dream, your dream, is being brought to fruition through a collaboration realized right at this moment,” said LAU with the fashion powerhouse ELIE SAAB exceptional work by LAU’s President Joseph G. Jabbra at the Abroyan and the London College of Fashion. premier fashion graduates factory in Bourj Hammoud this June, According to Chair of the Department moments before 60 models took to of Art and Design Yasmine Taan, who had the runway to showcase the collections headed the task force in charge of creating of the university’s fashion design the major, the program has realized program graduates. its aims “to turn future students into The 16 designers make up the first real trendsetters.” graduating class of the Bachelor of Arts in “There are many intellectual collections Fashion Design spearheaded by LAU and in here,” enthused Jason Steel, head of the
page 20 f the cultural identityof fashion program. “ young andaspirationalhugely significant for established andremains in is key, andthefact thatSaabwasboth cultureenhancing local andexpression very attractive,” saidYuille. “Preserving and cultureevident local andwefound this and internationalstandards, ithasavery creativity. “While environment qualityand thatharbors and credits C the learningprocess andallowbudding at designers asinternsduringtheirfour years Saab, whohostedsome ofthenew through theirconcepts indepth,” says clear theyhadresearched andthought something newanddaring, anditwas pleased withtheresults. “ and diverse, andthefashion mogulwas designer—were per eclectic ten outfits or creative entrepreneurs whowillchange ollege ofFashion Paul Yuille agrees Director of “ T LAU I he collections —whichincluded nternships are anintegral of part . L eb anese designers.” LAU I nternational atthe with nurturing an withnurturing LAU T his is the launch pad his isthelaunchpad adoptsa L eb T anon.” hey presented L eb U anon is .S. L model model ondon fashion lines. many aformer internlaunchsuccessful production,” explainsSaab, whohas seen from designtofabric selectionand environment oftheprocess, ineverypart designers toengageinanindustry commercial reality,” saysSteel, whohas to merging creative excellence and experience, when itcame particularly and fromreally hisexpertise benefited throughout thefour-year program. sessions held the variousjurypanel in theindustry, manyofwhoalsojoin and internationalprofessionals working and talksbycollaborations withlocal in entrepreneurship aswellmanyvisits thisconceptreflects andincludescourses andvisualmerchandising.advertising the fashion industry, suchasjournalism, that relate tootherdisciplinesengagedin design nurture student capabilities beyond during thecatwalk show. “ celebrate withtheyoungdesigners as anacademic, wasalsoonhandto M c Steel’s mentorfashion veteran Douglas T I t ishoweveralsoimportant, headds, to I he curriculumofthefashion program ennan, whohas45yearsexperience T he designers thriving local fashionthriving local industry.” creativity, —a education andsupport and offerings, —through andsupport will continue oursuccess tobuildupon to anotherlevel,” enthusedSaab. “We andtakenfruitful fashion intheregion house, possibly apostgraduate degreepossibly program. foran incubator recent graduates and its patrons are alsointalkstodevelop establish themselvesintheindustry. theirmentorasthey and willnodoubtbe the samestrong withthegraduates bond ason Steel, headofLAU’s forhis isthelaunch pad “ identity of identity will change thecultural creative entrepreneurs who T “ T — T he fashion designprogram and he collaboration ourfashion between fashion J LAU and
program
Lebanon.” L CF hasb een strong and page 21 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Architecture & Design
“ The fashion show was definitely the highpoint of my entire university experience. I got to witness my ideas come to life. I was able to “ We have lived an plant a part of myself incredible life changing in every piece and then experience that will stay lay it out for everyone to live through. It with us for the rest of our “ As the first graduating “ The program was full was very intense and lives. All the instructors class, we started this of creativity, workshops, extremely rewarding.” are family to us now journey together not public relations and great and even though we —Dana Agal knowing exactly where we teaching.” have graduated, staying were heading. My favorite —Joya Haddad in touch with LAU and part was definitely the the fashion team feels people I got to share this natural. If it weren’t for experience with. MADE this program, I honestly OF STEEL!” don’t know where I would —Dania Mahdi have ended up.” —Alia Malaa
“ We must release our repressed thoughts caged by the unconscious. My collection ‘Die Verwandlung’ aimed to do so through “ My collection ‘Vryheid’ metamorphosis: explores darkness, remodeling, restyling, merging poetic designs based on “ My collection, ‘Passage’, is transforming “ Nothing is impossible, or mutating.” culture with high- about the passage from as long as you find your quality craftsmanship life to death. It presents —Christie Dawli, own way to get it done. and creativity.” the progress of humans Winner of Ultimaker Throughout the program, into ghosts, becoming Education Challenge I learned to develop —Karen Bou Alwan, for 3D Printing, 2016 Recipient of the ELIE SAAB free beings.” my creativity.” (in collaboration with Award for Excellence —Bayan Halawi Jason Steel) —Hiba Kawoukji & Craftsmanship, 2016
page 22 here’s nothing more “ fourhe past years have “ team for her final collection team for herfinal Lebanon’s 2020Olympic who designeduniforms for embracing strength.” image by of body stereotypical expectations lean orheavy, they broke collection. Short, tall, representing my walk down therunway Lebanese athletes incredible thanseeing my future success.” of anessentialpart been T T —Nadine Kassem, —Layal Kazma he program helped “ epresenting LAU was a “ worldwide from among4000applicants competition in Milan, selected Stone award, Mittelmoda of theOrigin Special the best.” and were ableto achieve work andourcapabilities, inour that we believed inussomuch believed usand team supported it. The fashion design if you set your mindto isachievable everything me understand that T spent years I and beautiful thefour tough after great honorandreward R —Nathalie Saad —Nour Daher, winner
there.” hanks to theprogram, “ he program the paved “ T T asadesigner.”identity to discover my own concepts onmy journey and tackle interesting freedom to experiment future. Iwas given the love to work withinthe that Iwould definitely many interesting people abroad and Imet so without having to go education Iwanted I was ableto gain the of thefashion world.” andout experience—in my knowledge and also to greatly extend as adesigner, but discover my potential way for meto not only —Randa Sabbagh —Rafah Seoud eeing my work onthe “ fourhe past years “ rest ofmy life.” doingforwant to be the me certain thisiswhat I the LAU program made of apart mine andbeing adreamalways been of fashion designerhas it felt surreal. a Being going through methat so many emotions were withsatisfaction,heart my runway madefilled S success ofeachstudent.” inarguably tailored to the and anexperience that’s mounds ofknowledge have given meendless T —Yassmin elSaleh —Sara Kayyal page 23 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Arts & Sciences
Symbolism, movement and drama symbolized greed, death and petroleum. Tackling converged with oriental and occidental Before changing character and beats and English and Arabic lyrics donning an orange jump suit typically during the spring major music worn by suspected terrorists, biology present-day production of I am Not a Terrorist. major Majd Khiami sang a song about Ten students from different majors oil and war in a deep crisp voice while took to the stage with Assistant dressed to reflect greed. “This was an issues Professor Martin Loyato, the creative exhilarating experience,” said Khiami By Reem Maghribi force behind the production, to present of his first public performance. “I think the case against stereotyping Arabs as there’s a huge and important connection terrorists. “This message is important between the sciences and arts, and to me and definitely drove me as a regardless of my major, I want to engage performer,” said LAU graduate of finance as much as possible in all the creative Powerful music Mohammed Zahzah, who played the courses and initiatives LAU has to offer,” production shines electric guitar and Turkish clarinet during added the pre-med student after the the production. performance. He has since enrolled in a light on global greed While Zahzah wore a black traditional minor in communication arts. and stereotypes Levantine men’s robe during the one- The Department of Communications hour performance, others wore unitards Arts has certainly been offering an that segregate of different colors and patterns that increasing number of opportunities
page 24 just entertainment. We’re a reflecting visas tothe three denied ofmystudentshavebeen A message oftheproduction,” saysthe andhighlightthe toreflect especially all themusicwasoriginal, written always challengingandthisyear is something performance put onamulti-disciplinary continuous on aculture ofcollaboration and and acommitment tofocusing more resources andpartnerships, M expanding, chairJad saysdepartment year,past andintendstocontinuing for creative engagementoverthe year sinc rgentinian player. trumpet “ elki. “Wehavenewfaculty members, Working togetherwithhisstudentsto e joining
betterment.” U .S. L oyato hasdoneeach or LAU E urope. in2014. “ T his isn’t A t least I t’s t’s it’s invigorating,”it’s said we were upuntil4a.m. lastnight, but spaces behind alargespaces behind whitecanvas thegroundlevels off from withinopen played theirinstrumentsatdifferent and danced onthemainstage, others design. sat, Whilesomeperformers stood anoriginalset the production boasted major musicproduction. “ toworkwith opportunity her personally. Shealsowelcomed the terrorist stereotypes, shesays, touches Sandra problem thiscommunity.” thatimpacts in arapshe composed andperformed nightperformance,opening for which having p A Second-year journalismstudent I n addition to original lyrics and music, rabic. A erformed with him in last year’s erformed withhiminlastyear’s zki agrees. T he themeof A zki following the L I oyato again, t’s hardt’s work, well known. department, itsfaculty andstudentsare for whichthecommunication arts force,of multi-disciplinary something of themusicandmovementinashow were onto whichvideoimagesandwords —Majd Khiami, —Majd LAU major biology and initiatives.” to engage increative courses sciences andarts, andIwant connection the between “There’s animportant T he imagescomplemented thepower
projected. page 25 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Engineering
“The kind of work I was required to do was to persuade the companies involved to Promoting new to me,” says Ziad Bassil, a recent LAU “pay the basic cost of living and provide graduate in computer engineering, of his lodging.” All of which fits into the SOE’s School of Engineering (SOE)’s internship “leadership training,” as the school education requirement. “But I needed to deliver, so believes that “it is important for our I learned to cope with the requirements students to learn how to seek jobs even through of the job.” In his last year at university, for other people.” Bassil fulfilled his requisite through the LAU engineering undergraduates have International Association for the Exchange undertaken internships through IAESTE exchange of Students for Technical Experience in places as far flung as Poland, Nepal, By Irina du Quenoy (IAESTE), where he spent two months India and Serbia, among others. “Every interning at the automotive control aspect of the trip contributed to widening An LAU collaboration that department of the Technical University of my horizons, changing my perspective Kaiserslautern in Germany. on different topics, while breaking many provides opportunities The IAESTE is an international stereotypes that I had engraved in my association of national committees mind about different cultures,” says Marya for internships in representing academic, industrial and Sadek, a computer engineering major who industries worldwide student interests. The organization, which interned at Metric Tech in Istanbul. “I am reaches 4,000 students, 3,000 employers left with beautiful memories, a new circle and 1,000 academic institutions, promotes of friends awaiting visits and, above all, technical education through the exchange an international experience qualification of students at the undergraduate level. on my CV,” adds Mary, who was able to According to SOE Dean George E. Nasr, land a very good job in Lebanon even “LAU’s involvement with IAESTE provides before graduating, which she believes was great opportunities to our students for boosted by her IAESTE experience. internships in well-established industries This combination of cultural and worldwide.” The collaboration “offers our professional enrichment differentiates students internship learning experiences IAESTE participants as they enter the with rigorous technical content, sound workforce post graduation. “IAESTE is professional practices and rich cultural and helping our students to become true international flavor,” he adds. global engineers, while diversifying their For four years now, the school has cultural background making them more facilitated exchanges through IAESTE for effective leaders,” says Akle. approximately eight LAU students a year. For Ziad Bassil, the link between his In return, the SOE facilitates internship time in Germany and future career opportunities in Lebanon for students prospects is obvious: “When employers from international universities, opening see that you went for that kind of up for them technical and cultural opportunity, they take you more seriously. experiences in engineering industries It shows them that you’re someone who throughout the country. is eager to learn and to improve, and not The structure of the IAESTE exchange someone who just did the bare minimum is somewhat different from typical to graduate.” programs sending students abroad. On However, not all IAESTE interns the one hand, says Associate Professor of want to land jobs immediately after Industrial and Mechanical Engineering graduating. “My internship increased and Assistant Dean Barbar Akle, the SOE my confidence in my ability to adapt in chooses candidates for IAESTE internships new environments fast,” says computer “IAESTE is helping our from among highly performing students engineering major Alaa Maarouf, students to become true global on a competitive basis. In addition to this, who wants to continue to study for a engineers, while diversifying however, the opportunity is also open to master’s degree and then hopefully a “those students who go the extra mile to Ph.D. “I wanted to have the experience their cultural background get an opportunity for someone coming of living in a new country with new making them more from abroad.” culture and language, which IAESTE Specifically, says Akle, “an LAU student perfectly provided.” effective leaders.” finds a local internship opportunity —Barbar Akle, LAU associate professor for a student from, say, Germany. This of Industrial & Mechanical Engineering and created opportunity is then exchanged assistant dean of LAU’s School for one created by a student abroad.” The of Engineering internship exchange is thereby created by the students themselves, who have page 26 six decades 60 yearsofcollaboration hoped to show thesuccessfulhoped —Marwan Rowayheb, —Marwan chairofLAU’s Students ascertain what have managed to create a that are different andyet European Honoring “Through thisevent we experience ofcountries mean indiplomacy Department of Social Sciences ofSocial Department B y Union of the N aseem Ferdowsi real
union.” E M main achievements. challenges the what wehaveachieved.” cooperation,” shesaid. “Weare proud of why countries havedecidedtojointhis to havethe years. “ much the athow back tolook was anopportunity delegation to and communities,” Rowayheb added. students come from different backgrounds world andhere in to create areal union,” said that are different andyethavemanaged the successful experience ofcountries the future oftheunion. geopolitics, aswellwhatthesemeanfor the gatheredpoliticians for adiscussionof faculty, staff, ambassadors, diplomatsand with thecultural institute. Students, A organized alecture titled“ I Delegation ofthe of the commented crucial milestonein 60 yearsago, ofthe “We are here tocelebrate thesigning people’s concernspeople’s inorder torelaunch the and thenewchallenges. stop asaresult ofthecurrent crisis experience for statesworldwide, the at affairs scienceof political andinternational Sciences professorSocial andassociate Rowayheb, of chairoftheDepartment challenges suchas talian uropean integration process cannot Stateofthe assimo T For Christina “ T he diplomatsdiscussedthecurrent EU hrough toshow thiseventwehoped I E ’s history, achievementsandrecent talian Cultural I t isareminder ofwhywedecided mbassy in mbassy LAU M EU arotti emphasized that“the EU E hasachievedthroughout the . L “ duardo Crisafulli, director U in the first place and inthefirst eb EU nion,” incollaboration L T assen, anon, thisanniversary his isavaluablelearning isfacing, aswell asits E L L B uropean eb eb T E rexit, immigration and A r urope’s history,” anon, where our eaty ofRome, a I mbassador of mbassador anon and nstitute. headofthe A ddressing the E M urope atSixty: U arwan nion, the T LAU he EU I A
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time for the need of efficiency andthe need ofefficiency students. “ shared values.” upholding, fostering andpromoting our withthe its partnership university iscommitted tostrengthen the past, thepresent andthefuture, our strength andtorecreate anew I E strategic thatwillenhance effort ourstudents butisalsoa only benefits events like this, since especially thisnot theevent. who spearheaded Director ofDevelopmentSuha HaidarKhalil. Sabah graduateinternational affairs student countries andtheregion asawhole,” said and rebuild future abetter for our can certainlyhelpuscollaborate, unite ambassadors. “ on itfor amore promising future,” said akeybe playerontheinternationalscene. union are stillstrong, and solidarity. General ofthe community,” added our going forward benefit tobest international andregional partnerships countries,”between explained collaboration ofinternational relations understand them anadvantagetobetter the speakers anddiplomatscertainly gave “ more inattendance. than 25ambassadors withthe chance one-on-one tospeak L U nstitute ofFlorence Vincenzo Grassi, “ T AU uropean model isourkeyuropean model challenge.” nited westand, dividedwefall.” A “We look forward“We look to many more A T “ he unique opportunity tointeract with he uniqueopportunity L he discussionhithomefor many ccording tokeynote speaker Secretary fter thediscussion,fter studentshada Provost George K. ike you, wevaluetradition andbuild T T he reasons togetherasa tobe he EU A E A toturnitsweaknessinto uropean s aninstitutionbridging rab worldisindeep A bou Rialy.bou N School of Arts &Sciences ofArts School EU ajjar tothe U E niversity EU , urope can still aswell experience A E A ssociate ssociate uropean bou Rialy,bou LAU page 27 page ’s I t is
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Pharmacy
Putting the students on the right career path By Linda Dahdah
School of Pharmacy’s Elsa Kobeissi — who only a few weeks ago referring to the assistant professor and bid farewell to her alma mater at LAU’s chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “We course on career planning Byblos commencement ceremony — is took into consideration my academic helps graduates decide on getting ready for a new journey as she skills, my personality and passion heads for the Imperial College of London for volunteering, and finally the best their future this September, where she will pursue a programs and colleges that fit my future master’s degree in public health with an career interests.” emphasis on global health. Reflecting the university’s commitment Graduating with a B.S. in Pharmacy, she to academic excellence, student- credits the curriculum and her professors centeredness and the education of the for putting her on the right track. “My whole person, the School of Pharmacy choice is the result of a process that structures its curriculum and co-curricular started with the Career Opportunities activities so as to prepare its budding course, followed by regular brainstorming pharmacists to pursue successful futures. with professor Roy Kanbar,” she says, “It is of strategic importance to the page 28 have chosen. suited for they themselves best the path career vision, explainingwhythey believe students are thenasked todevelopa community andclinical settings. pathways, from academia toindustrial, introducing themtoadiversityofcareer elective encourages themtoplanaheadby to thinkofthenextstep. studies thattheydonottake thetime fact thatstudentsare soinvolvedintheir to Kanbar, thecourse compensates for the into different professional paths. the course provides studentswithinsights Offered tosecond andthird-year students, create the “Career Opportunities” elective. Clinical B Pharmacy careers,” of saysDeanoftheSchool and achievingongoingsuccess intheir predictable chance of gaining employment thatitsgraduatesschool haveahighand taiche worked togetherwithKanbar and With thisinmind, three years ago A ssociate Professorssociate I mad B taiche. T he one-credit he one-credit A line Saadto A T he ccording entrepreneurial talents. communication, aswellleadership and and strengthens theirverbal, written enhancing thestudents’ skills soft what myfuture like, mightbe “ hospital setting, preferably incardiology. like topursue aresidency andworkina become aPharm. D. student asshewould found my path.” Frangieh willapplyto student DianaFrangieh. “ to do,” admitsfourth-year pharmacy he to embrace oneonce theygraduate,” ready be options availableandhopefully to putaplantogether, atthedifferent look students,” explainsKanbar. “Wewantthem the four key elementsofself-awareness, emotional intelligence, whichincludes morelearned tobe self-confident.” my career visionand I n additiontohavingaclearer ideaof “ “ I
ndeed, theclassalsofocuses on says. I T neverreally thoughtofwhat his course isawakeup call for the I nowthink I t alsoemphasizes T hen I havealso I wrote I I have wanted to be successfulto be teammembers.” also requires thatweprepare thestudents interdisciplinary nature oftheprofession she says. confidence andbasicallydiscover myself,” learn newskills, gain butmostimportantly reallybe well prepared for theexercise and in thesetting. “ oncommoncounterpart situations faced tolearnmore fromopportunity her usual stepstheywouldfor areal interview. requested totake allthenecessary and the mostadequateway,” saysSaad. “ deliver theinformation in tothepatient —thatallowthemto and empathy to acquire skills—like compassion soft patients, whichmeansthattheyneed management andleadershippositions,” moretend tobe successful, in especially relationship management. self-management, awareness social and with theexperience, and wentfor theinterview. Satisfied motivational letter, madeanappointment, she wasmatchedwith, sentherCVand contacted thecommunity pharmacist the practice. employer, whohadvolunteered for according totheirinterest, withareal matched eachoneofthestudents, year wascoming toanend, theschool interview techniques. their allowing studentstofine-tune jobinterviewsessions, includes mock B t isofstrategic importance “ taiche explains. their achieving ongoing success in gaining employment and and predictable chance of graduates have ahigh that its to theschool I Fourth-year student “Pharmacists havetointeract dailywith “People withemotionalintelligence A — s anotherpractical step, thecourse of Pharmacy Imad Bt
careers.” T he studentswere then aiche, ofLAU’s Dean School T he course allowedmeto N A assar took the assar took M s theacademic aya N assar page 29 page T he
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Employability, more than just top grades
High rates of university enrollment mean that a degree and high academic performance are no longer guarantors of employment, let alone job satisfaction. What then do employers seek in potential employees?
By Reem Maghribi RE U T A E F
page 30 necessarily outsidetheuniversity. mostly outsidetheclassroom, though not attributeshappens skills andpersonal academic programs, thedevelopmentof of of knowledgeisverymuchthegoal and successful.” Whiletheattainment satisfied inwhichtheycan be occupations moreperson likely andsecure tochoose attributesthatmakeand personal a of skills, knowledge, understanding employability as“havingaset defined books present differentbooks attributesaskey andcareermagazine articles guidance hone theirskills. through whichtoexcelopportunities and curricular initiativesfor studentsseeking oversees manyoftheunitsoffering extra- M for Student Developmentand self,” asserts the wholeperson, notonlytheacademic L A lise Salem, LAU vice president for Student Development andEnrollment atoal LAU isthedevelopment ofthewhole — “ orr seminalstudyonemployabilityby Our g person, not onlytheacademic self.” anagement (SD “Our goal at “Our goal While various academic papers, While variousacademic papers, aine Dacre Pool andPeter Sewell Management E E lise Salem, vice president LAU EM isthedevelopmentof ), thedivisionthat E nrollment iza3a’ (anhourontheairwaves)Radio youth-centered weeklytalkshow ‘sa3a3l “ whose lastmatchwasthedecisivegame. emphasis onmanagementandleadership, postgraduate studentofeducation withan and workingwithothers,” enthusesthe timethisyearatthe gold for thefirst the guidance ofcoach Her experience as a co-host ofan Her experience asaco-host teamwork isundergraduate Rana the down toteamwork. “ student that skill. ofanathleticsteamstrengthensmember andsotraining andcompeting asa sports teamwork asessential. for employability, almostallofthemlist collaborating onscriptdevelopmentand team-working skills. students “Weare five L U I iban hasenabledhertodevelopstrongiban pushedmyselfhard of for thegood niversity Sports Conferenceniversity Sports and, says Collaboration iskey tosuccess inmost A
lso enjoyingthecamaraderie of team.” N LAU our Houry, theirsuccess was ’s tabletennisteam, under I lovetheteamspirit N abil Stouhi, took T LAU abb page 31 page
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 FEATURE
into the various career prospects available and in some parts of the world resulted “ Internships are an integral to them after graduation. “Working at the in bloody conflicts,” said President Joseph hospital was very much about program G. Jabbra recently at an event organized part of the learning implementation, but at Roumieh prison by the Office of International Services process and allow budding I offered more one-to-one support,” (OIS), as he explained the importance of says recent graduate of LAU’s program international exposure for student and designers to engage in an in social work Hiba Shihab. As a result of citizen development. industry environment.” the internships, she was able to graduate The OIS has developed agreements already knowing which types of work she with over forty partners worldwide in —Elie Saab enjoyed and which she didn’t. its bid to give LAU students a wealth of Such experience and insight strengthen opportunities to study abroad. Business one’s ability to dedicate their time and major Kevin Fadlallah enjoyed his topic selection, and while we each have energy to their chosen field and, in the semester abroad at the Saltzburg Global our select skills and responsibilities, we words of coach Stouhi, “dedication is Academy last year so much so that he work together for the good of the program something important not only in sport, took on a second major just so that he and not the good of the individual,” says but in life.” Also preaching the importance could sign up for an exchange program a the first year student of journalism. of hard work and resolve recently was LAU second time. “I am a distinction student The show is the result of collaboration board member and former director of and captain of the volleyball team, but between LAU’s Outreach and Civic NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Charles what really makes me unique is that I am Engagement (OCE) unit, its Department of Elachi. “If you want to shape the future, an international student.” Communication Arts and Radio Liban. The you have to do hard things… Taking easy Courses like the travelling studio offered university develops a lot of partnerships classes and getting an A teaches you by the School of Architecture and Design with the public and private sectors to offer nothing,” said Elachi to an auditorium also offer students the opportunity to its students internships, which enable packed with students, insisting that if travel and engage with peers and experts them to apply the theoretical knowledge we really work hard, we can do almost abroad, as do the various simulation they gain in class to real world situations. anything. His was one of many guest talks programs run by the OCE unit, which “Internships are an integral part of the held on campus every year to enlighten include the Model United Nations learning process and allow budding and motivate current students about the (MUN), Model Arab League and Model designers to engage in an industry skills they need and challenges they will European Union. environment in every part of the process, face as future leaders. Diala el Masri, who graduated from LAU from design to fabric selection through to Elachi first left Lebanon as a youth to in 2014 with a degree in political science production,” says patron of LAU’s fashion study in the USA. Exposure to foreign and international affairs, is among the design program Elie Saab, who welcomes places and cultures is an invaluable hundreds of students who have to date a number of students each year for a work experience and one LAU strives to provide travelled with the OCE. During the three placement at his atelier. its students with. “The advances in years she spent at LAU, she held multiple Internships also offer students insight technology have laid bare our differences positions at MUN and among her many
page 32 Diplomacy expression anddevelopment. for self offers amultitudeofopportunities oftheDeanStudentsoffice,part which A the writingcenter, of runbytheSchool preparation for thejobmarket andgoto need helpdevelopingtheirresumes in that sellsitself. itgavemeself-growth.”importantly L I “ says al wanted toexplore themtothemax,” civic engagementprograms at at Oxford. “ scholarshiptostudy Rhodes sought-after graduate towintheprestigious andhighly thefirst this yearshebecame multifoldhas been andevident, and activities civic andotherextra-curricular formative yearsat their of 2017havechosentospend L why itsnosurprisethat40percent of M A unit are veryattractive tothem,” says and theOutreach andCivic activities oftheDeanStudentsoffices activists wantingtoeffect change, sothe academically excel are alsopassionate accolades istheHarvard World culture. wantedawell-rounded education. I eb AU rts &Sciences,rts ortoStudentServices, ssistant Vice President for didn’t want just a book education, didn’twantjustabook anagement A A T “ I anon’s top performing students anon’s topperforming he benefit ofel he benefit mong themare thestudentclubs, of l n myexperience, thosewho gave me the best ofthebest. gavemethebest M asri’s CVisanimpressive one M I wasaware ofthemultitude asri ofherdecisiontojoin I A misstheuniversityandits ward. A M bdo Ghié,bdo explaining any studentshowever LAU M asri’s engagementin . E E nrollment ngagement L LAU MUN eb anese M and LAU ost
. agement inclub “ which there are over80across both says incentive topushstudentsevenfurther,” regardless, buttheawards offeranadded with ambitionandzealwillworkhard the club’sinauguration in2016. “ medal attheclubawards after heldsoon of themandwasdelightedtoreceive a the and manager RimanJurdak. representations ofhard work. and Servic and the L areand self-esteem theRiyad acknowledged isverysatisfying.” and thefact thatourhard workhasbeen a lot. outwasverychallenging, Starting ofclubs. in oneoranumber scores ofstudents whoactivelyparticipate among themanyskillshonedby negotiation, fundraising andnetworking M says DeanofStudentsin club activitiesisextremely educational,” eadership Eng educational.” isextremelyactivities ohsen, listingeventmanagement, T Other awards thatpromote confidence Fatima el he Dean of Students office alsoruns he DeanofStudentsoffice I B ntersectional Feminism Club, isone B aed Mohsen, LAU deanof — yblos campuses. “ eirut campus activities associate eirut campus activitiesassociate students in Beirut students inBeirut R T or e Spirit. “ ch A A ward, Orme theRhoda hmad, founding secretary of A ward for High A wards are physical E ngagement in B eirut Raed T L N hose eadership assar I t means A B ward eirut students arrivingat as “buddies” tomentorinternational the O students, arecent asdoes initiativeby collaboration andcivicresponsibility in a peer-tutoring program, whichnurtures and theywantthemintheirworkforce.” atthe guidance officer current vacancies, explainscareer through whichemployersadvertise for overayear. “ A mathematics sophomore Christopher the developmentoftheseskills, as dep job suited tothem, andcoaches studentsfor ofjobandworkenvironmenttype most the tests thathelpstudentsidentify careers fairs, runsinterest inventory career guidance office, which organizes oncampus throughand support the awealth ofinformation university find seeking employmentoutsidethe considered approach.” and situationrequires adifferent and skills, understandingthateachperson have alsoimproved mycommunications as acommunication withinSD officer that vacancies theyknow because us topost sector entities…theyallgetintouchwith multinationals, public, privateandthird Hassan attentiontodetail,”of paying hesays. “ proceduresabout andtheimportance ntoun can attest. working Hehasbeen A Student employmentwithinuniversity T
he office also runs a career portal alsoruns a careerhe office portal s theyneargraduation, students artments alsocontributesartments to interviews. LAU I S that sees students being trainedS thatseesstudentsbeing B studentsare ofahighcaliber aalbaki. “ I havelearnedalot L o LAU cal companies, B . yblos campus page 33 page EM I
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Arts & Sciences
“Theater is very powerful for intercultural student of journalism Mohamed Shour LAU theater dialogue,” says Edoardo Crisafulli, had not expected the reception to be director of the Italian Cultural Institute, as favorable as it was, because of the an organization affiliated with the Italian play’s underlying feminist message. “I production Embassy in Lebanon. was proven wrong. Both shows outside It was this belief that led the institute Beirut were absolutely marvelous — goes national to sponsor Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!, a play the crowds were amazing and the directed by LAU Associate Professor of critics were generally positive.” Many By Naseem Ferdowsi and Reem Maghribi Theater Lina Abyad and staged at the audience members even stayed after Beirut campus’ Gulbenkian Theatre the performances to hold in-depth A powerful adaptation of a before being performed in Tripoli discussions with the actors and crew, and and Nabatieh. to explore the stage. comedic sociopolitical play Stressing the importance of taking arts The play, written by Italian playwright Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay! goes outside of the capital city, Abyad said, “In and Nobel Laureate Dario Fo, is a Beirut we have an abundance of cultural witty farce with a political and social on the road after six sold- events, but in Tripoli there are very few message that transcends cultures. and even fewer, if any, in Nabatieh.” Abyad’s adaptation of the play, which out performances at LAU, More than 200 people attended the she reworked to reflect Lebanon and its thanks to support from the performance in Tripoli and around 100 problems and society, was flawless. in Nabatieh, both of which were held “I actually changed very little in Italian Cultural Institute in April and were free to attend. LAU the script,” says Abyad of the process
page 34 production crew. “ the many timing. RachidHneinehwasamong relies heavilyonmovementandprecise to rehearsing thewordy farce, which six hoursadayeveryfor amonth were among theactorswhodedicated ofcommunication department arts), A and womenstealmuch-neededfood. revolution takes overinasupermarket takes adramatic turnwhenthespiritof theirneedsandethics between and are facing eviction. make ends meet, can’t buydecent food stories oftwocouples whostruggleto place, unfortunately.” text, sorelatable it’s toeverytimeand 1972. “ audience far removed from of translation andadaptationfor an bdul bdul L AU B graduates SleimanandSany Hiba T aki (whoteachestheateratthe his iswhatgreat the about LAU studentsinvolvedinthe T he playisessentially T he texttellsthe T he struggle I taly in dedication tocommunity service, arts and the arts.” communities, whoare mostinneedof new cultures, ideasandmessagesto many more sothatwecan expose collaboration. forward “Welook to Development Suha exposure, for andextremely beneficial valuable tothearts, great for cultural Cultural the capital asanextensionof a huge, inboth impact positive to oursituationinthecountry, leaving A their workwithawidercommunity.” L A about AU byad’s appreciation for thefruitful byad expressed gratitude for the Describing theperformances outside L AU
anditsstudents, who gettoshare major. N abatieh,” saidthecommunication L
A eb I ssociate Directorssociate of nstitute’s sponsorship. “ anese citizensandtranslates A bou Rialy echoes Rialyechoes bou LAU T rip I t is ’s I talian oli Abyad, professor LAU associate — t isvaluable to thearts, “ I wider community.” to share theirwork witha for LAU anditsstudents and extremely beneficial great for cultural exposure, of theater Lina page 35 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 LAU NY
A myriad of events leading up to the
summer of 2017 Laura Secor Book Talk
Lebanese Olive Oil
In collaboration with the Bard made members of the audience gasp Postcard Globalization and International Affairs as they recognized famous faces. In program, LAU’s New York Academic Center partnership with the Consul General of hosted author Laura Secor, whose new Lebanon Majdi Ramadan, the second from book Children of Paradise: The Struggle literary event of the season featured a for the Soul of Iran is an unforgettable lively discussion on the role of television portrait of a nation and its people striving and pop culture in bringing the Lebanese New York for change. Drawing on her extensive people together. “Television came to tell experience of reporting on Iran, Secor the Lebanese about the Lebanese,” said By Lina Beydoun narrated the extraordinary history of the Kouyoumdjian. Leading the discussion, TV country since 1979, when it became a host Rita Zihenni noted that she sought revolutionary theocracy. She enthralled the out YouTube clips of Lebanese television audience with the breathtaking drama that to show her children, in the hope that has since unfolded, as religious thinkers, it would “make them more Lebanese.” political operatives, poets, journalists and Helping young people reconnect with activists have imagined and reimagined their parents and their roots is exactly what the country should be. “Iranians,” what Kouyoumdjian hoped the book she said, “have drawn as deeply on the would achieve: “What is a nation? It is a traditions of the West as of the East and collection of memories.” have acted upon their beliefs with urgency Olive oil — often known as “liquid and passion.” or green gold” — was the focus of an Filled with rare photographs, LAU April gathering at the center. “The olive alumnus and television celebrity trees of the town of Bchaale in Lebanon, Zaven Kouyoumdjian’s book Lebanon estimated to be six thousand years old, On Screen: The Greatest Moments of are the oldest in the world,” said event Lebanese Television and Pop Culture co-host Consul General Ramadan. The page 36 to honoranidentity andcultural cultivated since times, Phoenician butalso ancient olivetrees thathavebeen members, notonlytocelebrate the “ B of the idealsettingfor raising awareness Zejd, stressed thatthecenter “was graduate intheevent.and coops participated directly to the two countries, theolive oil andtransports products, our bridgesthegapbetween said Sageer. “ landscape. “ a fullexploration of known asJulie author andpublictelevisionhostalso — a senses,using allfive Julie tree ofblessing, out. hepointed asa bypoets andimmortalized books and peace, mentionedinheavenly olive tree ofabundance isasymbol community.” T Poetry Reading Zaven Kouyoumdjian Talk Book eydoun echoed eydoun echoed his eventbrought togethercommunity L eb L eb anese olive oil among the local anese oliveoilamongthelocal anese- T ania T I T his eventissospecial,” t spotlights t spotlights he center’s director,he center’s U A T B .S. ab merican celebrity chef, ou Raad, whorepresented B ” oulie —delvedinto ou Raed’ssentiments. T L welve oilpr eb anon’s oliveoil L A eb nn Sageer anese oducers T
heritage.” hen, L ina LAU
been the Phoenicians? thePhoenicians? been before ChristopherColumbus. “ entrepreneur Captain Philip sailor, adventurer, leaderand expedition sailorstocrossfirst the of discussionin E coast.” trading settlements on the eastern ships, navigationalstrength andover200 “ ship buildingtechniques,” hecontinued. totheiramazing point and shipmodels B circumnavigated have evendiscovered starand thepole were the mastersofthesea, andmay reach the had thenavigationalcapabilities to B merchant shiptoprove thecrossing. take place ona replica ofaPhoenician audience to ofanexpedition spellbound these challengingquestionsandtolda discover the T Phoenician Expedition Phoenician xpedition in September will demonstrate inSeptember xpedition .C.,” hesaid. “Shipwrecks, books, artefacts eale explainedhowthePhoenicians A hey holdalltheace cards —strong nother voyage was a focal point nother voyagewasafocal point T he Phoenicians he Phoenicians A mericas twothousandyears A mericas. Could ithave A A pril, thatofthe frica asearly600 T A B he tlantic and efore Columbus B B ritish eale tackled T hey A tlantic human suffering. ofwarand moved themwithpoems and the audience withghazalpoetry the keep the formsart …weare lucky ableto tobe both Syria, in turnsreciting took theirpoetry Youssef Zihenni. — Fiveaccomplished poets player were turned intosongs, featuring oud “ applause reverberated around the room. Suleiman —hailingfrom a musical medleyof music andsong. enthusiasts toaneveningofpoetry, the Consul General of if thecrossing waspossible. E N A I dgar kram n ourculture, isthehighestof poetry ew York,” said I n N M A ew Pen
Choueiri. M rabic and ay, thecenter, with inpartnership A A lkatreb, Fadi SaadandFiras ario Chamoun and vocalist Rita ario Chamounandvocalist A bdel Samad,bdel rabic poetic culturerabic alivein poetic L eague, N E T ew Pen A nglish. he event began with he eventbegan lternate laughterand A welcomed literary rabic poems that rabic poems M L eb ansour T L anon and L eague memb hey amused eb anon and Poetry Reading A jami, page 37 page er
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Arts & Sciences
A mathematical equation By Sima Itayim
LAU launches its new M.S. in Applied and Computational Mathematics
Starting fall 2017, LAU will be offering its contributed to the progress in various “This degree is the gateway to new M.S. in Applied and Computational fields of life,” remarks Dean of the School Mathematics. The first of its kind in of Arts and Sciences and Professor of a wide variety of challenging Lebanon and in the region, the program Computer Science Nashat Mansour. jobs and startups in Lebanon is essentially research-oriented. Being “The M.S. in Applied and Computational and the region.” interdisciplinary in nature, it opens up Mathematics focuses on applications the door for students to conduct research such as scientific, economic, financial and —Rony Touma, LAU associate professor on problems in applied sciences and industrial topics.” of applied mathematics engineering, as well as requiring them to The careers that graduates from the cooperate on interdisciplinary projects department usually pursue are mainly with researchers from other schools. in academia, industry and high-tech “The program is specially designed in start-ups, and research labs. “These a way that provides students with high opportunities are not only ones,” stresses quality coursework in addition to training Mansour, who believes that graduates can on up-to-date research problems,” says and will also find them at banks, financial Associate Professor of Mathematics firms, security companies, engineering and coordinator of the newly launched research organizations, computing program Rony Touma. companies, energy systems firms, The program is solution driven, putting consulting firms, producers of petroleum data science and mathematics skills in and academic research centers, to name an interdisciplinary context, which will a few. allow graduates to adapt to the job market Mansour hopes that the program and find employment opportunities will increase the number of applied easily. “This degree is a gateway to a wide mathematics graduates, fill the variety of challenging jobs and startups employment gap and boost their in Lebanon and the region,” Touma opportunities, so as to grow a community points out. and identify the market. “In the United “It is the combination that attracted me States, the median annual salary of an to the program,” says Mira Abou Saleh, a applied mathematician is $129,000,” he senior student, who is hoping to enroll in points out. the master’s degree after having obtained The courses offered by the master’s her B.S. in Mathematics next spring. degree cover a variety of different “The degree is appealing as the applied topics, such as mathematical modeling, mathematics aspect would allow me to simulations, numerical analysis, non- conduct research in interdisciplinary fields smooth analysis, control theory and — such as physics and engineering — and biomathematics, explains Touma. The the computational aspect would equip program introduces mathematical me with the tools needed to implement methods that are applied to fields mathematical algorithms into ever- such as biology, economics, fluids, advancing technologies.” engineering and finance. Students will Skills in applied mathematics acquire advanced research experience and sciences are in high demand and skills, a solid foundation in the fields internationally, especially in Australia, of applied mathematics, and significant Canada, Europe and America, and are exposure to research in applied fields, high starting to be so in the Gulf region. “For performance and scientific computing. thousands of years, mathematics has
page 38 achievements achievements successful collaboration “The onlyanswer“The to theills scholarship scholarship that affect oursociety, the world over, iseducation.” celebrates program’s —Joseph G. Jabbra, LAU president underline underline Students’ Students’ Hometown event initiative B y N and impact aseem Ferdowsi
enrolled at from audience thatincluded Fatima Hallal, toapacked speaking myselfasavolunteer,”labeling saidscholar youth advocate, andevenmore proudly worker,introducing myselfasasocial ofsociety.betterment collaboration for toembody the efforts scholars’ successes andtheirimpressive L community programs. indeliveringdonor-fundedspecialized ( with agencies, wasorganized inpartnership of members together students, faculty, and staff waste asecond.” madeavailabletoyou. been that’s Don’t hope. students, Jabbra added, “You are ouronly ceremony.at theopening declared our society, theworldover, iseducation,” B event drew afullhouseattheuniversity’s Scholarship Pr T Jordan, workshops across theregion, spanning that hastaken hertocollaborative youth journeyofactivism to anunexpected experience inthescholarshipprogram and oneofthe217 science student and internationalaffairs “Power of Development ( States program thatisfundedbythe initiative, amerit-based scholarship M AU his past spring,his past yblos campus, underthemottoof “ T “ Collaboration ofthe isakey part S T T his special event,his special whichbrought I ’s o ), a he onlyanswertotheillsthataffect M LAU day T U A anagement Systems ak T U gency for SP initiative, more specifically, the unisia and LAU e advantage of this opportunity e advantageofthisopportunity .S.-b aswell
I Collaboration.” standinfront ofyouproudly LAU N President JosephG. Jabbra ased development firm ased developmentfirm ogram ( GOs andgovernmental U , attributesherinvaluable S LAU AI I nternational U D). Students inthe M AUB ’s SP scholarscurrently orocco. U I U t centered around SP) Hometown U . Hallal, apolitical niversity SP students A ddressing the I nternational U nited U SP especially important tousin important especially L A than theirnon- the achievementsof and economic developmentofthecountry the and through its$99.5millioninvestment, our Caritas orvolunteerontheground with with students, whocan eitherinternwith Youth. “Weare here toshare ourprojects thecommunity.and supporting that youare committed tovolunteering you havetoworkhard. Wealsoknow with.the scholarshiptobegin Weknow applaud youfor whatyouhadtodoget at the in attendance, DeputyChiefof U alumni. in onproductiveto embark positions graduate civic-mindedindividualsready also theuniversity’s and Civic wing andaleadershipone,” said except withtwowings:anacademic on with thecorporate world bytaking campus, aswelltoworkinpartnership initiatives andservice-related activitieson with thecommunity through outreach program are required tocollaborate closely education at 750 from 30 are ongoing,” saidarepresentative were present, from Caritas and students. available to internship opportunities showcased thevariousvolunteeringand he elaborated. off,”mentoring andweeklymeetingspay pride. the scholarships. “Onecan easilybenchmark awardedbeen prestigious Fulbright in universityclubsandmanyhave they currently hold41leadershipoffices graduation.after Healsonotedthat employment quickly tended tofind coordinator. “ Coalition to eb ssistant Vice President for Outreach SP scholarstypically hadhigherGP During theevent, Samiahighlighted “ E Since itslaunchin directlySpeaking tothe
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E ngagement ore thanadozenorganizations mbassy DannyHallsaid,mbassy “We I B put it is you cannot fly putitisyoucannot fly LAU T asmat he wholeobjectiveisto U SP counterparts and SP counterparts and U A U L mal andSpiritof SP/ AUB eb SP studentsand E lie Samia, whois anon in2010, U U . S AI SP scholars A D program merica.” N A M T LAU rsal GOs ission his is page 39 page A ’s s
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Adnan Kassar School of Business
Life expectancy of family-owned businesses on the rise By Reem Maghribi
LAU conference brings Dozens of founders and shareholders of planning for succession may sound easy, family businesses, together with experts we have found that it brings numerous together Lebanese in business law and wealth management, obstacles to light,” added the associate gathered at LAU’s Byblos campus this professor of management. family business owners spring for a day of presentations and and hand delivers discussions hosted by the university’s Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial “ Lack of structure, leadership recommendations to Business. Held under the patronage and responsibility, as well as the country’s president of Minister for Economy and Trade entitlement and nepotism, Raed Khoury, the conference included presentations by lawyers and bankers, as weaken and threaten many well as personal accounts by co-owners of family businesses.” family businesses. The following day, a delegation went —Josiane Fahed-Sreih, director of to the presidential palace in Baabda, LAU’s Institute of Family and where they presented Lebanese Entrepreneurial Business President General Michel Aoun with recommendations they believe will help The Institute of Family and strengthen and protect family businesses, Entrepreneurial Business has studied a cornerstone of the country’s economy. and supported family enterprises since “Lack of structure, leadership and its establishment in 2002, held monthly responsibility, as well as entitlement and presentation and discussion forums since nepotism, weaken and threaten many forming a network of family businesses in family businesses,” explains Josiane Fahed- 2012, and recently launched a certificate Sreih, the institute’s director. “While program in family business management.
page 40 family and financial performance ofthefamily andfinancial a correlation trustwithina between data gathered bytheinstituteshowed Center atwhichtheconference was company andsponsored theFrem Civic late father, Georges Frem, founded the I tokeep makingtheeffort itgoing. worth don’t haveloveandshared values, not it’s family owningabusinessyou members I is thepresident ofmanufacturing firm A governance, stressed offormalized theimportance transparency and owners toembrace empowerment, staff a willingnessamongfamily business continuity.” in family businesstosafeguard development ofaculture ofgovernance “We therefore needtoensure the of onbehalf speaking owned businesses,” said oftheseare family- portion a good up 95percent ofoureconomy and t’s easiertocash out,”t’s saidFrem, whose ndevco, focused onloveandvalues. “ dvisors member dvisors member Fahed-Sreih concurred, adding that ofspeakers While anumber “Small tomediumenterprisesmake T LAU his, headded, wouldrequire
B structure. N oard ofinternational eemat Frem, who M inister Khoury. E mile A lbina,
held. I f as who alsositsontheuniversity’s business. family asC member management andtotheboard. non-family insenior appoint members family businessesare to nowchoosing I to workinthecompany. third generation didnotwant members the family business. “ company thatultimatelymerged with beforeavoid conflict buildinganother management ofthefamily company to taking,”be said on thedirection thecompany should the brothers andheirs, didnotagree them.business hisfather hadleft “We, family faced inthemanagementof the conference his thedifficulties about L unity. ofvaluesincreatingimportance family businesses, oneofwhichwillfocus onthe on herongoingresearch intofamily to giveseveral presentations based son passed away,son passed explainedhiswife by Fouad t’s asavior,”t’s headded, notingthatmany td. Future Pipe COO ofSalam Hussam I M n thecoming year, sheexpects akhzoumi, anon- appointed A bu I ndustries Group, founded A bu I I nternational ssa spoke candidly at I E ssa, the wholeft A O soon after their after O soon ll butoneofthe T his isn’t bad. his isn’tbad. I nvestment B oard M ay, of having access toitandcontrol ofit,” said creates alotofproblems. Whatmattersis name owning assetsinyourpersonal toownwealth, important think it’s but dissolved.to thebusinessbeing “People the riskofinter-family leading conflict the company’s wealthwithoutrunning of enablingfamily toenjoy members T more thanbusinesssuccess. continuity ofthefamily nameandvision owners, shebelieves, are drivenby 33. Second generation family business C company,” shesaidofherson, whowas visionary andbreathed newlife intothe years to 60 years in the past twentyyears. years to60inthepast businesshasrisenfromfamily-owned 26 whytheaveragebe life ofa expectancy education andbusinessacumen, may M RichardCitibank up enjoyingthewealthofbusiness. that includesmanypeople, whogrow inherited bythethird generation, one arise whenfamily businessesare rusts, E asters. M Such resources, aswellimproved I O ofthecompany whenhediedaged nternational any difficulties, itwassuggested, saidDirector WealthPlannerat A M dvisors. “Ramiwasa asters, way are agood page 41 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 RE U T A E F
page 42 br B H trend oftalented B mindsets upandrunning. “What devoted tofostering outside-the-box the university’snewinnovation center A said verysuccessful,”and mostendupbeing leavethecountrythose withpotential thekey. mightjustbe own opportunities 2011-2013. thecountry intheperiod left 2014, showsthatnearly175,000people problem.significant economic growth. “ a paralyzed systemtocurtail political Gross DomesticProduct —combine with —139percent of a widebudgetdeficit Ongoing highlevelsofpublicdebtand — thaneverfor greaterperhaps —andmore achievable leadership to developcommunication and initiatives themselves incivilsociety spirit, mindsetandinvolve apro-active knowledge. outside theborders ofacademic themselves alongtheway—think for doors who standout—andopen for youngjobseekers.important innovative thinkingisincr I drain. n a competitive and globalized world, n acompetitive andglobalized hmar, tasked whohasbeen withgetting y “ T T y ramping up innovation education and expertise, L o succ L he needfor is aninventiveoutlook eb LAU izzie Porter B anon suffers ofwhatwecall abrain ecause of lack of opportunity ecausehere, of lack of opportunity
B eed in
road of skills. T alting the alting the hey haveanentrepreneurial ain drain L L eb eb T B rustees memb anon, creating one’s anon’s graduates. T rain drain” isa he latestdata, from easingly L eb T LAU hose er anese migrating abroad M is ike bring theirideastofruitionin mechanism for themtostayactually trying todowiththecenter istocreate a of theuniversity’smission. spirit ofcivicengagement, acornerstone him totheannualW work in their communities —for hiscivilsociety andsuccessoutstanding influence in 20-30with of individualsbetween nominated asaWorld up businessesofinternationalrenown. communities andbuildsuccessful start- on toshare theirskillswithlessfortunate innovative thinking, alumnihavegone from arange ofprograms thatencourage engineering alumna L entrepreneurship across for widerbenefit their owntalentsandexperience in whoareof youngpeople using ofageneration work:heispart society motivated youth. about company Kafalat) buttospread theword successful credit analystat career (althoughhecurrently worksasa T (W A eb he aim was not to further hisown he aimwasnottofurther lumnus Fadi I T While current E n 2013, alongwith anon. Hecredits hey are of attheheart F) “Global Shaper”F) “Global —agroup T rip L eb oli’s large reserve ofskilled, anon. M ikati ( LAU T his yeartherole took LAU students benefit studentsbenefit E N F meetingatDavos. M LAU ajwa Sahmarani, E conomic Forum . B for his nurturing . mechanical M A B . ’09)was eirut-based ikati’s civil L eb anon.” L AU hat LAU to dois istrying “ economy andtechnologyindustriesin Why? theskilledyouthtogrowfind histeam. upin establish astart home city’syouth. entrepreneurship for their opportunities organization,non-governmental tocreate ( of developing more than20workshopsandevents. participants, whohavetaken skillsfrom from theWorld drain,” in thecitybutmainthingisbrain andtheunemployment rate the poverty TE B M hopes to reverse hopes the TE to fruitioninLebanon.” bringtheirideas actually entrepreneurs to stay and to create amechanismfor W eirut ortheGulfregion.” Withfunding ikati founded “ Start-ups havebecome akey part C hasnowreached more than450 C), asanon-partisan, non-religious and I amnotclaimingthatwewillsolve ike Ahmar, LAU Board — B M ecause everyoneisleavingfor of M ikati said. “
Trustees member L eb B T rip ank, anon’s knowledge oli I f anyonewantsto U T E rip K ntrepreneurs Club AI oli, hecannot D and U S page 43 page AI D,
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 FEATURE
recent years. In 2014 the Central Bank of Lebanese entrepreneurs, other we are living in a cognitive ecosystem supported a capital injection of over LAU alumni are solving life and that encourages creative initiation of $400 million for the start-up economy, death problems with their start-up useful and creative ideas,” said Elie Samia, leading to the creation of funding and businesses. Ziad Sankari, who graduated assistant vice president for Outreach & training opportunities. from LAU with a B.E. in Computer Civil Engagement. “Universities are often But all the money in Lebanon is Engineering in 2007, founded his start- ranked as to their capabilities to graduate not enough without business people up CardioDiagnostics five years later, to students who can generate productive passing on their know-how, contacts and produce GPS-enabled heart monitors. employment opportunities for themselves self-confidence to others. According to The innovation, which received personal and for others.” Sahmarani, who worked at various start- praise from former U.S. President Barack ups before going freelance to consult on Obama, allow medics to make more social entrepreneurship, she developed accurate diagnoses, and is today in use on skills key for her career at LAU. “We were patients in the U.S.A. and Gulf region. “ The education at LAU is really exposed to different opportunities Although he graduated a decade ago, and different programs that not a lot of Sankari see his studies at LAU as key in outstanding, on par with people know about,” she said. shaping his success, both in terms of international standards.” Since 2006, the university’s Department academic qualifications and personal —Z iad Sankari, LAU alumnus and of Management Studies has offered a development. “The education at LAU is entrepreneur “Small Business Start-up Laboratory” outstanding, on par with international course. “LAU was the first university in standards,” he said. “The use of the U.S. Lebanon to offer such a course,” said system prepared me for my graduate Silva Karkoulian, the department’s chair. study,” added the entrepreneur, who went Without proper training, “Lebanese on to complete a master’s degree at Ohio A select group of 52 students and young entrepreneurs were running State University. alumni participated in training sessions businesses by trial and error.” Addressing Adopting a “critical thinking” approach over a period of five Saturdays, learning this gap, the laboratory allows students has been key to Sankari’s success. the skills essential to establishing a start- to “acquire knowledge for creating new He believes that developing a pool of up, including business model planning, business ideas, seeking funds, meeting entrepreneurially-minded people is key marketing and finance. Participants competition, leadership skills, benefiting if the sector in Lebanon is to succeed pitched start-up ideas to a jury, with three from available technologies, and long-term. “We need to feed the fuel winners awarded coaching sessions by developing succession planning for family of the start-up revolution and that is Speed@BDD leaders. First-prize winner businesses,” added Karkoulian. through talent,” he explained. “We need to Vanessa Katar, who graduated last spring In addition to the specialized encourage a mindset of risk-taking, going with a major in Marketing and a minor curriculum offered by such courses, the outside the box and of critical thinking.” in Psychology, was also invited to attend initiative of individual professors who Initiatives and programs at LAU the Global Outreach and Leadership encourage a pro-active mindset is also encourage students to follow in the Development Conference GOLD at LAU’s crucial. “One of my instructors [at LAU] footsteps of alumni like Mikati, Sahmarani headquarters in New York this August. was the sort of person who would always and Sankari. This spring, LAU launched Her start-up idea consisted of a push you to pursue new opportunities,” the Achieving Creative Entrepreneurship business-to-business mobile application says Sahmarani. “For example, we were (ACE) Program, an initiative designed by called “ac-company,” allowing employees undergrads, but he pushed us to write the Outreach & Civic Engagement Unit of the same “company” to “accompany” a paper and submit it and present it in (OCE) with Speed@BDD, a Beirut-based each other to work by arranging Dubai. He pushed us to pursue new topics accelerator for start-up businesses. carpooling. She said she drew numerous and think outside the box.” “ACE falls within OCE’s areas of interest lessons from the training, around risk- While Mikati and Sahmarani are in terms of providing students and alumni taking, trialing and idea development, and helping to create a new generation with leadership in entrepreneurship, as would encourage other similar initiatives.
page 44 M center thisphilosophy. reflects university’s recently founded innovation training andmicrofinancing —the organization thatoffers vocational L by the business ideasmore widely. Funded encouraging innovationandincubating in left like are reallyspecifically neededinacountry that trainings related toentrepreneurship in businesscourses,” shesaid. “ tips andtricksthatare usuallytaughtonly who donothavethechance tolearnthe agreat tomanyuniversitymajors be tool ofbusinessingeneralto thebasics can ainings related toentrepreneurship or “ T eb akhzoumi Center for r While start-ups dujour are theflavor L
anese non-profit, non-governmental eb undiscovered.” L eb anon, M anon, where manytalentsare akhzoumi Foundation —a LAU recognizes therole of I nnovation, as T I believe believe he Fouad in factorssignificant inkeeping youngtalent the for conducive tocreativity andinnovation whatisknownasanaccelerator.”be invest withthem. a place tryto toworkbutwillpossibly have learned. Wewillnotonlygivethem L “We are tryingtocreate suchaspace at when theygraduate,” explained entrepreneurship ideasoftheirstudents to create venture fundstoinvestinthe exposure tointernationalresearch. conferences, workshops, lecture seriesand including regular international educational andtraining opportunities, known,the institutewillbe willoffer eb T “ L T LAU anon usingtheknowledgethatwe he overall aimistocreate aclimate eb L he trend, worldwide, is for universities eb anon. “ anese economy, whichwouldbe studentsandstaff, andtoboost T he center willnotonlyhelp T he center isgoingto A hmar. the president for Projects Special at excellence,” saidSaadelZein, assistantto academic innovative solutionssupporting to explore forward thinkingand center for faculty, andresearchers staff creative thinking, a butitwillalsobe students fostering theirideasandseeding are to givingback issues andproblems.” providing solutionsfor potential social Zein concluded. “ andcommunityin social work,” el is toencourage students’ involvement alumni like program, creating thenextgeneration of like the Foundation willcomplement initiatives T he key involvementofthe A chieving Social chieving Social M ikati andSahmarani, who M L eb ost importantly in ost importantly anon. “ E ntrepreneurship T he hope he hope M akhzoumi LAU page 45 page .
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Arts & Sciences
LAU welcomed hundreds of students enthused Nasrany, who is majoring in “That’s and dozens of professional dancers and both performing arts and psychology. educators to its Byblos campus this spring “There were more talks and opportunities during the Dance Day Festival, for a one- for engagement at the festival this year,” what week intensive program of workshops, she added, referring to theory-based talks and performances. workshops on choreography, movement makes Now in its seventh year, the festival, and theories of learning. organized by LAU and hosted in partnership with the municipality of the magic Byblos, culminated in a grand gala performance at the public gardens in “ We’ve created works here and the Byblos, drawing in hundreds of spectators that have been performed in and participants. For the first time in its New York.” history, and in a bid to engage the entire dance LAU community across both campuses, —Rain Ross, visiting dance instructor the gala performance was also staged in Beirut. occur” “This is part of my community and Nasrany was among dozens of By Reem Maghribi where I belong,” said visiting dance performers to audition and rehearse for instructor Rain Ross. “We’ve created works performances choreographed around here that have been performed in New the theme of gender equality. “It’s not In its seventh year, LAU’s York,” added Ross, who has participated in about letting women know that they are all but one of the editions of the annual equal to men, but letting men know that intensive one-week festival spearheaded and organized by they are equal to women — that there is Dance Day Festival is still Associate Chair of LAU’s Departments a place for them in the world of dance,” of Humanities and Communication Arts explained Assaf. going strong Nadra Assaf, who is also an assistant Jad Melki, chair of the Department of professor of English and dance. Communication Arts that runs the B.A. “I focused more this year on catering program, concurs and sees LAU’s role as to our PFA students as opposed to school a reformer. “Dance and the arts do not students,” said Assaf, referring to the new have the same respect and gravitas in this B.A. in Performing Arts launched by the region as they do elsewhere, and it’s our university last year. In fact, the new degree challenge to change that.” was a natural outcome of the success A testament to this challenge was the of a festival that has annually attracted fact that women far outnumbered men hundreds of students from Lebanon’s in the festival workshops and the gala many dance schools, among them performance. LAU instructor of modern Yara Nasrany. and contemporary dance Jimmy Bechara “LAU was definitely my university of puts this down to the prevailing mentality choice because of its great dance courses,” in the region that associates physical
page 46 the magicanddance occur.” faculty beautiful. that’s real synergy thestudentand between growth tocompetition, asopposed anda in class. energy.positive thestudents’to sayabout vibrancy and was dancer A dancersand local torunworkshops. program andinvitedifferent international new andenticingadditionstothefestival animpromptuperform dance to. for Camacho to selected asongandoutfit Stephanie vulnerability,” enthusedsingeranddancer amazing toobserveandlearnfrom his gardens and performances heldatthe each for attendeesattheendoffestival minutes held privateperformances offive Portuguese dancer Francsico Camacho when and thatisexactlywhathappened community toexperience somethingnew, for ofthe members an opportunity Sarhan. “ so teachingcomes naturally,” says love toteachandshare theirexperiences, Sarhan alsoheldaworkshop. “Dancers L workshops atthefestival. dancers oflocal togive among anumber activity for menwithsport. “ students unique learningexperience thatmakes an aestheticsp AU mong this year’s first-time instructors mong thisyear’s “ E E Competition ballroom dancer and T very year very publicperformance alsoprovides student of performing arts Karim arts studentofperforming he dancers really feed eachother off T
E better.” here’s asenseofsharingand very workshopprovides a T N adr B A athan eirut campus. “ ssaf andherteamintroduce os, wholike manyothers ort,” adds A ndary, whohadmuch T B hat’s whatmakeshat’s B echara, whowas yblos public I seedance as I t was page 47 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Campus For more details about these LAU activities, NoTes visit the news section of www.lau.edu.lb. Inspiring Talks U.S. astronaut tells students to never give up on dreams Students from various schools and universities enjoyed an engaging and educational discussion with astronaut Donald Thomas at LAU, thanks to a collaboration between the LAU Astronomy Club, the Department of Natural Sciences, the Cosmic Dome, and the Young Leaders Development Program (YLDP Lebanon). Thomas, who orbited Earth a total of 692 times during his four missions and spent over 1,000 hours in space, told students, faculty and guests how he had made his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut a reality. “I persevered, studied the data and worked hard, and to all of you with a dream I say, never give up.” In addition to his frank and passionate speech about his fears and achievements, Thomas spoke about the various scientific experiments he was engaged in. Renowned space scientist galvanizes students “Thomas was so inspiring and the event exceeded my expectations,” Former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) said chemistry student Najat Fadlallah, president of the LAU and member of LAU’s Board of Trustees Charles Elachi spoke Astronomy Club Beirut. to hundreds of students lucky enough to find seats in the packed auditorium at the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury Health Sciences Center at LAU’s Byblos campus, during an event organized by the campus’ Astronomy Club. Retired from his position at JPL since last year, Elachi continues to teach electrical engineering and planetary science at the California Institute of Technology, of which he was once vice president. As head of JPL, he played an instrumental role in the landing of high-tech rover Curiosity on Mars. Indeed, Elachi’s main motivation for giving the speech was to galvanize and encourage aspiring engineers to push the boundaries of discovery. “This [achievement] doesn’t only inspire engineers and scientists but all people. It shows that if we really work hard, we can do almost anything.”
Romero Britto spreads positivity “I will leave Lebanon enriched and inspired and a self-appointed ambassador to the country,” said world-renowned Brazilian artist Romero Britto during his visit to LAU. The Miami-based artist spent a week in Lebanon as part of a charitable initiative organized by LAU board member Thomas Abraham, chairman of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, one of the founders of the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon. “I have been very lucky in my life and I want to use that to help others,” says the artist, who uses colorful patterns to reflect his optimistic view of the world. Introducing Britto, LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra emphasized the important impact of the arts. “When the arts are driven by a very optimistic view of the world, the sky is the limit. When the arts are passionately committed to good causes, then caring and love will prevail.”
page 48 ar said in Sexually L onourownvalues,” toreflect gives ustheopportunity saidClinical sexuality andthepractice ofsafe sexare andsmart ofvitalimportance. “ frequently avoidedbutdecisivesexualhealthissues. World ( sexualhealthissuesisincreasing.about in Sex education isalmostnon-existent Raising awareness sexualhealth about Community Engagement for OC student leadersshowedthattheyare uptothatchallenge,” said theopponent,criteria topersuade concrete allwhilebeing andimpactful, andour cooperation withthe months ofpreparation organized by toownmediaoutlets.restricting theabilityofelectedofficials prize.top debate competition,debate thesecond yearinarow thattheuniversityhastaken homethe A LAU winsYoung Arab Voices again debate Commitment toExcellence AU teamoffour guing againstincreasing taxes ontheprofits of L eb ’s School ofPharmacyGhadaelKhoury.’s School L ina anon. toaddress ofthisissue,” thedepthandimportance “Oneeventisn’t sufficient E I WS
T E A r lie Samia. ansmitted Diseases, contraception methods, andsexual healthservices available A birafeh, thedirector of W) or LAU ganized a Food 4 ganized aFood T he winningteamcompeted againststudentsfrom students won first place intheYoung studentswonfirst B ritish Council andlocal I WS T hought andQ& A LAU W L LAU . eb ’s Outreach andCivic anese schools andtheneedtospreadanese schools awareness ’s A mong thetopicsdiscussedwere sexuality, I nstitute for Women’sStudiesinthe for automotive industry, aswellways toadaptandadoptthecurrent of technology, policy, infrastructure andtheenvironment onsustainablepractice inthe E T the Program ( countries. semester. indeveloping 100studentswere sustainabletransportation invitedtolearnabout A T and agencies Automotive engineeringdayattracts internationalcompanies dynasty here at year, sowewantedtodothisfor them,” hesaid. “Sixwinsisarecord. We’re buildinga scorer. “ initiated tenyearsago. Civilengineeringstudent puts theteam’ssuccess downtotherevamping oftheuniversity’sathleticsprogram the team’scoach andDirector of 12-yearhistory.tournament’s “Wehavewoneverychampionshipsince 2011,” declared B T Taking thetrophy homesixyearsinarow N r nergy andWater, and he university’s he utomotive asketball actebel actebel GO
L sustainability. A L eb LAU T eb Smart SEX!todiscuss sessiontitledSmart he control andownershipoverone’s M anese banks andinfavoranese banks of anese asar. “ T Captains —the his is a particularly emotionalwin,his isaparticularly assomeoftheplayersare graduating this E UN T ngine Group, Vedecom U he event was organized in partnership withthe he eventwasorganized inpartnership A E ni DP), the Sustainable Oil and Gas Development in rab Voices (Y ngineering Dayeventattheuniversity’s M I L n debate, youuseobjective eague Championship, inistry of LAU A T E merican Society of merican Society he victoryfollowed A ngagement (OC A ssistant Vice President . ssistant Professor at ” E AUB nvironment theimpact heldworkshopsanddiscussionsabout T E alking ab A B nergy andWater( V), yblos campus basketballvarsityteam—wonthe and anational N I A E out sex nstitute, A D thletics at ) unitin rab M U makingittheirsixthwin, arecord inthe , echanical UN M O LAU agencies, andthe E W). Speakers from E E ngineers ( ’s lie Chamounwasthegame’shighest B B yblos campus Joe yblos campus Joe yblos campus duringthespring U A nited S L ME eb L ) chapterhelditssecond anon (SOD eb N T ations Development oyota anese E uropean vision M M oujaes, who M otor EL inistries of L eb ) project, and E anese urope, page 49 page
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Faculty and students redesign LAU’s Early Childhood Center Students of education at the university’s School of Arts and Sciences teamed up with their peers at the School of Architecture and Design during the spring semester to present proposals for a redesign of the outdoor area of the Early Childhood Center (ECC), a staple of LAU’s Beirut campus since the 1950s. The result was a new course that brought students from two very different disciplines together to analyze the behavior of children, survey the existing site, study relevant theories about space and cognitive development, and prepare models and recommendations for new concepts and designs. Julia Aridi, a senior in architecture, praised this new learning experience. “I loved being engaged in something that was real and practical and in support of our university.”
Collaborations & Exchanges The vitality of translation today In collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Lebanon, the university gathered professionals and students for a two-day symposium to discuss pragmatic approaches to medical and legal translation. “The aim of this event is to keep students up- to-date with current research and developments in the field, and to put them in touch with other students and professionals,” said Associate Professor and B.A. in Translation Program Coordinator Nuwar Diab, who organized the workshop in collaboration with the Swiss mission and the university’s Office of Development. With the current international migration crisis, the focus of the semi-annual symposium had a special resonance. In his and exchanges.” Diab took the opportunity to announce a future welcoming note, LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra reminded the student exchange program between LAU and the Faculty of audience of the importance of interpretation and translation at Translation and Interpreting at the University of Geneva (UNIGE). a time of major global displacement, where refugees “need to Sonia Asmahène Halimi, assistant professor and co-director access proper health care, and know about laws and their rights of the Translation Department and head of the Arabic Unit at in a host country.” Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon, François Barras UNIGE, emphasized that students need to “have a practical said, “I hope that our collaboration with LAU will bring Swiss approach to translation and follow a strong methodology based and Lebanese teachers together to develop fruitful relationships on documentation and terminology.”
New prospects for studying entrepreneurship The Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) will this year is the beginning of a great alliance between two institutions of partner with UK Lebanon Tech Hub to produce the 2017 edition giants who are interested in public welfare,” said Said Ladki, dean of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) national report of AKSOB, as he welcomed guests, among them Former Minister on Lebanon, an international initiative kick-started by Banque of Telecommunications Nicolas Sehnaoui. LAU’s 68 full-time and du Liban and the U.K. government. A summary of the report’s 60 part-time faculty members will benefit from access to the findings was presented to an audience of faculty and students of source data on which the report is based, ultimately aiming to the business school in Beirut during the spring semester. “This eliminate the barriers to entrepreneurship in Lebanon.
In celebration of international education “We have the obligation to provide our young people with opportunities for exposure through exchanges,” said LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra at the inaugural session of International Education Week. Organized and hosted by the Office of International Services (OIS), the initiative encourages and assists students looking to spend time at a university abroad. Information sessions were held for students and faculty members in order to help plan for their studies at more than 40 foreign partner universities worldwide. The students agree that such experiences are unimaginably enriching. “What really makes me unique is that I am an international student,” said business major Kevin Fadlallah, who enjoyed his time at Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria last year. “When our students excel abroad, it proves that the education at LAU competes at an international level,” enthused International Services Associate Program Manager Dina Abdul Rahman. page 50 Hot Topics Panels &Workshops said “We are for delightedtoprovide otherstopresent anopportunity andexchangeknowledge,” infrastructure rainfall damage caused bypotential landslidefailures. andearthquake-induced inthefield,brought together variousexperts lossoflife whostudiedtheriskofboth and by indicates theriskoflandslidesacross allvillages in Grace intercollegiate workshopwasorganized half-day andhosted by universities, manyofwhompresented theirownresearch projects andfindings. A New mapdetailslandslideriskacross Lebanon and heldat Conference focuses onrefugee contribution through history blockade. However, 1915 and1918, acatastrophe caused byJamalPasha’s saidtobe in theGreat Famine thatclaimedaround 200,000livesbetween M as M Jordan duringtheGreat War—focused ontheGreat Famine of Twilight inthe Arab Lands —whichcentered on Hosted bytheHumanitiesDepartment, aworkshoptitledOttoman Narratives oftheLevant intheOttomanera with Germany’s oftheconferenceand co-organizer —hostedincollaboration highlight therole ofrefugees ascontributors totheirhost gatheringasonethatsoughtto introduced thethree-day A and around the B the M workshop on landslide risk assessment hosted by the Department ofCivil workshoponlandslideriskassessmenthostedbytheDepartment ssistant Professor ofPolitical Science and yblos campus totackletheissueofrefugee transfers through ouawad discussedquestionsrevolving around JamalPasha’s role ount ore than20scholarsfrom dozensofacademic institutionsin T U urkish A A S rab world, AI bou Jaoude.bou “ A L bou Jaoude,bou whoselatestresearch hascentered ondeveloping amapthatclearly D grant program Partnerships for eb A anon andOttomanmilitaryleaderJamalPasha, aswell LAU rab relations. ’s E M U urope and B niversity ofHeidelberg — editerranean inrecent andhistorical times. T I yblos campus attracted studentsandprofessors from several t is for the collective benefit ofallourstudentsandresearchers.”t isfor thecollective benefit ariq T L ell, awyer andindep N
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A ssociate Professorssociate the topics addressed includedmassmigration inthe to present-day experiences ofSyriansin his part, science, argued thatotherfactors contributed tothefamine. For member ofthe member history. countries,in neighboring initiativestorewrite andmodern-day Ottomanera ofdiscussionabout vendettas,extended period events day self-perception about speak andidentityinOttomanmodern- quotesto Deringil drew journalsanddocumented onpersonal deportation intheancient deportation Humanities ( refugee crisis. “ countries, andtocounter thedarkpredominant narrative ofa T he four stressed ofraising panelists theimportance awareness M T E urk edieval ngineering ngineering EE ey. LAU N T L he he ursing eb R), R), A flurry ofquestionsfrom flurry theaudience resulted inan Professor organizer ofHistoryandtheevent’s Selim anese anese A M GY T editerranean. A his is a global governancehis isaglobal crisis,” saidFakhoury, A A rab-German Youngrab-German ), oftheconference. thesponsors nahid Kulwicki discussiononthe duringapanel N ear L eb E ast, andprotection andperil in anon, organized tocelebrate N urses make thedifference A cademy ofSciences and T urk ey and M iddle E I n addition urope, A ges, page 51 page E O
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Improving Skills Teachers from public and private institutions train in writing assessment More than 140 English teachers from schools and universities Department’s contribution to civic engagement, which is at the across Lebanon attended the Fourth Annual Symposium on the heart of LAU’s mission,” said Nuwar Diab, associate professor of Teaching of Writing, organized by LAU Beirut in collaboration English at LAU and co-chair and trainer at the event. As the event with AUB. The event, which this year included teachers from came to its conclusion, recommendations from the different public schools for the first time, aims to improve the skills of sessions revealed that teachers need to be better trained in English teachers and to create partnerships between teachers common techniques and that giving positive feedback to students and universities in order to promote research collaborations on is important. the theme of teaching writing. “This symposium is the English
Challenges and trends in human resource management Students and practitioners of human resource management came together at a forum hosted by the Department of Management Studies at the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB), to learn about historical practices, current trends, and future needs. “Organizations need value adding corporate citizens and business leaders who will innovate and transform,” said AKSOB Interim Dean Said Ladki. As for LAU, the university strives to ensure employee satisfaction by boosting their engagement. “Engagement ensures loyalty and retention, and these are our top priorities at LAU,” said Vice President for Human Resources & University Services Roy Majdalani. One of the strongest methods of increasing engagement and performance, according to the head of Talent Management & Training at BankMed Roula Ejjeh, is team building. “To be an effective HR manager, you need to be a psychologist, coach, consultant and strategist. You need to be a global leader.” Beneficial Opportunities
Major gift fosters scholarship opportunities The Brummana High School Cultural Society, the philanthropic arm of the Brummana High School, has gifted LAU with $300,000 towards an endowed scholarship fund. The agreement was made official at a signing ceremony event held at the university’s Beirut campus in May, bringing together leaders from both institutes to celebrate the occasion. Explaining what prompted the gift, the chairman of the society Raja Younes said, “The school is flourishing and our students are doing well, and we would like to support them behind the scenes.” LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra took the opportunity to show the university’s interest in creating more opportunities for students: “This is not the end of it. We will go on to establish even more important relationships between Brummana High School and LAU, and we will make sure to have a special bond that best benefits students.” Scholarships from an endowed fund are typically distributed after two to three years from the launch of a fund. However, LAU will award a $6,000 scholarship to a Brummana High School graduate starting in the 2017-18 academic year.
LAU first university to launch the Student Mobile Plan LAU students were the first to benefit from nationwide telecom promotional offer dedicated to university students. Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Telecommunications Minister Jamal Jarrah (B.S. ’81), who launched the LAU deal with the CEOs of Alfa and Touch, announced a new initiative to reduce telecom costs incurred by university students. For $15 a month, whether subscribers of Touch or Alfa mobile operators, students can enjoy 5 gigabytes of Internet downloads, as well as free talk-time, text messages and more. The achievement was made possible by LAU’s capacity and technical infrastructure, which enabled swift cooperation with the telecom providers while maintaining student information confidentiality.
page 52 Works penned during an duringan Works penned Beyond the Beyond the A rabic Creative Writing classroom course getpublished B y Hoda Hilal y Hoda f infused byacandid spirit. tedious,should notbe but should be al Rahb translation students Joseph G. Jabbra, LAU president rabic language isthekey to “ itjusthasto comeperfect: from theheart. A Return from Nothing. A classmates Jalal alive. ofkeepingthe importance ourlanguage T actually languagesorliterature majors. thecoursestudents whotook were out thatnoneofthe when onefinds literary as “thekey toourculture andrich ofthe the importance in ouraccomplishments. Hestressed President JosephG. Jabbra, whodelighted imagination,” sheexplainedatthelaunch. skillsandunleashingthe personal encouraged andorientedbydeveloping capacities, discovered, waitingto be professor From session, theveryfirst however, our ofajourneyfullachievements. start the none ofusimaginedthatitwouldbe Publishers, were publishedbythe A that myclassmatesand launch ofliterary works at thebook and to showitsstudentsloveandsupport, at am tobe while the onlythoughtthatcrossed mymind I teamwork techniques thatwewere taught were through born brainstorming and topaper,we putpen eventsandcharacters course convinced themthatwritingin they’ve neverdonethisbefore, butthe our abilities. “ n aroom packed with aculty members, parents andsupporters, hroughout thesemester, wesensed rabic doesn’t have to be polished and polished rabic havetobe doesn’t wwad wrote storytitled ascience fiction rabic Creative Writingcourse andwhich heritage.” our culture andrichliterary A While writingournovella, myfellow Jabbra’s words resonate evenmore T When wechosethis — he eventwasattendedby I particularly felt itthispast particularly E I was speaking washowblessed wasspeaking ngineering studentsandfellow
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 School of Arts & Sciences
Students from a variety of disciplines Diversity in collaborated this spring to stage an eclectic music-led performance titled Alternative Facts. The event combined the spotlight acting, dance and video with the sounds of a violin, oud, drums, piano and vocals. By Reem Maghribi Each student, says Assistant Professor of Music Amr Selim, brought with them a unique expertise and vision that Communications Arts strengthened the production. “A graphic department stages multi- designer, for example, sees colors and shapes better than I do. In music, I hear disciplinary multi-genre better than they do. This exchange of musical extravaganza perspectives and ideas is truly helpful.” Within this fruitful and collaborative context, Selim took on the challenge of “This is the first time I played in front building a narrative around a newsroom, of an audience, and it was so exciting,” writing farcical script that tackled the enthused computer science major Ikram impact of fake news and audience Hamizi, who, together with performing ignorance, and incorporated songs in a arts major Stephanie Tadros took on the number of genres, including rap, jazz, role of news anchor. “It’s a great chance to mawal and reggae. Even the set — with interact with people from other majors. rubble and a destroyed car on one side, I’m usually surrounded by technical brains a cage on another and candles lighting and here I was with artistic ones.” up the stairs — clearly drew from the Also dedicating time away from his expertise, vision and creativity of people academic discipline was violinist Elie from different disciplines. Chahin. “I study architecture but I love
page 54 professor heard hisraps online. “What’s the intheproductionto take after part invitedbySelim Haddad waspersonally learned alotworkingwithothers.” ofmyinstrumentand the boundaries encouraged metoimprovise andexplore playing westernmusicontheoud. M professionally mindedpeople.” was somuchfunand performance byfar,important though. experience onstage. “ music,” explainedChahin, whohasalotof mr Selim, LAU assistant professor ofaperformance is he goal “ as asecond major. “ now considering arts takingonperforming mentoring bySelimsomuchthatheis is more to know.” but to let you knowthat there not to take you out ofreality, T oussa lovedthecamaraderie and Fellow engineeringstudent M — echanical engineeringstudentJamil A of music I t was my first time t wasmyfirst T I wasworkingwith his wasthemost B assam A mr I I
t T production. “ wrote for twosetsoflyricsespecially the not justperforming,” saysHaddad, who unique here isthatwe’re creating things, important and deserves to be nurtured.” anddeservestobe important regard, inthisregion, andparticular isvery is more toknow. of reality, buttoletyouknowthatthere of aperformance isnottotake youout inspiring andpowerful,” headds. “ it again, andfor theaudience, very it’s they are. You can intheireyes. seethefire students. “ inthe thepassion seeing andnurturing adding chords.” mincing thingsandeachmusicianis hey want to get back onstageanddo hey wanttogetback T he mostrewarding for Selimwas part I t’s greatt’s toseehowhappy E ven withthecovers, we’re T he role inthis ofarts T page 55 page he goal he goal
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 An indispensable research tool By Victoria Yan & MarCom news staff
LAU’s Institute for From critiquing archaic laws to political discussion at a time when the showcasing Arab women in the arts, country had all but shut down. Meanwhile Women’s Studies in the Al-Raida, an interdisciplinary academic in a 1994 issue, it addressed issues of journal published by the LAU’s Institute intimate partner violence and women Arab World puts 40 years for Women’s Studies in the Arab World survivors of all forms of violence, even as of research on women (IWSAW), is one of the few leading activists and feminist non-government publications to spotlight women’s organizations themselves were still unable and gender issues online rights and inequality in the Arab region. to mobilize around the issue without Established in May 1973, Al-Raida — social and political pushback. meaning “female pioneer” — was Over the years, Al-Raida has lived up “We bridge the divides between the first publication of its kind in the to its namesake, a pioneer in the field region. In its nascent years, it served as of feminist scholarly work. The journal academic and activists by a modest newsletter covering profiles of publishes both peer-reviewed scholarship focusing on applied research women’s conference and summaries of and simultaneously serves as a platform academic studies. for activists to publish their critical pieces, with real potential for social Foregrounding issues of gender and poems, art, short stories, testimonials and and policy change.” human rights, the journal has continued personal essays. “This unique platform to evolve both in scope and impact. It has enabled it to successfully tackle many —Lina Abirafeh, IWSAW director publishes across a variety of academic sociopolitical and cultural issues that and political disciplines, and highlights remain taboo in the Arab region and intersectional and comprehensive beyond,” explained said IWSAW’s Assistant research that challenges prevailing Director and Al-Raida Managing Editor, gender norms. “Al-Raida itself is a story...a Myriam Sfeir. historical snapshot of the evolution of To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, gender equality and women’s rights both IWSAW digitized the entire collection in Lebanon and across the region,” noted of the journal, making all its issues free Lina Abirafeh, IWSAW’s current director. to the public. Yasmine Masri, a projects With over 40 years of research on manager at Search for Common Ground, women and gender issues, Al-Raida has emphasizes the importance of Al- been an indispensable resource for more Raida’s work and archives. Having used than one generation of researchers, the publication extensively in her M.A. activists and scholars. “We bridge the thesis on women and peace-building in divides between academic and activists Lebanon at the end of the 20th century, by focusing on applied research with real Masri remarked on how critical it was potential for social and policy change,” to maintain an up-to-date resource for affirmed Abirafeh. “We have regional projects centered on women in the and global networks to tap into, bringing Arab World. together both knowledge and know-how,” “Al-Raida is an indispensable resource: she added. 40 years of gender and women’s rights All of the journal’s issues highlight research and activism available at the click important historical moments in the of a button,” pointed out Masri. “Whether development of feminist activism both an experienced researcher or a young in Lebanon and across the region. During activist, its archives are a must-read for the Lebanese Civil War, Al-Raida continued those invested in gender and women’s To dive into Al-Raida’s pool of knowledge to publish articles and material that rights in the Arab region,” she added. free of charge visit www.alraidajournal.com soon created a foundational platform for
page 56 collaboration and learning and learning The valueof collegiate dermatology inter from each disciplinary inter- B y Reem other other conference LAU M hosts aghribi
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Alumni update February
Annual Sponsors Dinner LAU and its Dubai & Northern Emirates alumni chapter organized a dinner to thank sponsors for their continuing support to the chapter and the university. During the event, the chapter’s committee presented LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra with a check for $600,000, the total funds raised by the chapter during the previous year. The hugely successful dinner took place on February 21 at Dubai’s Jumeirah al Naseem Hotel. March
Day in the Desert More than 650 alumni accompanied by family and friends enjoyed a fun day in the desert full of activities for both children and adults during the Kuwait chapter’s Annual Open Day, held on March 10.
Oman Annual Gala Dinner “Choose to be Grateful” was the theme of this year’s Oman alumni chapter’s annual gala dinner, which gathered around 250 alumni and friends. Mireille Aoun Kamar acted as the master of ceremony, introducing LAU alumnus Philippe Giorgiou, marketing consultant to the Omani Ministry of Tourism to reflect the dinner’s theme of gratefulness. Carla Khalil el Zein then introduced LAU President Joseph G. Jabbra, who updated the audience on the university’s latest news. The Ambassador of Lebanon to Oman, H.E. Hussam Diab thanked the chapter for organizing the dinner. A surprise live appearance by Michael Haddad following a short film about the The evening, which took place at Muscat’s Grand Hyatt Hotel on young Lebanese — who lost control of 75 percent of his body March 10 lasted till the late hours of the night with entertained after a jet-ski accident and stays standing up with the help of by Asmara and her band, who flew from Lebanon especially for a steel exoskeleton developed at LAU — received an ovation. the occasion. April Senior Student Orientation The Alumni Relations Office organized its 15th “Senior Students Orientation Activity” to introduce the students to the Alumni Association and the benefits of membership. Seniors on both campuses had the chance to visit the alumni stand and provide the Alumni Relations Office with their contact information in order to remain in touch after graduation. Refreshments and cookies were served and each senior was gifted a leather business card holder bearing a brass plaque engraved with “LAU Alumni Association Class of 2017” as a souvenir. They were also handed copies of the LAU Magazine & Alumni Bullet in addition to the Alumni Chapters Directory. Both events drew a crowd of more than 370 seniors on April 4 and 5 at the Byblos campus and April 19 and 20 at the Beirut campus.
page 58 May Professor A Your (W LAU A BeneficialCollaboration San Fr astounding by the B M Ladies Brunch bi eirut inDowntown A A atConsolidated ContractorsRe-engineering for of theHRdivisionat Raed banking, construction andadvertising, moderated byDeanofStudentsin market needsandrecruitment trends. Four alumnifrom ofpharmacy, thefields discussiontitled“ panel officials, metwithtopHRrepresentatives faculty andstaff following avibrant (Career andPlacement), heldon organized bythe r A 11th Alumni Annual BusinessNetworking Reception L ore than 100alumniandfriendsgathered atKahwet epresentatives —attendedthe11th E C ssistant to lwan, andVP/ —includingmore totalof350people than140alumniand100company ’s zzi (afamily practice physicianfrom Palo U L L ancisco chapteroftheWorld ife” on N ) topresent aseminartitled“Presentations to evant B M orthern Californiaorthern chaptercollaborated closelywiththe eirut chapteron E ohsen, shared theirexperience andpractical tipswiththeaudience: Head meritus ofSurgery (
success. M A LAU pril 29. Guestspeakers includedDr. Salwan arkets MENA President for Projects Special SaadelZein. A lumni Relations Office and the Offices oftheDeansStudents andtheOffices lumni Relations Office B L ama eirut for theannualbrunchorganized
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Alumni update
Alumni Lecture As part of the “Keep Learning” alumni lecture series, the Alumni Relations Office organized a lecture titled “Rethinking Leadership” by the global thought leader and professional speaker Michael Kouly, president and CEO of Cambridge Institute for Global Leadership. on May 12. The event attracted a crowd of 400 alumni, faculty, staff and friends of LAU, held on May 12 at the Beirut campus’ Irwin Hall Auditorium.
The Great Basketball Challenge LAU Alumni and LAU Varsity teams played two great games at the university’s Beirut campus on May 24. The event, like every year, brought back alumni players to the basketball field, not only for the “love of the game” but also for the “love of LAU”!
Spring Gathering Around 20 alumni and friends enjoyed a lovely lunch the Byblos chapter organized for their Spring Gathering at Les Terrasses de Abdelli on May 21.
Visiting Alumnus On May 31, LAU Vice President for University Advancement Marla Rice-Evans and Director of Alumni and Special Projects Ed Shiner chatted with LAU alumnus and MENA & U.S. Director of U.K. Lebanon Tech Hub Nadim Zaazaa during his visit to the Big Apple. “We love it when alumni stop by to share the amazing things they’re doing!” says Shiner.
June
Fun on the Charles On June 3, the Boston/New England chapter enjoyed a picnic gathering on the Charles River, with family and friends enjoying the unique setting and scrumptious food.
page 60 with an Restaurant in T Ramadan inNew York Ramadan tent, KhaimatalKhaleej. A Ramadan inManama Ghabga nightonJune15atthe Gulf Hotel he bout 50alumniattendedandenjoyed the bout N Y- N I ftar for alumniandfriendsat ftar J chaptercelebrated theholymonthofRamadan N ew York CityonJune4. B alade B B anniversary pin. study abroad studentat ofthisFloridavisitwasalunchon part special June 10and11. Pompano Director of Taking Floridaby Storm morning withmore than140alumniandfriendsattending. Khaymé Ramadaniyé. T Ramadan inDoha ahrain Convention popular &Spa he Qatarchapterorganized aSohouratDoha L ahrain annualRamadan chapter’s eb anese B A each withseveral Floridaalumniwhoare spread throughout thestateon lumni and Special Projectslumni andSpecial A pproximately 70
T he gathering, onJune 8, lastedtilltheearlyhoursof B Virginia for alumniandfriendsonJune8. Ramadan withan T in Arlington Ramadan CW 1956-1957, duringwhichshewaspresented witha50th- he Washington, DC, chaptercelebrated theholymonthof LAU alumniare throughout dispersed Florida. E d Shinermetfor dinnerin I ftar at ftar M L a CigaleHotelRamadantent, erritt L eb I anese sland withRev. Karen T averna in T amp A rlington in a and T owner A page 61 page
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& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Integrating sustainability into the The campaign consists of a number of We recycle university’s culture and transforming its phases that involve different departments campuses into green landmarks is one of of the university every time, some of LAU’s Facilities Management’s many tasks. which are represented in the Recycling for a cause As part of this mission, the department and Waste Management Steering By Victoria Yan & MarCom news staff recently kicked off a recycling campaign, Committee. “This campaign is a great one with a humanitarian approach: a example of teamwork, not only within our LAU’s Facilities partnership with L’Ecoute Recycling. department as we also collaborated with “LAU decided to embark on a recycling Hospitality and Procurement Offices of Management Department plan that had the wellness of both the Business Services Department and the environment and the humanity many other entities,” says Work Control teams up with Association in mind,” says Assistant Vice President Unit Manager in Beirut, Rula Nehmeh, L’Ecoute for a campaign for Facilities Management Georges who along with Mona Semaan, her Hamouche. “This led us to partner with counterpart in Byblos, are leading the with a difference Association L’Ecoute, a not-for-profit and preparation works on both campuses and green-oriented charitable organization, in the initiative’s marketing campaign. support of their humanitarian mission.” While meticulous planning for Recycle For Father Jean-Marie Chami, president for a CAUSE began a year ago, the of the NGO, joining hands with a initial phase titled #LAUDoorToDoor pioneering university goes beyond the and which targets faculty and staff walls of both institutions. “This joint effort has recently started. “We’ve trained is creating a perfect awareness message at students to shed light on LAU’s alarming all levels and touches the civil society as current consumption of paper and how a whole.” cutting down on 20 percent of paper L’Ecoute Recycling collects LAU’s consumption can help save approximately waste, sorts it and routes it to recycling 280 trees a year,” explains Semaan, centers, which in turn finances projects illustrating the environmental awareness that serve the physically challenged. facet of the campaign. For example, recycling 85 tons of paper The next phase of the campaign — or a million bottle caps can provide an which will target students — will be electrical wheelchair for a person with launched in the fall. reduced mobility, while five tons of By adopting a partnership-based paper or a hundred thousand cans can approach, LAU aims to reduce the During Phase 1 #LAUDoorToDoor students provide a hearing aid kit for a hearing- environmental impact of the university’s from the Red Cross and Environmental impaired person. operations, minimize its use of natural club along with Facilities Management staff “We will keep assessing our growth in resources, lower operating costs and members visit faculty and staff offices to this initiative and make the necessary encourage environmentally responsible introduce the partnership with Association adjustments while trying to seek behavior within the community. l’Ecoute and deliver paper collectors designed opportunities to add other lines of Currently, the university undertakes and handcrafted by students, with messages recyclables as possible,” says Director of numerous initiatives, including green like “Let your hands do the talking” referring to the Physical Plant in Beirut Roger Haddad. design and building certification, energy sign language used by the hearing impaired. Student Nadine el Sayed immediately and water efficiency, metering and agreed to volunteer along with other performance audits and tips for living students from the Red Cross club — to green, says Director of the Physical which she belongs — and will be leading Plant in Byblos Ziad Haddad. “A major the awareness campaign targeting LAU’s step toward sustainability is LAU’s staff and faculty at the Beirut campus. Green Pledge — an agreement to make “This joint effort is creating a Students from the Environmental Club will small changes geared toward creating a perfect awareness message at do the same on the Byblos campus. sustainable campus.” “It was rewarding to see one of my “It’s vital for us to start taking all levels and touches the civil ex-students in our office enthusiastically environmental action immediately society as a whole.” encouraging faculty and staff to recycle,” considering the damages already incurred says Senior Instructor of English Paula on our planet,” student el Sayed adds. —Father Jean-Marie Chami, Association Haber, also director of the Writing Center “This campaign is simply amazing L’Ecoute president in Beirut. “I am a firm believer in this and heartwarming.” initiative… Recycling by itself benefits our environment and if the benefit is doubled then even better.”
page 62 non, where he teachesmathematicsto Colorado in mathematicsfrom the Nader Sobh(B.S. ’83)obtainedhisPh.D. previously worked at Services incharge of he isapartner Kansas. Hecurrently livesinDubai, where and including education, luxury, healthcare invarioussectors, and capacitydeveloper worked as ahumanresources consultant d’ingénieurs de U skills courses atHaigazian an instructorinhumanresources andsoft non. Cecilia livesin (SPHR) from sional inHumanRecourses certification She hasalsoachievedherSeniorProfes- from inbusinessmanagement her master’s Cecilia (B.S. elMoudaber ’82)obtained ddumi (B.S. ’03). Sama Qaddumi(B.A. ’04)andTareq Qa- L at its Research andCultural StudiesDepartment Islamiya) andthedirector ofthecountry’s Kuwait’s Region. Shewaspreviously thecurator of Council-dent ofWorldCrafts Kuwait, where sheiscurrently thepresi- A havingreceived in sity after hermaster’s andarchitectureart from Harvard tained herPh.D. inthehistoryof (B.A.Ghada Hijjawi-Qaddumi ’76) ob- fort tovisitfamily andfriendsin boyfriends. tween 10and28, and aswellhusbands ters, andhersixgrandchildren agedbe- get-togethers for hersonandthree daugh- of years. ofForeignpartment as anadministrative secretary attheDe- California, where shesubsequentlyworked California State Portuguese andReligious Studiesfrom French andaminorin andSpanish degree withadoublemajorin bachelor’s Aida Awar(A.A. ’50)obtainedher ter’s inbusinessfromter’s the Fadi Sidani(B.S. ’83)obtainedhismas- married, twoofwhom are Staying connected etters. rabic literature from niversité Saint-Joseph’s École supérieure A
ida’s timeassheorganizes frequent banking. U N N niversité du Quebec àChicoutimi.niversité duQuebec
ational Crafts Councilational Crafts of T ow retired, family takes upmuch ME I hree of hergrandchildren have B slamic oulder. E atDeloitte M very year, organ U B M eyrouth. Shepreviously niversity in N useum (Daral-Athar al- B ader livesin L A eirut, where sheis I nternational in anguages f AUB ndersen Global. A M ida makes theef- iddle U U . Ghadalivesin U LAU niversity of E niversity of niversity and nterprise Risk A L ong sia Pacific graduates, E A L ast. Fadi L or eight rts & rts I eb eb slamic U B I a- niver- each, anon. talian, L eb a- owner ofR industrydisinfecting.food Heisalsothe inmicrobiologymaster’s from Rami T. (B.S. Khodr ’88)obtainedhis three children. for Dubai munication atthe ofCom- intheSchool and storytelling assistant professor ofdigitalproduction Sumaya livesinDubai, where sheisan B daughter hasgraduated inJunefrom students. andcalculus atthe High School studentsattheCanadian twelfth-grade worked asasalesrepresentative for Philips the ver nitrate registered in inhydrogenof apatent stabilizedwith sil- andwatertesting.food Ramiistheholder A owner ofCure DevelopmentCo. Saudi summers inPaphos, Cyprus. Heisapart microbiology from California State U production for Future Dubai. Shepreviously worked asheadof from infilm master’s Sumaya Khauli(B.A. ’87)obtainedher andtwogirls—areboys allengineers. engineering, allfour ofhischildren —two for guidebooks School. Hehasalsowrittenmathematics sity. Ramilivesin LeilaAhmad Saad Assaf Bilal Arnaout rabia, inhospitaland whichspecializes eirut niversity inthe U .K. A (underevaluation). Hepreviously rab N T BML ow that V U . Sumayaismarriedandhas niversity majoringincivil labs, in whichspecialize L eb U L A eb .K andhisPh.D. anese baccalaureate N merican ader’s youngest ader’s anon and spends his anon andspends B T oston V andac Alissar Bakri L eb anon, GCCand U U niversity of M niversity. I onsultant man Pilot iddlesex in food infood U niver- manufacturing company in and investinacareer inthebiggestcable inmind:tocome homepurpose back moved back to moved back twin 19year-old boys, ofwhomare both lab graduate Rola Karameh. in 2008. Ramiismarried to division, before hisownbusiness starting three E A he joined dah Cable Company inSaudi director ofsalesandmarketing atJed- puter Systems. Previously hewasthe I L manager for Philips’ M ager atS rut, where heistheadministrative man- Ahmad Ghandour(B.S. ’94)livesin where heisaseniorconsultant for K (B.S.Nahel Wehbe ’91)livesinKuwait, isabusiness major). med andRibal his Maher Kaddoura (B.S. ’95)obtained Mazen Sinno(B.S. ’93)livesinSaudi distribution activity. Gulf Fluor resources andadministrative managerat lives in nternational for Allan Khoury AU . rabia, where heisasalesmanagerat A edical . & Juffali M students(Ragheedisabiologypre-
. daughters. B . A A E A bu Dhabi, where heisthehuman . from quipment, thenasregional sales CC L LL iban Cables and took onits Cables iban andtook AL C. B rothers.
L E A eb nterprises. I bu Dhabi nformation andCom- anon in2014withone M iddle M Ali Farhat azen isfather to U AUB T E L niversity. He hey have ast and eb A rabia. He anon. So, medical page 63 page A B B frica F ei-
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Staying connected
Bassam Baghdadi (B.S. ’97) lives be- Joseph Touma (B.S. ’99) lives in Leba- Abdallah I. Kabbara (B.Arch. ’04) tween Beirut, Riyadh and Doha. Bassam is non, where he is the owner of IT-Trading obtained his M.B.A. from University of a certified lead auditor with IRCA for ISO Communication Company. He was previ- Balamand. Abdallah lives in Saudi Arabia, 9000, as well as a lead auditor in the ISM ously a partner in Digital Links. Joseph has where he is a construction manager at Le- Code and ISPS Code. He holds the position recently become a grandfather. man Project Management. Previously he of general manager for NATRAD (maritime was a senior architect and design manager logistics), BMBG Inc. (environmental waste Sandra Abrass (B.A. ’00) lives in Leba- at Projacs International Co. management and waste to energy solu- non, where she is a filmmaker. Sandra has tions), and Leilani SA (K-12 educational directed political crime investigative docu- Marwan Wahbi (M.B.A. ’05) obtained solutions), as well as being COO for United mentaries, as well as commercials. his doctorate in business administration Medical Waste Management Qatar. (DBA) from Grenoble École de Manage- Bilal Arnaout (B.S. ’02) lives in Lebanon, ment in France. Marwan lives in Lebanon, Rima Hamdan (B.A. ’97) lives in Doha, and is the general manager at Lancaster where he is an assistant professor of Qatar, where she is the deputy director at Plaza Hotel. Bilal started with the Lancast- marketing at the Rafik Hariri University. the SABIS International School of Chouei- er chain as the room division manager, He was previously a lecturer of marketing fat. Rima’s daughter graduated from and was then promoted to deputy general at Haigazian University and has fifteen school this year. manager before assuming his current years of experience in the healthcare and post in May 2017. He previously worked pharmaceutical industry in Lebanon and Nahla Alkotob (T.D. ’99, B.A. ’93) lives at the Intercontinental Hotels Group and the Middle East. Marwan is married and in Lebanon, where she works in data up- Starwood Hotels. Bilal is married to Zeina has one child. dating at Lumiere Group. She previously Zein, (M.A. ’09, B.A. ’03) and they have worked as an instructor’s assistant in the two daughters, Yara and Aya. Hani Abas (M.S. ’06) lives in Lebanon, Department of Architecture and Interior where he is a principal consultant at Edar- Design at LAU. She then obtained her Mohamad Chmaitilli (B.E. ’02) lives in at Group. Hani’s professional qualifications teaching diploma and started teaching Lebanon, where he is a distribution sales include IT certifications, leadership certi- art. Nahla was an art teacher at Wellspring manager for Liban Cables. fications, IT security, Business Continuity Learning Community for four years before and Cloud Computing. He is married to making a major shift back to interior de- Rania Temraoui (M.B.A. ’02) lives in Leb- Meray Jawhar and has two children, Jude sign, this time in the field of lighting. She anon, where she is the finance manager at (five) and Yussef (four). is getting married to Mohamed Makari the international NGO World Learning, Inc. in August. Rania also conducts training on financial Ghady Helou (B.A. ’06) studied tradi- management, procurement and financial tional animation (2D) at the Las Vegas Rosemary Georgarakou (B.S. ’99) ob- accountability for many NGOs. Art Institute and is currently finishing tained her diploma in digital marketing his M.F.A. in painting, drawing and sculp- from the Chartered Institute of Market- Dalia Baassiri (B.S. ’03) obtained her ture at the Academy of Art University in ing in the U.K. Rosemary lives in Athens, M.F.A. in Fine Arts from the Chelsea Col- San Francisco. Greece, where she is the digital marketing lege of Arts at the University of Arts Lon- director at Natural Doctor SA and Metabo- don in the U.K. Dalia is a multidisciplinary Jony Matta (A.A. ’06) graduated from lomic Medicine SA. She stays constantly artist represented by Galerie Janine Rubeiz Esmode. He lives in Lebanon, where he is informed on new digital marketing trends, in Lebanon. Her studio is located in Bei- a photo stylist. Jony is married and has a tools and applications, participates in we- rut’s Hamra district. Her solo exhibition baby boy. binars and acquires relevant certificates “Wiped Off” was shown at Galerie Janine in digital marketing. Rosemary previously Rubeiz earlier this year Rana el Moghrabi (M.A. ’07, B.S. ’01) worked in the marketing departments of lives in Lebanon, where she recruits new well-known ERP software companies in Jad Bitar (B.S. ’04) is entering the M.B.A. cabin crew members for MEA’s Cabin Greece for over 15 years. In 2007, she mar- program at Middlesex University in Dubai Crew Operations division. Rana began her ried John, with whom she has been for the as of September 2017. Jad lives in Dubai, career at MEA as the assistant to the head past 17 years. where he is a senior marketing manager at of Operations’ Technical Department and the Commercial Bank of Dubai. He began received her dispatcher certificate from Lara Shaaban (M.B.A. ’99, B.S. ’94) his career in advertising in Beirut in 2004. Phoenix East School of Aviation in the completed her post-graduate degree at He then moved to Riyadh in 2005 and U.S. She previously worked at a number of LAU and obtained a second post-graduate stayed there for 10 years, with various jobs hotels chains before moving into media, degree in hotel management from Cornell- in advertising and in marketing. In 2015 working at the International Press Office Paris (IMHI in ESSEC). Lara lives in Saudi he moved to Dubai. Jad recently launched of Rafik Hariri and KUNA, the Kuwaiti Arabia’s al Khobar, where she works as a the first digital-only bank in the UAE — news agency, then at MBC and MBC 2 as a training and human development consul- CBD NOW — which recently won four production coordinator and presenter. tant. She is married to Karim Najjar (B.S. Transform MENA Brand awards. Jad got ’96) and they have two daughters, Kenzie married in April 2016. (nine) and Taj (four).
page 64 of his books sofar andiscurrentlyof hisbooks writ- no in2016. Hehassoldover18,000copies prizeat first seven books, andoneofhisnovels won tivational speaker. George haspublished non, where heisanauthor, actorandmo- George Yacoub (B.A. ’08)livesin this year. child and hiswife are theirfirst expecting A and environmental engineeratthecity’s lives in versity ofQueenslandin in chemical engineeringfrom the Ali Farhat (B.S. ’08)obtainedhisPh.D. duction company for twoyears. worked asanoperation manager inapro- L moud worked asanaccountant attheHam- don HousingRegistry. where shevolunteersattheCanada Maha Halaby(B.S. ’07)livesinOntario, Mohamed Charafeddine Louluwa Jazairi Dalia Baassiri Staying connected eb dvanced Water anon, for 16years. Subsequently, she U B niversity risbane, where heisachemical I taly’s Premio M M anagement Centre. edical Center in Sidon, M Abdallah Abdallah Jad Bitar aha previously A ustralia. He E nergheia I . Kabbara U L ni- eb L L on A a- iba- li - school ofpharmacy.school withan partnered istration residency atSutterHealth. He his PGY-2 healthsystempharmacyadmin- mento, California, where heisundertaking cotherapy specialist. the and roles in ing hiseighthbook. Hehasplayedmany A on howtosecure apharmacyresidency. webinar for current pharmacystudents N A obtained hisPGY-1 from the Ahmad Saad(Pharm.D. ’09, B.S. ’08) at nication officer non, where sheisaseniordigitalcommu- périeure desaffaires. Jasminalivesin sis onentrepreneurship from theÉcole su- inmanagementwithanempha- master’s Jasmina Khalaf(B.S. ’09)obtainedher N T Ali hmad isproud amentorfor tobe se- pharma- rizona andisaboard-certified ania alAawar awas, totheuniversityand togiveback ahla Alkotob H
BL films. ariri C L B eb ank &We anese T BL LAU V series, I T nitiative A C hey conducted a hmad livesinSacra-
B A Jasmina Khalaf R ank. Shelaunched lumnus, George awad elKontar commercials
U websites. niversity of L eb a- (Highway 121-Grapevine and (Highway 121-Grapevine Contracting for twoprojects inDallas engineer atOH lives inDenton, Qatar where sheisadirector at oflegalaffairs at Qatar rently completing herPh.D. inGulfStudies Hessa alMuhannadi(M.A. ’11)iscur- nior pharmacystudentsthrough the 72nd str and onein M system managementfrom theSouthern intransportation obtained hismaster’s Mohamed Charafeddine (B.E. ’11) girl. baby ried andhasatwo-year-old worked asalegalconsultant. Hessaismar- A R Mona Saadi lumni oula al ethodist ethodist T ourism H M eet station). U ajjar entoring Program. niversity. HessalivesinDoha, U N niversity in ew York (Second A L T uthority. Shepreviously
N exas, orth orth where heisacost A Caline elKhoury T merica-Judlau exas. I A
35 Denton) M ve Subway- ohamed page 65 page LAU
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Staying connected
Hadeel Dbaibo (B.A. ’11) obtained her master’s in education from AUB. Hadeel lives in Lebanon, where she is the out- reach coordinator of the TAMAM Lebanon Hub at AUB’s Department of Education.
Karim Kattouf (M.B.A. ’11) lives in Lebanon, where he is a brand protection manager for the Middle East and Africa Jad Abdo at Cisco.
Majed Abou Arraj (B.S. ’12) obtained his Program for Leadership Develop- Mazen Chahabeddine ment (PLD) degree from Harvard Busi- ness School. He lives in Dubai, where he is vice president of operations at Medicals International covering the GCC countries and Egypt. Majed is married and has two children.
Roula al Hajjar (B.S. ’12) lives in Dubai, where she is an account manager at J. Walter Thompson. Roula began her career George Yacoub Sara Ayoubi Hessa al Muhannadi as a marketing executive at Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi in Syria. She then moved to Fadi Zebib (M.B.A. ’12) lives in Lebanon, Ghaleb Kassab (B.E. ’13) lives in Leba- Dubai and started working in the adver- where he is the regional sales manager for non, where he is the CEO/Founder of tising field with clients like HSBC, Dubai Samsung Electronics. GTonics, a company he started during his Cares, Abbott, and many more. Roula got time at LAU Byblos. GTonics is now a digi- married in 2012 and has a one-year-old Chadi al Halabi (B.A. ’13) obtained tal agency for websites, mobile apps, social baby girl. his master’s of law in International and media and branding in Lebanon and KSA Commercial Law from University of Not- (www.gtonics.com). Sara Ayoubi (M.S. ’12) obtained her tingham in the U.K. He lives in Erbil, Ph.D. in information and systems en- Iraq, where he is the Housing Land and Allan Khoury (B.S. ’13) lives in Dubai, gineering from Concordia University in Property Cluster Coordinator/Analyst with where he is the senior digital designer at Canada. She lives in Ontario, where she is UN Habitat. Chadi previously worked at Universal Media (UM), which was ranked a postdoctoral fellow at the University of ESCWA in Beirut. 5th in the UAE Karting rankings, 8th in the Waterloo. During her time at Concordia, Middle East and 58th worldwide. Sara was valedictorian for the joint facul- Caline el Khoury (B.E. ’13) obtained her ties of Engineering, Computer Science master’s in supply chain engineering from Tania al Aawar (B.S. ’14) lives in Leba- and Fine Arts, received the doctoral prize Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. non, where she works in operation sup- in engineering and computer science and Caline lives in Chandler, Arizona, where port at Bankmed’s Mazraa branch in was nominated to receive the Governor she is a program manager for outbound Beirut. Tania’s father passed away seven General Medal Award. transportation of the network operations months ago. team at Amazon. Rachel Mikhael (Pharm.D. ’12, B.S. ’11) Mohammad el Medawar (M.S. ’14, obtained her pharmaceutical M.B.A. from Ali Hariri (B.E. ’13) obtained his Ph.D. in B.S. ’11) lives in Lebanon, where he is a the Lebanese University. She lives in Leba- electrical engineering from Florida State training professional and consultant. He non, where she is a senior professional University. Ali lives in Arizona, where he is founded his own business, TrainerMo- sales representative for the global health- a test R&D engineer at Intel Co. He previ- hammad.com, and holds training courses care company MSD. ously worked as a research engineer at the for companies and ministries in Dubai, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh and Muscat. Dounia Alexandra Nassar (B.S. ’12) (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Mohammed still heads his previous busi- obtained her master’s in packaging design ness, Websaytat.com, for web design and from the Pratt Institute in New York. She Hania Jneid (B.S. ’13) obtained her development. lives in Paris, where she is an art direc- master’s in interior design from the Royal tor at the global design and innovation College of Art. Hania lives in Lebanon, Alissar Bakri (B.S. ’14) lives in Harare, consultancy Dragon Rouge. Dunia had where she founded the Hania Jneid de- Zimbabwe, where she is the owner at previously worked at Think[package] in sign studio. Goats R’Us. For the past three years Alissar New York. has been working with the Goat Herder’s Association of Zimbabwe to empower page 66 she hasb agent at where heisaplanningand scheduling (B.S.Issam Sabbagh ’15)livesinDubai, nology company oncology andhematologyatthebiotech- non, where for sheisaproduct specialist ment from inprojectter’s andenterprisemanage- Nazih Issa(B.E. ’15)obtainedhismas- methodologies. in the she givesadvice todifferent companies tion, sherunsaconsulting businesswhere Hyundai, etc. manufacturers suchasFerrari, technical collaboration withautomotive companies in the largest power, construction andfleet trainertechnical dealingwith support by ShellasprofessionalDalia iscertified inthe thisposition occupy female engineerto HYPCO andisthefirst for Shell port where sheisthefront linetechnical sup- Dalia Fleihan(B.E. ’15)livesin Design ( L P architect at and Partners). Hepreviously worked asan an architect atDar currently livesin Syracuse take uparesearch at assistantposition postgraduate studies inarchitecture and at non, where sheisaresearch executive Rana A rant helaunchedwhilestillat where herunsQortoba Joseph Aoun(B.S. ’15)livesin Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC). where heisamechanical siteengineerat communities across thecountry. Elvire Nakhoul(B.S. ’15) livesin consultant. flooring a sports ( travelling in Rawad elKontar (B.Arch. ’15)willbe (B.E.Jad Abdo ’15)livesinSaudi from goats herd.new baby herpersonal U Staying connected eadership in A N C G L E ielsen. ).
A B N rchitects. Rawadalsopursued youb (B.S. ’15)livesin 2 LEE azih livesin MB B U een blessed with the birth oftwo een blessedwiththebirth / niversity in B U D) certification. A C Group A 2C sectorsusingengineering niversity College telier Hapsitusand A L ugust 2017topursuehis E L ubricants, distributedby side from hercurrent posi- eb nergy and L A anon, andincontinuous eb mgen. A L l-Handasah (Shair anon, where heis T eb V N . B anon, where heis ew York. Rawad aabdat, arestau- E nvironmental MENA L LAU BM ondon L L eb BLAN L eb T region. eb W, L . A his year a- eb anon, rabia, anon, a- K- sity ofWestminsterinthe non, where sheisaKG3 teacheratthe ’17) ismovingto Nour Skayem (B.S. ’16) livesin relevant jobinareputable industry. food a graduate assistant. a Sara tofind hopes Sam&Sons Co., sistant at worked administrator asadatabase as- at Sam&SonsCo., ington, D.C. lives in District. CH renovation store planningcoordinator at in Dubai, where heisanarchitect and (B.Arch.Mazen Chahabeddine ’16)lives care City. Kidcare Pediatric Health- ClinicatDubai where sheisthegeneral managerofthe Nada Arabi (B.A. ’16)livesinDubai, got married. Seif(B.S.Zeinab Abou ’16)livesin U engineeringatthe emphasis inpavement engineeringwithan dent intransportation I the previously worked asanationaldirector of for toDubai anewjob.move shortly Jana ment employeralliance executive butwill L Jana Atwi(B.S. ’17)currently livesin tive at where amedical representa- she hasbeen postgraduate degree at L Sar A djan, Darwiche(B.S.Abbas ’16)livesin hobby(www.maeanna.com).her painting worked at researcher andanalyst. Shepreviously currently aPh.D. candidate atthe Mae AnnaChokr(M.A. ’16, B.A. ’13)is site execution through store planning. vations andmaintenance, from designto gional CH I saad al n eb eb l SaqerGroup) andlogisticmanagerat niversity of A ANEL a Nasseredine (B.S. ’16)livesin anon, where sheisabusinessdevelop- anon andiscurrently her undertaking N ugust 2017, Yorguo elHachem(B.E. I GO vory Coast, where heis E L T li M
ondon, of M AIE A ANEL L azen currently coordinates re- M illy since June2016. ouleh Kindergarten. Zeinabjust bu Dhabi iddle M iddle S T E ae exas at C boutique openings, boutique reno- where she isapolitical L E td. L A ast inthecity’sDesign T E eb nna isalsodeveloping exas, ast L td. anon. M A I otors
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C ( M manager L ae U eb U nited niver- A A anon, L nna bi- eb a- in Mona Saadi(M.B.A. ’17, B.S. ’14)lives ( Hague, ininternationaland specializing public administration student master’s Louluwa Jazairi(B.A. ’17)iscurrently a Sarah Kaddoura (B.A. ’17)livesin “ where heisasalesmanagerat ficer at ficer non, where sheisthealumniprogram of- way, bymysideateverystepof the have been out theconstant support worked asan Hayat room teacherandteamleaderatal lives in Dana Itani(M.A. ’17, B.A. &T.D.’11) City, where heisasiteengineer. Mazen Hassan(B.E. ’17)livesinKuwait trainer apersonal atseveralbeing gyms. supplying insulationmaterials, aswell Ali el-HajAli(B.S. ’17)livesin ternational Organization for parents andfamily, andamazingfiancée. thinktankfocused on partisan at the governance at year-old son, School. Danaismarriedandhasathree- T E L I o myb astern affairs and astern affairs would not be where wouldnotbe CP L eb S) thissummer, anon-profit, non- I ameternallygrateful,” shesays. anon, where sheisanurseatthe I L nternational School. Shepreviously N eb U L eautiful mother eb etherlands. nite anon Center for Policy Research anon, where sheisahome- B E L ilal Ghalayini. L eb nglish teacheratal eiden anon Youth Project L eb L ouluwa isinterning U I anon inparticular. am today with- amtoday niversity, A I nna havefrom my M M igration. MI M L aria, you eb E T iddle C Co., uropean he B anon, page 67 page ayader L eb a- I n-
& alumni bulletin VOLUME 19 | issue nº 2 | Summer 2017 Why I Give Back Sabah Haidar Khalil (B.A. ’12, M.A. in progress)
The holder of a social work and community development undergraduate degree from LAU and currently a student of the university’s international affairs master’s program, Sabah Haidar Khalil gives back in many forms. From securing lawyers for underprivileged members of society to making sure food and supplies are distributed to prisoners, Khalil has a long history of helping those in need, focusing her efforts in general on human rights advocacy. She is also a keen supporter of education and recently established the Sabah Haidar Khalil Designated Scholarship Grant at LAU.
Why do you give back to LAU? I don’t believe in giving and taking. Happiness and peace of mind is the reward I strive for and I do my best to ensure that my compatriots — especially our future, young generation at LAU — have these in order to build a strong and honest spirit so they can improve and strengthen our society.
You are an alumna of LAU and also a current graduate student, as well as an active social worker in the community — how do you manage all this and what drives you to help others? I am indebted to my dear parents, who taught me at a young age to be empathetic. I feel empathy is in my blood. I always find a way to manage between my husband, six children, and five grandchildren to have time to support prison inmates or elderly people in hospitals. Impossible does not exist in my dictionary. Therefore, I have never believed that anyone or anything can stop me from accomplishing my mission and my dedication to be there when I am needed in my community.
What message would you like to convey to your fellow alumni and current students? I would like to raise my voice to my fellow alumni and our current students to help one another in order to change our society, and to love each other for a better and peaceful environment. United we can achieve this.
What would you like to see LAU achieve in the near future? Through our university, Lebanon must and should again be first in spreading knowledge and innovation, which are the only way to eradicate the current mindset of extremism that is destroying our country.
Why are you interested in supporting education, especially in Lebanon? Why not? Lebanon was always “Manarat al Sharq” (the lighthouse of the east). I want my old Lebanon back — the one I studied about in our history books from the time of the Phoenicians, Gibran and Amin Maalouf.
page 68 Creating A Lasting Legacy
Lina Ariss-Abdo It was by an accident of fate that Dr. Lina Ariss-Abdo — a board certified pediatrician and graduate of Hopkins, NYU and Columbia — came to revive the Scholarship Endowment fund established by her maternal grandfather Samih Rashid Barbir (1911-2004) and his sister Mounira Barbir Naamani. Two years ago on his birthday Lina was googling her late grandfather and got two hits. One was a 1955 ship manifest (Ile de France, from New York to Plymouth) on which his name appeared as a passenger. The other was an LAU endowment fund. No one in the family knew about it. The fund was inactive and had been dormant for over 30 years.
For Lina, the mere fact that her grandfather had set up the fund indicated that it meant a lot to him. She decided that she wanted to honor his memory and that of his sister Mounira. With her brother Omar Ariss, Lina immediately put together the first contribution and then reached out to the whole extended family. Shortly after, Mona Farra — Mounira’s daughter — along with her children made a donation of $100,000 through the Moufid Farra Foundation.
In March this year, Nadia Barbir Ariss, Lina’s mother, launched her first bookC’était hier en Orient (Le Caire – Alep – Damas – Beyrouth 1937-1955). During the launch, which was attended by numerous family and friends of the author, the sales of the book made $3,000, which was added to the endowment. Augmented still further by a gift of $10,000 from Leila Naamani Alireza — who is Mounira’s daughter and Nadia’s cousin — the fund now stands at over $140,000.
The fund is now active, generating a yearly scholarship for a deserving student. The family continues to sell C’était hier en Orient across the world and is donating all sale proceeds to the endowment fund. For the family, keeping the fund alive is vital, as they are convinced that education is the most powerful tool to improve one’s life and make the world a better place.
For more information, please contact:
Beirut Development Office New York Development Office Tel. (961) 1 786456 Ext. 1323 Tel. (212) 203 4333 Fax (961) 1 803658 Fax (212) 784 6597 P.O. Box 13-5053 211 East 46th St. Chouran Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon NY 10017, USA Scan this code with your Smartphone Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] to go to our giving page