In Brief
New Speaker Series Debuts with Talks on Displacement and Peacebuilding
The Department of Political and International Studies hosted Associate Professor Ian S. Spears from the University of Guelph and UNHCR Representative in Lebanon Ivo Freijsen in its newly launched Guest Speaker series. Through separate talks, they addressed Lebanon’s displacement crisis, the proactive role of youth, and lessons from Africa on conflict resolution. Both speakers underscored the importance of forward-thinking responses in addressing humanitarian needs and fostering peacebuilding across diverse, crisis-affected regions.
Prof. Maya Farah: The Only Female Marketing Scholar in MENA Ranked Among World’s Top 2 Percent Scientists
Dr. Maya Farah (BS ’00; MBA ‘02), chairperson of the Marketing Department at the Adnan Kassar School of Business, is the only female professor not only in Lebanon but also in the MENA region to be listed in the ‘Marketing’ category among the World’s Top 2 percent scientists for 2024 by Stanford University and Scopus Elsevier. Dr. Farah dedicated her success to Lebanon, its most resilient people, her alma mater LAU, and her family for their unwavering support.
In Aid of the Displaced
On October 3, 21 students of the civic engagement class at the School of Engineering, along with their lecturer Elie Elias, participated in a three-hour community service activity with Caritas at their headquarters in Halat. The students assisted with sorting clothing donations and at the call center. On another visit to Caritas HQ, 15 students from the class spent time helping to prepare food boxes. This community service will continue on a weekly basis as long as there is a need.
Talk It Out: A Psychological Support Group
In the first of many psychological support groups, Dr. Joumana Haddad and Ms. Tala AlNoweisser of Counseling Services created a safe space for students to share their experiences of these challenging times. Talk It Out offered students a comforting and anonymous environment to voice their thoughts and feelings where they felt heard, understood and supported. Based on the participants’ experience, Dr. Haddad and Ms. AlNoweisser explored various strategies to help them manage their emotions.
Helping Students Cope with the Unexpected in Lebanon
A workshop for students by LAU Counselor on the Beirut campus Zeina Al-Chidiac, held on September 30, underscored coping strategies amid the current conflict in Lebanon. Attendees trained on using practical tools, such as cognitive restructuring, emotional regulation, mindfulness and building social support. LAU counselors have also prepared a brief workbook, Surviving and Thriving in War Time, which features practical tools for students to work through their feelings and reactions.
Invaluable Tips for Dealing with Uncertainty
Addressing the current situation’s repercussions on mental health, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Wael Salame and Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Pia Tohme provided timely advice to the community at large through sessions on managing children’s panic and anxiety and dealing with uncertainty (links lead to the recordings). A third session by Dr. Myriam El Khoury Malhame and Dr. Sahar Obeid also offered a safe space for faculty and staff to share their worries and concerns.
IEEE Student Branch Officers Meet at LAU
The 2024 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch Officers Training Workshop took place on September 14 at LAU’s Byblos campus for the second consecutive year. More than 100 IEEE student members from universities across Lebanon, including LAU, gathered to network and enhance their skills in public speaking, fundraising and event organization through a series of workshops led by IEEE representatives and LAU faculty. The event also showcased national and international opportunities for the IEEE community.
Dr. Elie Bouri Ranked No.1 in Lebanon by Research.com
The prestigious 2024 Rising Stars of Science Ranking by Research.com has placed LAU Professor of Finance Elie Bouri in the top position nationally among “young, successful researchers who are just starting their academic career and have already made a huge impact with their work,” according to the ranking body. This latest accolade, one of many for Dr. Bouri, brings great pride to LAU and its vibrant research community.
LAU Becomes an Official SAT Test Center
The LAU Testing Center, distinguished by its technological readiness, accessibility and highly trained staff in digital testing, has now become an official SAT test center. Having met all College Board requirements, the center will be open at the LAU Beirut campus starting this October to students nationwide wishing to sit for the standardized test. Additionally, it will continue to serve as an IDP-IELTS exam venue.
New Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholars Welcomed at LAU
A total of 62 new scholars from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank/Gaza and Yemen have settled into the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative Tomorrow’s Leaders Program (MEPI-TL) at LAU. Comprising undergraduates (TLU), graduates (TLG) and gender scholars (TLS), the new cohort was introduced to the specific requirements of the scholarship and the means of supporting them to maximize their university experience.
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