On September 2, 2026, LAU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Embrace to advance research in support of mental wellbeing. This partnership will expand and synergize the efforts of both Embrace and the School of Arts and Sciences’ (SoAS) Psychology Program through shared scholarly pursuits, co-led research projects, funding applications, and joint events.

The agreement builds on the groundwork laid by Chair of the Department of Psychology and Education Pia Tohme, formalizing the strong ties that already bind the two institutions. For the past year, Dr. Tohme has supervised trainees as part of Embrace’s clinical training program, supporting graduate students in their journey towards becoming licensed professionals.

“The signing of the MOU strengthens the work already in place,” said Embrace Cofounder and President Mia Atwi. It will enable closer collaboration between LAU faculty and Embrace’s research program, CEDARS, on suicide prevention and mental health, attempting to identify patterns and trends in the prevalence of psychological disorders, detect gaps in service provision, and fuel further scholarship in the field by connecting academic research with real-world data and developing evidence-based policies.

“We hope this partnership will empower mental health research,” added Atwi, “helping both faculty and graduates be more involved in driving innovation.” This step is crucial with the impending start of graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at LAU.

SoAS Dean Haidar Harmanani hailed the MOU as a “timely and necessary initiative in a country beset by crises, where communities are in dire need of professional psychological support.” He underscored his belief in the students’ capacity to serve as active change-makers and contribute to solutions that create meaningful impact across society.

The MOU reflects LAU’s commitment to advancing scholarship, career preparedness, and civic engagement. It sets the stage for faculty and students to conduct meaningful research that contributes to Embrace’s mission of ensuring access to dignified mental health services for all, while strengthening the university’s role in generating evidence-based solutions to one of Lebanon’s most pressing public health needs.