Staff Profile: Nidal Zaiter

Nidal Zaiter

The position of supervisor for the Central Duplicating Services (CDS) since 1995 is not the first post Nidal Zaiter has occupied at AUB. Zaiter became a cashier at AUBMC in 1987, and for the next eight years, he resumed the same work at the pharmacy, the main cashier’s office, and near the main laboratory, before finally taking charge of the CDS.

Zaiter spent his childhood around AUB, his home being right next to the university campus. “My family stayed at that house for 18 years; when younger, I would spend most of my leisure-time swimming in the AUB sea and walking round the Green Field. For me, working here took precedence over all other job offers I got elsewhere, including opportunities in Greece,”  Zaiter, who has Greek nationality as well as Lebanese, said that although his Greek mother spoke to him in Greek, he is equally fluent in Arabic and Greek.

After Zaiter finished his Lebanese baccalaureate in experimental science (1987) and started working at AUB, he pursued further certifications, completing a year of computer studies at the Gefinor Center (1989), taking two years of law courses at the Lebanese University, and attending numerous sessions in vocational skills—in safety, first aid, electricity, Windows office applications, public relations, service excellence, and supervisory work.

What motivates Zaiter is not only personal growth but also CDS-office improvement. As AUB’s sole copy-center, the CDS is where documents for all departments and offices at the University get printed. Having recently (October 2008) received a color-copier, the center can now produce colored copies of documents as well as brochures, leaflets, booklets, and posters. Moreover, with two new helpers, CDS can provide these services for students too. Current copying capacity can reach 50,000 copies per day, and this is subject to further expansion in the future.

Zaiter enjoys his work and gets appreciated for jobs well-done. He finds the administration very supportive and pro-progress.  Although married with two children, he still has time to read Arabic poetry, practice calligraphy, and go for walks.