Fifty Three New Faculty Join AUB for 2007-08 Despite Instability in the Country

Group photo of AUB's new faculty in front of College Hall

Orientation Day welcomed an impressive number of new faculty members to AUB this year. Despite the instability of the political situation in Lebanon, 53 new professors came from the United States, Europe, South and East Asia, the Middle East, and Lebanon to work at the University.

President John Waterbury joined deans Khalil Bitar, George Najjar, Ibrahim Hajj, Huda Zurayk, and Nahla Hwalla in welcoming the newcomers. In his address, he highlighted the latest developments at AUB, including the expected addition of the Hostler Student Center, a state-of-the-art student and sports facility, which will be ready by the beginning of 2008, and the new building that will house the Olayan School of Business, which will be completed at the end of 2008. Reminding the new professors of their teaching, supervising, and advising responsibilities, he urged them to be good teachers, rather than just to focus on their own research interests.

Waterbury addressed the new recruits on the first day of a two day New Faculty Orientation Program held on September 24. The orientation was organized by the Office of the Provost and coordinated by Rima Iskandarani, who is also instructor of English at AUB's Department of English.

Provost Peter Heath spotlighted AUB's liberal arts education aim to produce well-rounded individuals and noted the institution's commitment to advancing research, especially through its newly reinstated PhD programs in eight disciplines. "The research we are creating, as well as the PhD programs we are reactivating, are not only a cornerstone for AUB, but for the entire region," said Heath, referring to a 2003 UN Arab Human Development Report that uncovered the dearth of scientific research in the region that is preventing its progress.

The new faculty members attending Orientation Day seemed excited about joining AUB. "I have been studying the Crusades for a long time, but from a Western perspective," said English Professor Stefan Vander Elst. "Coming to AUB now will give me the opportunity to study them from the Arab perspective. And this makes the blood race!" Some professors even felt spurred to come to Beirut by the 2006 Israeli onslaught. "It was because of the war that I came here," said Keith Cash, who lives in Damascus and will teach management and philosophy of health and ethics at the School of Nursing. Similarly, Maya Farah, who will teach management, marketing, and entrepreneurship, felt the need to leave Manchester, England, to come back to Lebanon and contribute to the rebuilding process. "The war encouraged me to come back. I felt it a duty to contribute to my country," she said. "If everyone leaves the country, who will we leave it to?"