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Winter 2008 Vol. VI, No. 2
Alumni Happenings
WAAAUB News of All Things
Three alumni, Yusef Abu Khadra (BBA ’69), Abdulsalam Haykal
(BA ’01), and Raja Trad (BBA ’80) were proposed for nomination to the
AUB 37-member Board of Trustees as a result of global alumni elections
held earlier in 2007. Last fall they were elected to the Board at the
Trustees’ November 17 meeting in New York. This is the first time the
AUB alumni have elected representatives to the University’s Board of Trustees.
Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas Q. Morris made the announcement, saying,
“We are proud to welcome these new board members whose collective diverse
expertise will prove invaluable to providing guidance for the future of
the University. Our new alumni trustees will serve to strengthen ties
and increase communication between the Board of Trustees and the Worldwide
Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut (WAAAUB).” The
WAAAUB’s mission, set in 2006, is to foster the educational, career, and
social interests of alumni and to work to promote the rich heritage and
values of the University.
New alumni trustees:
Yusef Abu Khadra (BBA ’69) is non-executive director at the European
Islamic Investment Bank (EIIB), the first Sharia’a compliant Islamic investment
bank regulated in the United Kingdom. He was previously a member of the
management committee of Investcorp Bank EC in Bahrain and an executive
director of Investcorp Securities in London for 22 years. Abu Khadra was
director of the Bahrain Alumni Chapter (1986-89) and the UK Alumni Chapter
(1995-99) and is currently a member of the Suliman S. Olayan School of
Business Middle East Advisory Board.
Abdulsalam Haykal (BA ’01) lives and works in Damascus, Syria where
he is the vice president of Haykal Group. He is managing director of Transtek,
a high-end software house, and founder and CEO of Haykal Media. The cofounder
and president of the Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association, he also sits
on the steering committee of the United Nation’s Small Grants Program
in Syria. He is the president of AUB Alumni Association in Damascus.
Raja Trad (BBA ’80) is the chief executive officer of the Leo Burnett
Group of Companies, Mediterranean, a leading integrated communications
network headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is a board member
of the Dubai Media Incorporated and International Advertising Association
(IAA) UAE Chapter. In 2004 Trad was awarded the Lebanese Order of the
Cedars (Knight). Trad was the president of the AAA Dubai and Northern
Emirates from 2005-06.
Midle East
Dubai and Northern Emirates
On June 7, 2007 more than 850 alumni and friends celebrated in style with
a gala dinner in Dubai; the evening’s theme was “140 Years of Enriching
Lives.” The evening was an enormous success and the Dubai and Northern
Emirates Chapter later presented a $1 million donation to AUB. Generous
sponsors, donors, and a dedicated Alumni Committee made the gift possible.
Funds will be allocated to the Dubai and Northern Emirates Endowed Scholarship
and the Dubai and Northern Emirates Current Scholarship for 2007-08.
The chapter started the “Dubai for 10” campaign ten years ago to provide
an AUB education for ten deserving students each academic year. They have
since committed themselves to “Dubai for 50,” with the goal of providing
50 student scholarships each year.
FAFS Alumni Chapter
On December 7, 2007 the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS)
in coordination with the FAFS Alumni Chapter in Beirut held a symposium
to discuss food safety issues and initiatives in Lebanon and the region.
The symposium concluded with a big gala dinner to honor three FAFS professors
who retired in 2007: Dean Nuhad Daghir, Dr. Nasri Kawwar, and Dr. Raja
Tannous. Dean Nahla Hwalla spoke on behalf of FAFS faculty members and
recognized the honorees’ professional achievements. Moussa Freiji, president
of the FAFS Alumni Chapter, honored distinguished FAFS alumni who were
recognized for their outstanding achievements in agriculture and food
science. The honored alumni were Dr. Fatima Mohamad Hashim (BS ’85, MS
’87), Carla Habib Mrad (BS ’91, MS ’94), Bill Jordan (BS ’57), Khalil
Melki (BS ’76, MS ’80), and Abbas Yaghi (BS ’82, MS ’84).
Jordan Chapter
The Jordan Chapter held a gala dinner and honoring ceremony on November 4, 2007 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. The dinner was attended by HM Queen Rania, President John Waterbury, Dr. Khalil Makkawi, president of WAAAUB; and members of the WAAAUB Board of Directors and Alumni Council in addition to members of AUB’s Board of Trustees. Around 450 alumni and friends from Jordan and abroad attended the event. Five alumni were honored: Samira Fadli Darwazah (BA ’51), Isam Bdeir (BBA ’55), Raouf Salfiti (BS ’50), Ghaleb Barakat (BBA ’49), and Ali Khasawneh (BA ’53). Lebanese singer Samar performed. Revenues will be allocated to a scholarship fund that provides financial aid to outstanding Jordanian students, enabling them to pursue their undergraduate studies at AUB.
Riyadh Chapter
More than 150 AUB alumni and their friends met at the Lebanese Embassy in Riyadh on November 6 to welcome newly elected committee members and thank outgoing members for their service. Outgoing president Abdul Fattah Ghali wished the new committee good luck and handed over branch affairs to Jamal El Zein (BS ’79, MPH ’81). The ambassador of Lebanon in Saudi Arabia HE Marwan El Zein, Dean Ibrahim Hajj (FEA), and Dr. Abdallah Dabbagh (BS ’68) attended the event.
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Dubai and Northern Emirates Chapter
President Yasser H. El-Hajj
As an AUB graduate, I have always had a great sense of commitment to the University. I moved to Dubai in 1993 and was keen to contribute to society. It was my turn to give back. AUB played a tremendous role in shaping my future and I felt obliged to try and shape the future of others in need. I myself benefited from the AUB scholarship program when I needed that level of support.
In the Dubai Chapter, our mission is to cultivate a strong sense of commitment to AUB by supporting underprivileged students. We’ve been doing this since 1975. I’d have to say that the most memorable experience in working with alumni here was the 2007 Annual Ball Scholarship Auction, when we successfully raised enough money for 20 full scholarships ($10,000 each) in less than ten minutes. It was an amazing experience.
We’ve had a variety of events and programs including a Ramadaniyat Evening at the DIMC (Dubai International Marine Club) Tent, an annual “desert day-out” for more than 600 people, an annual charity rally organized by the Alumni Youth Sub-committee, and a number of membership programs for the AUB Beach Club.
Working with the chapter comes naturally to me. Since I was an AUB student, I’ve been active in extracurricular activities. I was yearbook editor-in-chief from 1986-90, Photography Club president, and Ciné Club president. Because I was at AUB during the civil war, a great percentage of my time was spent on campus. I think this led me to be involved in the community, but most importantly, cultivated a great sense of commitment to AUB.
With AUB’s tremendous presence in the Middle East, it is not a coincidence that most of my friends, business partners, and colleagues are AUB alumni. Not only did we have a commitment to AUB, we also had a commitment to one another. I’ve had the great experience of working with Raja Trad and Najat Zarour, both past chapter presidents.
In the long term, I hope our chapter will be able to support additional students, and that we’ll be able to launch “Dubai for 100,” or maybe even “Dubai for 200,” providing an AUB education for hundreds of students every year.
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On December 12, 2007 more than 150 alumni and friends gathered at the Damascus Four Seasons Hotel to honor the memory of Professor Emeritus Constantin Zurayk (BA ’28), who passed away August 12, 2000. Zurayk's daughter, FHS Dean Huda Zurayk, gave an overview of her father's life and work. "AUB was instrumental in forming (his) attitude towards life, social norms, political thought and personal philosophies," she said. She added that AUB reinforced his early beliefs in non-denominational religion, the pursuit of intellectual freedom, integration among confessional groups, and liberal thought based on individual dignity. Dean Zurayk ended by quoting a statement from the University: "One of the most memorable characteristics about him is that while he was an intellectual and moral giant of his times, he was always kind and humble. He treated students and interns with the same deference and cordiality as he did world leaders."
Mount Lebanon
The chapter held an alumni reunion dinner on September 20, 2007 at the residence of Chapter President Samir Abou Samra (BEN ’68) in Adma. More than 250 alumni, AUB representatives, the chapter’s administrative board members, and members of the CAT Company attended. During the dinner, the projects and activities of the chapter’s committees were reviewed. In addition, President Samir Abou Samra, engineer Samir Abou Jaoudeh (BS ’58), representing the chapter’s administrative board; engineer Shafic Mushantaf (BEN ’73), representing the Caterpillar Company; and Dr. Imad Baalbaki, representing AUB, addressed the group.
Europe
UK Chapter
The UK Chapter’s monthly networking breakfasts are so popular that they have decided to hold them the first Saturday of each month. A breakfast gathering for AUB alumni and their friends on November 3, 2007 in London served as an occasion to introduce new alumni who have recently joined the chapter. A traditional Lebanese breakfast of mnakeesh, foul, and labneh was served. There were lots of smiles when the “il-rgheef el sokhon” showed up. If you would like to join in the fun, please contact Carla Harrak May at harrakcarla@hotmail.com.
North America
Michigan Chapter
The AUB Michigan Chapter hosted a Lebanese brunch on November 11, 2007 for 40 graduates from the early 1950s to the early 1980s, which made for some great stories. The group enjoyed a delicious buffet of traditional Lebanese breakfast foods and held elections for chapter president. Abir Assi was elected unanimously to a two-year term. The outgoing president, Michael Misbah Mamish, was elected vice president. The remaining committee members will remain the same. Many thanks to Michael for successfully leading the chapter for the past two terms. Congratulations to Abir on her election with wishes of continued success to the Michigan Chapter under her leadership. Abir can be reached at abir_assi@yahoo.com.
Ohio Valley Chapter
The new Ohio Valley Executive Committee has met several times since it was elected in summer 2007 to create a new vision and set goals for the chapter. The new committee members are Hala Zahreddine (BS ’99, MS ’01), president; Thor Jacobs (MA ’01), vice president; Kamal Sleiman (BS ’00), treasurer; Vahe Apelian (BS ’71, MS ’74), secretary; and Ihsan Shafiq (BS ’82), Ihab Younis (MS ’99), and Michel Farhat (PhD ’81) membersat- large.
AUB alumni living in the Columbus area recently met for the first time at an informal social event held at the Upper Arlington Library in Columbus, Ohio. During the meeting, the chapter president gave an overview of the chapter, explained election procedures, discussed the chapter’s goals, and introduced new members. Attendees made suggestions and proposed future objectives with cultural and educational activities at the top of the list. Networking with student groups and local universities to expand the chapter’s presence was also emphasized.
The chapter would like to invite formally AUB alumni who live in Ohio and northern Kentucky to join the organization and update their profiles through the chapter’s website (www. aub.edu.lb/ohiovalleyalumnichapter) by clicking the link to update contact information. The chapter’s goals, minutes of the Executive Committee meetings, future and past events of the chapter, and information on how to contact the chapter are available on the website. Based on the success of the Columbus meeting, similar meetings will be held in Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and other cities in Ohio and northern Kentucky. The chapter welcomes any thoughts or ideas alumni have to make this chapter fun and interesting. Contact zahreddine.1@osu.edu for more information.
San Francisco and Northern California
The chapter held a musical performance— the Spirit of Andalucia—on November 3, 2007 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
Dr. A J Racy, an AUB alumnus and professor of ethnomusicology at UCLA, along with renowned tablah player Souhail Kaspar and bass player Miles Jay enchanted an audience of nearly 200 with their interpretation of classical and Arab folk music. Joined in the second half by guitar player Keni El Lebrijano and flamenco singer Antonio de Jerez, they performed a fusion of the music of Spain and the Arab world. Two renowned flamenco dancers, Carola Zertuche and Melissa Cruz, gave a spirited performance that brought Andalucia to life. In one impromptu moment, Carola Zertuche engaged her castanets in a musical dialogue with Souhail Kaspar’s tablah, bringing audience members to their feet. The concert concluded with a special and unique Spanish-Arab rendition of “Ya sitti ya khityira.”
Southern California Chapter
On September 22, 2007 the AUB Alumni Committee of Southern California held an iftar to benefit the Southern California Chapter Scholarship Fund at Nabil and Bana Hilal’s residence in Laguna Niguel. The Hilal’s generously sponsored the event, welcoming 100 southern California AUBites and guests into their home. The guest of honor was HE Acting Counsel General of Lebanon Mr. Fadi Hajj Ali (BA ’90). Following the iftar, a band played Middle Eastern melodies during desert and refreshments, and bidding got started on the silent auction. The event was just as it should be, with old friends becoming reacquainted, new friends being made, and everyone enjoying wonderful music and hospitality.
Ottawa Chapter
Alumni and their friends and families gathered on December 7, 2007 at El-Mazaj Restaurant in Ottawa to celebrate Al-Adha, Christmas, and the New Year. Chapter President Nada Tamim reminded everyone that the alumni association wants to rekindle “AUB mania,” promote successful chapters, and be a great resource for local alumni.
The holiday song program kicked off with a charming rendition of the alma mater followed by "Imagine" by the Beatles and a medley of Christmas favorites. Among the guests were Lebanese Ambassador HE Massoud Maalouf and Georges Abou Zeid, deputy chief of mission-consul. Young guests (18 of them between the ages of 6 and 12) had their share of fun and excitement with riddles, games, and gifts. The evening wrapped up with the raffle draws, the Christmas log cake parade, and the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”
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AUB alumni across North America came together to attend the AUB Alumni Gala Dinner and General Assembly on November 30, 2007 at Ambrosia Restaurant in Toronto and to vote on the Plan of Dissolution of AANA.
Spearheaded by Toronto Chapter President Maha Zabaneh (BA ’84), the Toronto Executive Committee members were relentless in gathering support for the General Assembly. Zabeneh and her team worked tirelessly to urge alumni to attend this important event. The goal was for the General Assembly to establish a quorum of 100 alumni in order to hold the meeting. Thanks to their outstanding efforts, the Toronto team achieved their goal.
“We succeeded in reaching the quorum thanks to our team effort and the support of our alumni in Toronto and across North America,” said Zabaneh. Alumni from Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston, and Washington, DC demonstrated their support for the General Assembly. The Montreal group drove to Toronto in snowy weather conditions, but arrived at Ambrosia safe and sound to help the Toronto Chapter meet the quorum.
AANA President Dr. Hikmat Nasr (BS ’61, MS ’65) addressed the General Assembly about the board’s vote in favor of the Plan of Dissolution of AANA, a necessary step towards moving ahead with the operations of the WAAAUB (Worldwide Alumni Association of AUB).
The votes of those present were counted, and together with the proxies received prior to the event from across North America, alumni were overwhelmingly in favor of approving the Plan of Dissolution of AANA. After the General Assembly, more than 200 alumni and friends celebrated with a Middle Eastern dinner and live entertainment at Ambrosia. Following the event, Dr. Nasr spoke for many when he said: “It was a lovely and successful gathering indeed that was full of fun, warmth, and friendliness. This great success happened with the dedication and many hours of work of the Toronto Chapter Committee, and with the support of many chapters in North America, particularly from the chapters in Ottawa and Montreal.”
Ottawa Chapter
President Nada Tamin gave the following remarks at the December event: We now have a worldwide alumni association that gathers alumni like you and me from all around the world. The alumni community and the very active North American community are closer than ever to our beloved campus and its alumni.
From the moment we enrolled as AUB students, we became part of our University’s extended family, and we remain so today. And so, today in Canada, as AUB graduates and alumni, we help shape our society here in our own, unique, and meaningful way.
So, where do we go from here? Be proud as always of your alma mater, keep the West Hall spirit going by participating in your local chapter activities. Live the experience today as a citizen who consciously makes the decision to give back by sharing your own unique experience with fellow alumni in an apolitical, nonsectarian, nonpartisan way.
Friends of AUB, dear alumni, everything begins with learning and ends with learning, as our alma mater’s mission statement states clearly: Graduates will be individuals committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity and civic responsibility, and leadership.
Alumni Recently Published
Des présidents et de l’éxercice des fonctions présidentielle: Encyclopédie analytique (Presidents and the Practice of the Functions of the Presidency)
(Lir Press: 2007) by Leila Barakat (BA ’90). Part of the Collection Gubernard, Barakat’s analytic encyclopedia offers a comprehensive presidential history of Lebanon from 1916 to the present. The volume, written in French, is comprised of four sections: presidents during the French Mandate, presidents during independence, presidents of a country devastated by civil war, and presidents of a Lebanon reconstructed after the Taef Accord.
Keeping the Promise: Five Benefits of Girl’s Secondary Education
(Academy for Educational Development: 2006) by May Rihani (BA ’68)
Dedicated to the young girls and boys of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, Keeping the Promise reports on the status and progress of girl’s education and participation in the developing world. The report introduces the dialogue and actions being taken on investments in secondary education, as well as on the barriers and challenges to making education accessible and on strategies for success.
The Decline of Arab Nationalism and the Triumph of the State: Post- Colonial Syria and Lebanon
(IB Taurus: 2007) by Youssef Chaitani (BA ’95, MA ’97)
In his introduction, Middle Eastern historian Patrick Seale commends Chaitani’s work as “fascinating and profound.” In The Decline Chaitani argues that despite the apparent commonalities that Lebanon and Syria shared during the independence period such as the rise and strength of Arab nationalism and reduction of imperial interference, the two countries were already growing apart.
Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Dialogue in the Middle East
(United States Institute for Peace Press: 2007) by Amal I. Khoury (BA ’96, MA ’99), Mohammed Abu-Nimer, and Emily Welty.
Unity in Diversity sheds light on the basic concepts and approaches underlying interfaith dialogue through case studies in Middle Eastern countries including Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. In addition to reporting and analyzing the status of interfaith dialogue, the authors interviewed a wide range of interfaith dialogue protagonists and propagators who expressed “the realities, hopes, and frustrations of interfaith dialogue within their home countries.”
Beirut in Shades of Grey
(Ameera Publishing: 2007) by Dana Kamal Mills (BA ’81)
Dana Kamal Mills’s first narrative novel tells the story of 25 year-old Rasha living in Lebanon in 1981. Rasha is trying to come to terms with two different conflicts: the Lebanese civil war and local traditions that keep her from uniting with the man she fell in love with in Paris.