Adel Afifi (BS ’51, MD ’57) writes, “After a busy and rich 53 years in teaching, clinical practice, research, and administration spent mainly at AUB and the University of Iowa, I retired in July 2007, as professor emeritus in the Carver College of Medicine of the University of Iowa. I have kept busy in retirement doing things that I have always wanted to do, including writing a book (Medieval Islamic Medicine and Medical Luminaries) and an autobiography of sorts (Glimpses of My Life and Career and the People Who Made Them: A Palestinian Story). In October 2020, I celebrated my 90th birthday with my daughter and son and their families.
Arshalouys (Arlene) Keshishian Hancock (BSN ’59) writes, “I moved from Lebanon in 1962 and continued my nursing career in California. I worked at one time in California with our own Dr. Nelson who was the attending physician at AUH when I was a student (what a small world!). I am proud to be an AUB graduate. I could never have imagined being otherwise. AUB stands high and strong with its high accreditation, education, and the uniqueness of its Lebanese culture. I have retired from nursing today, but I have never stopped helping those who need my skills in nursing. The legacy of AUB will never die as long as I live.”
Haig Der-Houssikian (BA ’61, MA ’62), PhD, writes, “I have been employed at the University of Florida (UF) since 1967. My research interests have been in Sub-Saharan Africa. My teaching has included morphology and syntax, sociolinguistic subjects, and the Swahili language. During my tenure at UF, I was director of linguistics and later chair of the Department of African and Asian Languages and Literatures. I met my wife, Gaylynne Hall (BA ’62), at AUB. Our years at AUB have remained highlights and the most impactful in our lives. I retired in 2003. Our hearts go out to the people of Beirut and Lebanon for the hardships endured in recent times.”
Gregory Mestanas (BA ’63), PhD, immigrated to the US on a Fulbright scholarship after graduation to attend Long Island University and the University of Maryland. He is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Societies of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology. He directed clinical programs in mental health for inpatient and outpatient settings and has supervised doctoral interns from American and European universities. He was in independent practice as a psychologist/behavioral health consultant for some 50 years in Annapolis, where he is currently retired and lives with his family. He has authored a book and articles on health.
Mamdouh G. Salameh (BA ’63), PhD, has worked in a variety of fields, ranging from broadcasting with the Jordanian Broadcasting Service and the Voice of America to pharmaceuticals with Upjohn and Astra, and culminating in a move to the UK to oversee business for Imperial Chemicals Industries (ICI) in the Middle East. In 1988, he earned a PhD in the economics and geopolitics of oil and energy. He has authored four books on oil and was invited by Boston University to contribute to the Encyclopedia of Energy and also the Handbook of Energy. He is currently a visiting professor of energy economics at ESCP Europe Business School in London.
Waddah Chehadeh (BE ’64) writes, “Following graduation, I earned a master’s degree in highway engineering at the University of Surrey in England. I then returned to Syria and practiced general civil engineering for 17 years before moving to Kuwait, where I was an engineering adviser to the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development for 31 years. During this period, I visited 93 countries, followed up on 110 development projects, and received the Order of National Merit of Burkina Faso. Currently I am retired and living in Northern California, where I have written a book entitled Astounding Memories in Developing Countries. I am in regular contact with my 1964 classmates and other AUB alumni.”
Abdul (Bob) Odeh (BA ’65) earned an MA from the University of Toronto (1968) and a post-graduate diploma from Ottawa University (1971). During his 50-year career, Bob worked for the Canadian government, UNDP, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in Africa and South East Asia. He is now a volunteer advisor with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). He lives in Ottawa with his wife and does consulting. He is the author of CIDA and the Arab World: A Profile in Development Cooperation. The highlight of his career was in 2015 when he worked for Oxfam Quebec in Jerusalem and the West Bank as senior monitoring and evaluation advisor.
Muhammad Aref Abu-Zaki (BS ’68) writes, “Immediately after graduation, I worked in Saudi Arabia with Consolidated Contractors Co. constructing roads and bridges. In 1972, I did post-graduate study at Melbourne University before joining Dar al Handasah in 1973, where I worked until 1990 in the Transportation Department in Lebanon (design), Jordan (construction supervision), and Oman (technical assistance to the government). I then worked with the Oman Ministry of Transport until 2017. I am now the CEO and owner of New DHR Est., which offers professional services in engineering consultancy, arbitration, legal translation, and training engineers and quantity surveyors.”
Ahmad Awdeh (BA ’68, MA ’86) writes, “My wife and I are an elderly couple, doing well in these difficult times. We raise our prayers more often than usual these days: for the pandemic to be lifted today rather than tomorrow, that the victims of the Beirut blast have a refuge before winter, and that the Lebanese have a government true to its people. We take our morning exercise on the Corniche by the sea three days a week.”
] Avedis Boyamian (BS ’70) writes, “I have always admired AUB, an outstanding educational institution where I had the privilege to study. AUB shaped me, built me, and prepared me to be the man I am. After graduation, I worked for Fortune 100 companies and after 50 years of rewarding work, I retired from Textron as VP for international business development. The people that I met as clients or associates became my lifelong friends. Houry, my wife of 47 years, has been my rock and inspiration. She is an educator and principal of a private school in the greater Boston area. We have three wonderful children and six adorable grandchildren.”
Georges Karawani (BEN ’70, MEN ’72) is a director of special projects and renewable energy for Parkland Corp. and consults in the carbon economy as president of Consultation Energy & Biodiesel Inc. He worked for Imperial Oil Ltd. in Montreal for 30 years and then for Olco/TransMontaigne in the field of storage of petroleum products and biodiesel and renewable energy. He is currently involved in developing fuel by pyrolysis of plastics and fuel oil by pyrolysis of tree barks. Georges has been married for 42 years and has two sons (both engineers) and two grandsons. He is a fan of blues jazz and regularly attends shows during the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Kanaan Venkataraman (MEN ’72) writes, “I am currently vice president of digital operations support for WesternGeco, Schlumberger, based in Houston. My career started immediately upon completing my master’s degree in electrical engineering from AUB. I have worked for the same company for over 48 years! However, thanks to mergers and acquisitions, my employer has changed names a few times: Geophysical Services Inc. (a subsidiary of Texas Instruments), Halliburton Geophysical Services, Western Atlas, and finally, Schlumberger. Imagine, all this following just one job interview in Beirut in 1972! My wife Rekha and I lived in London, Cairo, Madrid, and Dallas before calling Houston home.”
Mirza H. Alqassab (BA ’73) writes, “After graduating from AUB, I secured a Fulbright fellowship from the US Department of State and a scholarship from the University of Oregon, where I earned an MS degree in economics in 1975. During my 40-year career (1975–2015) in the oil industry, money and banking, academic teaching, management consultancy, and managing businesses, I lived and worked in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE (Abu Dhabi), Malaysia, Singapore, and Egypt. I recently wrote a book titled Life After Oil: The Survival Predicament of the Gulf Arab States; a preview is available on Google Books (online).”
Loutfi Echhade (BBA ’73), retired senior partner with EY, is a financial advisor and independent member of the Board and Audit Committees of five joint stock companies in Saudi Arabia, including three that are listed on the Saudi Market. He is also a member
of the IMA Board of Regents and the Professional Standards Committee
of the Texas State Society of CPAs. He previously served as head of the WAAAUB Board’s Outreach Committee and was a member of the WAAAUB Business Chapter. His three children, Basil (BBA ’07), Dena (BBA ’10), and Leila (BBA ’12), graduated from the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business.
Camille Khattar Hedrick (BA ’74) writes, “I graduated with honors in 1974, but there was no graduation ceremony that year due to the unrest. I come from a long line of AUB graduates, including my uncle, Camille Khattar (BBA ’29), and my late father, Nasri Khattar (BBA ’30), well known for his innovative designs of Unified Arabic (R) fonts. After graduation, I went to Paris on my way to the University of Pennsylvania. I ended up staying in Paris for 25 years. In 1999, I moved to Dallas, Texas, with my then-employer, a French company. I retired in 2016 but continue to work in marketing communications and tutor French students online.”
Helen Hatab Samhan (MA ’75) writes, “After 40 years of work in Arab American affairs, including decades at the Washington, DC-based Arab American Institute, I am enjoying retirement. Volunteer advocacy is still part of my life, as is fundraising for my community choir. I became a ‘Sitti’ in 2015 and love watching my granddaughters grow. I am grateful to be connected with many friends, including AUB alums, and to have the luxury to read good books and keep busy in the kitchen. 2020 has taught me the value of flexibility and priorities. I pray each day for Lebanon and for its future, and that of my own country.”
Nada Ashoo (BA ’78) writes, “I cofounded the AUB San Diego, California, alumni chapter and am currently serving as chapter president. When I am not volunteering, I am the proud small business owner of SoBelle Chocolate Favors. I started SoBelle Chocolates back in 2006, with a desire to introduce people to traditional Lebanese chocolate favors. After 14 years in the industry, the business has flourished both domestically and internationally. Serving the local AUB alumni community coupled with growing SoBelle Favors has been a true source of happiness and pride in my life.”
Ziad El-Hoss (BBA ’78, MBA ’82) writes, “I worked at Fransabank in Beirut for four years before moving to Toronto, where I worked for The Bank of Nova Scotia. I have been living in Bangkok since 2013, initially on assignment by the bank as a chief risk officer. I retired in 2019. My message to AUB students is to enjoy and cherish the time spent at the university as it will probably be the best time of your life! AUB will give you the necessary tools to shape your future and, in the process, you will hopefully make a difference that will have a positive impact on your country, family, and friends.”
Badih Ghusayni (BS ’78, MS ’80) is the founder and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science. He and his wife, Neda Timani, who is the IT coordinator at Universal College, Aley, have two children, both AUB alumni: Ryan (BS ’13, MD ’17), who is a third-year resident in neurology at Duke University, and Aleni (BS ’17, MS ’19), who was a research assistant at AUB during the 2019–20 academic year.
Ioannis Violaris (BA ’78), PhD writes, “Since graduating in 1978 with a BA in economics, I have earned a master’s degree in international management and a PhD in economics. I have been a lecturer at a number of universities and colleges in Cyprus. I am currently the director of academic programmes at City Unity College and lecture at Frederick University, the European University, and the Neapolis University.”
Rola Farchoukh (BA ’79) writes, “I enrolled in a master’s program in educational psychology at the urging of my advisor, Dr. Sayyegh. More than 25 years later, I am still working in and enjoying the field. I am the head of section of one of the most prestigious schools in the UAE: Al Mawakeb. I am a proud parent of two daughters. I strongly believe that if you have children, and you want them to become properly educated, cultured, respectful, and successful, AUB is the best place for their education. I miss AUB and Beirut and genuinely wish a swift and sound recovery for our precious Lebanon.”
Diana Chaker (BA ’80, MA ’84) writes, “2020 has been harsh on everybody. I lost my job teaching English at N. P. C. Hamra branch. I was also affected by the port explosion. I live in Achrafieh near Roum Hospital facing the port; the house suffered a lot of damage: broken glass, windows, aluminum, doors, closets, furniture, curtains, cracks in walls and ceilings, etc. I’m still fixing my house! Will our governors and rulers compensate us for our loss? Will they wake up one day and feel remorse? Will they ever be sorry for what they have done? I just wish things would be better for me and for others.”
Jamal Alomari (BE ’81), PhD, writes, “These days are challenging for everybody. Students and teachers are facing unprecedented difficulties. My students and I are no exception. In my new position at Khawarizmi University Technical College in Amman, I have been trained on virtual classroom teaching using Google and Google Cloud Platform. It is a challenge to prepare a new course so that it is clear and enjoyable for students. I say ‘enjoyable’ because students today require that the material be put in a presentable and ad-like format.”
Hani Riman (BBA ’85, BS ’89) writes, “I am living in my dear village of Ainzhalta with my wife and two children. My son (23) has his own agriculture company; my daughter (27) and wife have a flower shop which, unfortunately, is closed now because of COVID-19. I miss AUB a lot. I would love to do a master’s degree in agriculture but am reluctant because of the cost of tuition.”
Abbas Bou Diab (BBA ’87), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) professional, writes, “I have been working at BLOM Bank Qatar LLC since November 2008. I am the executive director for compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) oversight.”
Paul-Alexander Mardirian (BArch ’89) writes, “I left for Germany in 1990. I did freelance work until 1997 in a commercial kitchen planning company, which designed and equipped the cafeterias at Frankfurt Airport. On the side, I did small-scale graphic design work. Since 1997, I have worked at Frankfurt Airport as an export clerk in the documentation section of a cargo ground handler. I got married in 2000 to a lovely German woman; our daughter was born in 2001. My wife had a bad accident in 2015, which changed our daily routine considerably. I’m currently on extended sick leave, indulging in writing novels (so far unpublished).”
Chawki Elzein (BS ’88, MD ’92) did his general surgery residence at AUBMC in 1997, adult cardiac surgery training at University Hospitals of Cleveland in 1999, and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery training in 2000 at Advocate Children’s Hospital, Oak Lawn, Illinois. He is currently on staff at Advocate Children’s Hospital and a clinical associate professor of surgery at the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. He and his wife, Nadine Alayli Elzein, have three daughters: Lana (17), Talia (15), and Farah (10).
Rola Lababidi (BA ’92) writes, “What I acquired at AUB transcends the boundaries of the knowledge gained and required for the attainment of my degree. It equipped me with a fluid mindset that has armored me to tackle life-related issues with flexibility, adaptability, and perseverance. My professional passion to educate and make a positive difference in the lives
of students is deeply rooted and strengthened by the skills I attained at AUB. This passion has paved the way for me to experience the essence of teaching across different frontiers. Long live AUB! Your legacy will surely be passed on to many generations to come!”
Antoine (Tony) Saliba (BBA ’92) writes, “After graduating from AUB, I completed an MBA degree at the University of Massachusetts in 1998. I spent the following 15 years in the banking industry moving between different postings within corporate banking between Lebanon and the GCC. I moved to Canada with my wife and two children in 2012. I have since been living in Toronto and working in corporate finance at the Royal Bank of Canada.”
Usama Aghabi (BA ’96) writes, “My time at AUB, of course, had its ups and downs, but all in all I learned a lot, both professionally and personally. I am now a father and a husband, currently residing in Jordan. I have worked in advertising for most of my career and have owned and managed three agencies. I am now a consultant for a company that is based in Iraq. I hope that humanity will survive these weird times under the coronavirus.”
Jad Damaj (BA ’00) writes, “My three years at AUB were the best years of my life. After graduation, it was a master’s in economics at McGill and then a move to Kuwait and then Dubai, my home today. An investment banker for 16 years, I am now part of the senior leadership team at Majid Al Futtaim, responsible for driving their strategic investment agenda. My wife and I are blessed with two lovely daughters, Sara and Thea. Sara was born with spina bifida, but she is a fighter and is doing great despite the challenges she faces daily. Looking forward to keeping the connection with my great alma mater.”
Khalil Aboufaycal (BA ’03) writes, “After graduating with a BA in economics, I moved to the US, where I completed an MA in economics at Boston University. I am currently working as head of budget and cost control at Petrofac. My wife, Mariam Maalouf, and I have three boys: Alexander, Dimitri, and Mikael. They are all connected to AUB through my beautiful memories and alumni reunions.”
Rami El Ali (BBA ’04, MA ’06) writes, “I taught at AUB as a full-time philosophy instructor for two years before leaving for the US to do a PhD in philosophy at the University of Miami. I specialized in the philosophy of the mind, the philosophy of technology, and phenomenology. In 2014 I returned to Beirut as a tenure-track assistant professor of philosophy at LAU. My time here has been spent growing LAU’s philosophy program, preparing a virtual reality lab for the School of Arts & Sciences, and working as an activist in Beirut.”
Neamat Sidani (BBA ’05, MBA ’10) writes, “I am living in Liege, Belgium, and pursuing a PhD in management at HEC ULiege. I miss my AUB years and would love to keep in touch or meet again with my undergrad and graduate classmates—whether in Lebanon or in Europe. My AUB years were the best and most unforgettable years of my life!”
Shadi Dadenji (BS ’06, BS ’07) writes, “After the best five years of my life at AUB, I left to study at the Vancouver Film School in the game design program. In 2013, I moved to Poland and landed a gig at CD Projekt Red. I later worked at Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam before returning to Canada to join a start-up focused on creating a gaming-oriented programming language: SkookumScript. When it was acquired by Epic Games in 2019, I reconnected with former colleagues who had founded a surgical VR training start-up. Now I get to do the same type of devwork that I did in games but have it apply to something more real and meaningful!”
Roy Janho (BEN ’07, MEM ’08) writes, “I am writing from the corner of my three-month-old baby’s room, which I turned into an office now that I am predominantly working from home. How the times have changed! I remember my first year at AUB like it was yesterday. Despite the daily commute in the horrible traffic, the struggle to find a parking spot, and the long hours at AUB either studying or mingling, I have sweet memories that made every moment worthwhile. I worry that distance-learning students will not be able to experience the magnificence of AUB campus life. I hope you are all well and living life to the fullest.”
Khalil Khraibani (BBA ’09) writes, “I can still remember my first day during orientation—it was the beginning of the most life-changing years of my life. Today, I am doing business in Côte d’Ivoire. I have founded four companies so far, modestly ventured in a couple of startups in Lebanon and Europe, and I am currently studying for my doctorate degree in Luxembourg. Oh, and I’m the father of an awesome four-year-old little boy who makes me the happiest and luckiest man on earth.”
Carla Younes (BBA ’09) lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she is the global communications manager for Philip Morris International (PMI). She has worked at PMI since 2011. Carla got married in July 2019 and spends her time between Paris, where her husband lives, and Lausanne.
Samar Temsah (BA ’10) is an ethnic studies adjunct instructor at the Community College of Denver where she teaches undergraduate courses. She received her MA in American Studies (2016) from the University of Southern Denmark. Her MA research primarily focused on popular culture and identity politics, specifically looking at nationalism and country music post-9/11. She previously worked at CASAR at AUB as an American studies instructor; in the educational field, with both pre-school and high school students; and in the corporate world, specifically in the banking and executive search industries.
Michel Abou Nabhan (BA ’12) writes, “I am currently a senior consultant at Deloitte ME in the Human Capital Service Line based out of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I got married on August 15 in my hometown of Zahle in the presence of my family and friends.”
Elsa Azar (BBA ’12) went straight to Paris after graduation to do a master’s degree in marketing and communications. She returned to Lebanon in 2013 to begin her seven-year career at Leo Burnett Beirut. She left Leo Burnett Beirut, where she had risen to the position of communication director managing P&G brands, to move back to Paris. She is currently doing a second master’s degree in digital strategy. Elsa hopes to one day return to Lebanon.
Lea Atallah (BBA ’13) writes, “I joined AUB ten years ago. I am now a quality and RA manager at a multinational American company in the MENA region. AUB empowered me with the soft skills needed to perform at a young age, educational platforms to reach international organizations, and leadership skills that I developed from volunteering work, giving me enough courage to lead primary NGOs. I am enjoying new adventures climbing high peaks and jumping from mountains. I am also an author writing for (and on behalf of) women with hearts of gold. My advice: the more you give love, the more you win.”
Amir Kamra (BE ’14) writes, “After graduating, I worked for two leading contractors in Dubai as a civil field engineer before transitioning to the consulting industry at PwC Dubai, where I currently work as a consultant in the “Transformation and Projects” platform. My years at AUB gave me ambition to explore life all over the globe. Although I have traveled a lot, I have strong memories of my time at AUB. I have a story to tell about every spot on the campus. I’m very grateful for what AUB’s education has helped me achieve.”
Joe Akl Korbane (MEN ’14) writes, “I am currently working as a solar consultant and trainer at an NGO in Lebanon, preparing and delivering lectures related to solar energy and solar power systems and doing training on-site. I earned the Pro-Green Diploma in Green Technologies in 2019, specializing in energy. I previously worked as an electrical design engineer at a start-up company in Lebanon. I also worked for three years as an instructor and coordinator at the American University of the Middle East and the American College of the Middle East in Kuwait.”
Dominique Tegho (BA ’14) writes, “After completing my BA in economics, I switched careers to dance and choreography. I am now living in Berlin and have just started a master’s degree in choreography at HZT. I hope one day to be able to share my love of dance and choreography in Lebanon.”
Ziad Yamut (BA ’14) writes, “As a library assistant at AUB’s Engineering Library and because I live close to AUB, my workplace and I were affected by COVID-19 and the August 4 explosion. Social distancing, sanitizing, and mask wearing were and are a part of our daily lives. As an alumnus and employee, I feel committed to the place where I studied and currently work and to supporting AUB’s mission of offering learning and providing services.”
Amal Maayeh (BA ’15) writes, “I have been working in the humanitarian field in Jordan for the past five years. I have worked with different international organizations, like the Danish Refugee Council, European Union, and Mercy Corps. I recently joined the International Committee of the Red Cross. AUB is always in the back of my mind. I literally talk about AUB every other day—at work, with friends, with family, and even when I meet new people. AUB, my second home, is the reason why I am here today and is the reason for everything I have achieved so far.”
Sara Baba (BA ’16) founded and manages The Art of Wellness, a distinctive health and wellness exhibition held in Lebanon’s most prominent venues. She is also the cofounder and CEO of Afk’art World, a multi-brand online concept store dedicated to marketing products by Lebanese designers—and a proud member of the International Foundation for Women’s Empowerment (IFWE). Sara writes, “women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world. They are an essential part of the solution to a healthier and sustainable economy.” She hopes her own experience will inspire other women to follow their passions and give back to society.
Samira Chatila (BS ’16) writes, “After graduating from LAU in 2019 with an MA in education, I worked for three years as a researcher and project manager in Beirut, Lebanon. I am currently a doctoral student in the Comparative and International Development Education Program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMN). I am also the only recipient of double fellowship awards to pursue my studies at UMN.”
Mohamad Ghadban (ME ’19) writes, “THANK YOU AUB for offering a high-quality education and for being a door opener to the world. The three years I spent there, and the valuable research skills I gained during my ME degree in mechanical engineering, led me to where I am right now: a PhD fellow at the University of Alberta doing research in lithium ion batteries, which is the future energy source for a greener world. I will always be grateful to AUB and will work hard to represent it in the best way possible.”