Munzer A. Afifi (BA ’51) writes, “After graduation, I taught for two years at the Friends Boys School in Ramallah, Palestine where I had been a student. I came to the US in 1953, studied at Michigan State, served in the US Army for two years, earned a master’s degree in math from the University of Oregon, and had a long teaching career in the US, the Middle East, and Africa. Around 1980, I began working on a large cross-stitch piece for my daughter’s high school graduation. I have since done dozens of pieces using floral designs as well as Middle Eastern patterns, all decorating the walls of my house. During the past year of isolation, I have completed what I call my ‘quarantine collection.’”
Zaven Messerlian (BA ’59, MA ’64), PhD, writes, “After serving 50 years (1967–2017) as principal of the Armenian Evangelical College of Beirut, I semi-retired. Since October 2017 I have been the honorary principal in charge of relations with school benefactors and alumni living abroad. I also do fundraising, maintain contact with alumni, and teach history. As a historian and foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, I continue to research and publish articles in the Haigazian Armenological Review. I recently published my tenth book.”
Candace “Candy” Fahndrick Guldeman (former student, 1967–70) writes, “Greetings to my wonderful AUB! I worked in banking in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills for most of 21 years, with a larger bank overseeing operations of 250 branches in five states, and later as a consultant. My husband, Phil, and I moved to the central coast of California near Pismo Beach. We eventually opened our own real estate office that we named Paradise Real Estate because we live in such a beautiful area. I can be reached at Candace@ParadiseRE.com. I cherish my time at AUB so much and miss my friends. I would love to hear from folks.”
Riad al Khouri (BA ’68) was recently appointed board member and special adviser to the Global Challenges Forum (GCF), a Swiss foundation. One of the initiatives he is involved with is Life in Abundance (LiA), which works under the GCF and United Nations to help youth play their part in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals:
https://globalchallengesforum.org.
Marilyn Sharif (BA ’70, MA ’73) writes, “My late husband, Faysal Y. Sharif (BS ’71), and I both graduated from AUB. He had a long consulting career in international development that took him to over 40 countries. Unfortunately, he passed away from lung cancer in January 2020 shortly after we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. I started working at George Mason University in the mid-1990s, after my children had gone off to college, and eventually completed my doctorate degree there. After retiring (to write my dissertation), I now teach international graduate students at George Mason who are studying English and transitioning to the American culture and higher education system. I hope one day to visit Lebanon again. My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Lebanon as they go through these difficult days.”
Samir R. Traboulsi (BE ’73, ME ’75, MBA ’80), PhD, is a senior lecturer at MSFEA, Notre Dame University, the ASHRAE Global Training Center in Dubai, and the Professional Training Center of the Order of Engineers and Architects in Beirut and Tripoli, Lebanon. He is also chair of ASHRAE Scholarship Trustees (2020), chair of the Energy & Sustainability Committee of the Order of Engineers & Architects in Beirut (2008–21), and ambassador for the Interactive Climate-MIT Initiative. Samir has been an active alumni volunteer serving as president of the Engineering and Architecture Chapter (2010–14) and chair of the 2019 WAAAUB Transitional Nominating Committee. In February 2021, he received the F. Paul Anderson Award, ASHRAE’s highest honor, for technical achievement.
Tony Chebat (Antoine Shubat) (BBA ’74) writes, “After graduation I worked at MEA and then Mitsui. In 1980, I joined Adma (Abu Dhabi/UAE), an offshore oil company, where I moved up the ranks until I was recruited in 1995 as director of university services to set up the new Zayed University, subsequently the American University of Sharjah. From there, I moved to Petrofac UK to take on a very challenging position at the EPC Sharjah headquarters. I retired in April 2020 as senior vice president. My alumni colleagues at Petrofac included the late Maroun Semaan (BE ’77), Marwan Chedid (BE ’82), Fadi Najjar (BE ’82), George Salibi (BE ’87), and Michel Azar (BE ’78), to name just a few. I look forward to reconnecting with classmates and other alumni.”
Hulya Bayir-Koc (BBA ’75) is a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and philanthropist living in the Northern California Bay Area and the cofounder and copresident of ETAC, which works to empower the Turkish-American community. She is also the daughter of alumnus Harun R. Bayir (BBA ’38, MA ’43), the sister of three AUB alumnae, Mehvesh (BA ’72), Ayshequl (BA ’74), and Fusun (BBA ’79), and the sister-in-law of alumnus Munjid Musallam (BA ’73). Hulya recently received a pin in recognition of her membership of the Gold Circle of AUB’s 1866 Society, which was established to celebrate and recognize AUB’s most loyal supporters. “I will cherish that pin for as long as I live,” she says.
Rula Jurdi (BA ’83) is a poet, novelist, and professor of Islamic history at McGill University. A keynote speaker at several national and international conferences, she has received many honors and awards, including an honorable mention for the best doctoral dissertation. Her poems appear in PULP Magazine, al-Adab, al-Tariq, and Asymptote, among others. Her poem “Oral” was shortlisted for the Magpie Poetry Award in 2018. Her novel, Fi
`ulbat al-daw’ (Camera Obscura), which was published in 2017, won the prestigious Khayrallah Prize in 2020. Rula has two poetry collections; a third, Ma ba`d al-warda (After the Rose), is forthcoming. She has also published three novels, most recently Mi’at Ra`sha in 2019. She also has several academic publications, including two books and a new monograph.
Issam Najm (BE ’85) writes, “After graduating from AUB, I received a research assistantship from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where I completed my MS (’87) and PhD (’90) degrees. I then moved to California, where I worked for an engineering firm for 10 years. In 2000, I started my own consulting and research firm focused on drinking water treatment science and engineering, which I continue to lead and enjoy every day. My memories of AUB are a mixed bag of joy and pain as the period of 1981–85 was very difficult for the AUB community. However, I feel immense gratitude to AUB’s school of engineering for launching my education and career in an exciting and rewarding field.”
Samir Melki (BS ’86), MD, PhD, is an eye surgeon at Boston Vision, which he founded in 2000. Last spring, he had “a fortuitous encounter” at his clinic with Calista West, the great-great-granddaughter of AUB legend Robert Haldane West, for whom West Hall is named. Calista’s grandfather (Robert Haldane’s son) attended Princeton with the late Dr. Malcom Kerr, who was president of AUB from 1982 to 1984. Samir says that it was “a heart-warming encounter in a small world and a celebration of a long AUB tradition.”
Bechara Raad (BE ’89) is the group chief operating officer at SHUAA Capital in the UAE, where he has worked since 2015. Prior to that he worked at Credit Suisse, Audi Capital, 3Com, and AUB. He and his wife, Yen Fong, have been supporting student scholarships at AUB since 2018. “Especially during these times,” he says, “I think we all need to do what we can.”
Noha Mazraani (BS ’90, MA ’96), PhD, writes, “In January 2021, I joined SSS Educational Management Pvt. Ltd. in Lahore, Pakistan, as the academic director. I previously worked in the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon. I am excited about my new role and look forward to exploring the city and learning about its culture and history. My experience at AUB was remarkable and has equipped me with life skills that allowed me to have a successful career. I miss my years at AUB and would like to get in touch with my AUB classmates, whether in Lebanon or abroad.”
Fadi Majzoub (BE ’97) is managing Westford Lebanon, an engineering consultancy, project management, and business consultancy multi-disciplinary organization in Beirut that he established in 2015. He is an active member of the Rotary Club and several other organizations, as he has a mission of supporting Lebanese communities and professionals. “I hope we unite again on the AUB campus. Let us all support AUB during these tough times.”
Hind Moussa (BS ’99, MD ’03) is a maternal fetal medicine specialist at the Kettering Medical Center and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She was recently profiled on the Kettering Health website. She writes, “The impact of the pandemic, the collapse of a country, being away from family, and that deep hurt from the feeling of a broken promise has impacted every one of us. As AUBites we can continue to support our beloved campus, future colleagues, and the youth of a better Lebanon.”
Silvia Fadel (BA ’00, TD ’01) is an executive administrative partner at Facebook’s main headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA. She is also the founder of Lebanese Glass (@ lebaneseglass), an initiative she started after the August 4, 2020, explosion, and the lead translator for Hunger Ward, the Oscar-nominated film by Skye Fitzgerald. Silvia writes, “AUB has played a major role in my life and career. I even learned Arabic when I first started studying at AUB, which helped me translate this heart-wrenching film.”
Philippe Saad (BAR ’00) was recently promoted to principal at DiMella Shaffer in Boston, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2005. Philippe joined DiMella Shaffer after earning a master of science in architecture studies (SMArchS) at MIT. “My architecture education at AUB has played a major part in my career. I send encouragement and support to current architecture faculty and students,” he writes.
Dania Hadid (MA ’04) is head of the School Quality Assurance Unit at UNRWA. She says that her years at AUB were “a well-paved road that led to character building, skill acquisition, leadership, and critical thinking in a milieu of professionalism, full support, and eternal friendships.” Looking ahead, she is “positive that my future will hold more advancement since AUB has provided me with the tools needed to reach my full potential.”
Ghada Merhi Bleik (TD ’06, MA ’20) writes, “I recently graduated from AUB with an MA in educational psychology and moved to New York. I am in the process of getting certified from the state of New York so I can teach English. I’m planning to start a PhD program in counseling soon.”
Maria Frangieh (MA ’07) is the founder and managing director of Socialprise, a digital marketing and communications agency serving international clients since 2005. She is also the founder and CEO of Watani, a business development platform and online marketplace that helps Lebanese businesses sell their products and services to the Lebanese diaspora and the world to secure “fresh dollars.” She writes, “We offer our services for free and generate our income from ads placed on the website.”
Layal Hneiny (BS ’07, MPH ’14) writes, “Despite being most recently a Pitt alumna with an MLIS degree, AUB holds something unexplainable in my heart. I graduated from AUB with a BS in chemistry because of schooling benefits given by AUB to its staff. My mother, Oussaima Zeineddine, has been working as one of the best call center agents at AUBMC since 1991. (She announces the public announcements at AUBMC). I earned my MPH while working in the University Libraries at AUB, where I have been since 2008. AUB has been my mother’s source of living and mine, my brother’s alma mater and mine, and my daughter’s playground and mine. It is more than home to me.”
Hady Khawand (EMBA ’08) writes, “After my graduation in 2008, I moved to Dubai to become a partner at Saba IP, a regional intellectual property firm where I am now the country manager of the UAE Office. I was recently honored to be named Patent Star and Trademark Star by IP Stars for the years 2020 and 2021. I am always happy to connect with AUB alumni.”
Mohamad M. Saab (BSN ’08, MSN ’13) received a PhD in nursing from University College Cork’s (UCC) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland in 2017. He is currently a full-time lecturer at UCC and lives in Cork, Ireland. Mohamad is course coordinator for several cancer nursing and research courses and is the year 1 coordinator of the advanced practice nursing program. He is primary investigator for several nationally and internationally funded research projects. Mohamad’s research is focused on the use of virtual reality in raising young men’s awareness of testicular diseases. He has over 40 publications in the areas of cancer, patient safety, palliative care, nursing education, and nursing practice development.
Zayn Alexander (BA ’10, TD ’10) writes, “After graduating from AUB, I earned an MA in psychology from Columbia University and an MS in public relations from New York University. I then decided to pursue a career in the arts, my initial passion. I am now a filmmaker based out of New York. Most recently, I received the Khayrallah Art Prize for my short film, Abroad, for its “honest and deep exploration of the diaspora and immigration.” My most recent short film, Manara, screened during the 2019 Venice Film Festival and is currently still touring. Since its debut, Manara has picked up over seven jury awards. I am currently developing my first feature film. I am proud to be an AUB alumnus. Thank you AUB for the memories!”
Sara Aridi (BA ’13) writes, “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a diploma in media studies, and a minor in music. Two years later, I received a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York. I am now a staff editor at the New York Times, working with a team that manages our homepage, mobile app, and push notifications. I’m so grateful for my time at AUB. I really miss the campus, but I’m heartened by the fact that there are so many fellow alumni in New York.”
Salwa F. Darraj (BBA ’13) continued her studies after graduating from AUB, earning an MS degree in economics and strategy for business and a pre-MBA certificate from Imperial College London. She then joined Ernst & Young (EY), where she now works as a senior consultant and is the champion of the Women’s Network. In addition to her role at EY, Salwa serves on AUB’s Board of Trustees, the Imperial College Alumni Advisory Board, and on the board of directors of a nonprofit organization. She is also a guest lecturer, student mentor, and startup mentor with Imperial College London. Salwa is a fellow at the Chartered Management Institute in the UK, earning her the designatory letters FCMI. During her free time she is working on launching her own business venture.
Abdelrahman Badri (BA ’16) writes, “After graduation I went on to complete a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. I am currently living in my home country, Sudan, where I am a lecturer at Ahfad University for Women. I recently published a study, “Mental Health Status of Eritrean Unaccompanied Refugee Minors in Sudan,” and am working on my PhD at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. I am thirsty to hear from other AUB alumni.”
Mariam Dabboussi (BE ’18) writes, “After graduating, I pursued a product marketing internship at Google. Being on the cutting edge of technology in a region like the Arab world, where millions of users are coming online, gives you a sense of the important role the internet plays. Today, I’m a consumer marketing manager and have launched the Google Assistant in Arabic across 18 markets. I am currently focused on growing our female creator ecosystem on YouTube. AUB gave me the opportunity to explore beyond academia, and I’ll forever be grateful for the projects I’ve worked on, mentors who guided me, and the community that inspired me along the way.”
Aya Mouallem (BE ’20) writes, “I graduated from AUB in the midst of the pandemic and am now a graduate student and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University. I’m actively involved in volunteering efforts focusing on giving back to Lebanon through, for example, All Girls Code, the award-winning community initiative that I≈cofounded at AUB, or LebNet, which includes many Lebanese AUB alumni leading efforts in the tech fields in North America. I want to make any contribution I can to improve the situation in Lebanon, which is going through an unprecedented economic crisis.”