Lebanese American University

Lebanese American University. It is a private, non-sectarian higher education institution chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. With roots dating to 1835, it operates across two primary campuses in Beirut and Byblos, and maintains an academic center in New York City. The university is accredited in both the United States and Lebanon, offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

History

The institution traces its origins to the American School for Girls, founded in 1835 by American Presbyterian missionaries in Beirut, a city then part of the Ottoman Empire. This school later evolved into the Beirut College for Women, a pioneering institution for women's education in the Middle East. In the late 20th century, it expanded its mission and became coeducational, receiving its current charter from the New York State Education Department in 1992. Significant milestones include the merger with the Beirut University College and the establishment of its second major campus in the historic city of Byblos. Throughout periods of regional conflict, including the Lebanese Civil War, the university maintained its operations, underscoring a commitment to academic continuity.

Academics

The university is organized into several schools, including the School of Arts and Sciences, the Adnan Kassar School of Business, the School of Engineering, the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, and the Alice Ramez Chagoury School of Nursing. It grants degrees ranging from bachelor's to doctorates, with programs accredited by bodies like the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The curriculum emphasizes a liberal arts foundation alongside professional specializations, with notable research activity in fields such as computer science, public health, and Middle Eastern studies. It maintains exchange partnerships with institutions like the University of California system and Sciences Po.

Campus

The university's primary campuses are the Beirut campus, located in the Ras Beirut district near the Mediterranean Sea, and the Byblos campus, situated in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Beirut campus houses facilities such as the University Medical Center - Rizk Hospital and the LAU Library, while the Byblos campus features modern engineering labs and the Selina Korban Building. Both locations offer comprehensive student resources, including athletic complexes and performing arts centers. The university also operates the LAU New York Headquarters and Academic Center in Midtown Manhattan, which facilitates global networking and academic programs.

Organization

The university is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees, which includes prominent figures from international business, academia, and philanthropy. The board appoints the president, currently Dr. Michel E. Mawad, who oversees the university's administration. Academic governance is shared with a University Senate composed of faculty, staff, and student representatives. Financially, it operates as a non-profit institution, supported by tuition, endowment returns, and donations from benefactors such as the Chagoury family and the Kassar family. It holds membership in the Association of American International Colleges and Universities.

Notable Alumni

Alumni have achieved distinction across diverse fields globally. In politics and public service, they include former Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati, former minister Leila El Solh, and diplomat Gabriel Issa. In literature and the arts, notable figures are novelist Evelyn Accad and filmmaker Randa Chahal Sabag. The business world counts leaders like entrepreneur Talal K. Chagoury and financier Adnan Kassar. Other prominent graduates are scientist Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, and physician Fadi Haddad, a pioneer in Lebanese psychiatry.