Instructor of English

Few are those who cross our paths and inspire us to think deeper and work passionately. I am lucky to have found such an influence in Dr. Aercke the professor, the colleague, and friend.

I met Dr. Aercke in 2000, when I took the class that changed my academic journey: Survey of English Literature. It was not just a course; it felt more like an immersive literary experience. Attending his class was like taking a step into the past, entering worlds that only the free-spirited could fathom. His unconventional teaching style and eccentric sense of humor gave his classes a distinct feel. He offered his students knowledge and encouraged them to explore new depths in every piece of literature. Until today, every time I read a poem or a novel, I hear his voice.

I will miss visiting Dr. Aercke in his office, the one he beautifully decorated with a colorful display of his tea collection. I will miss listening eagerly to his stories and summer escapades. I will miss showing him my syllabus and seeking his advice.

Dr. Aercke, you have left us too soon. Your untimely loss has broken my heart. I will never forget you.  

Associate Professor of English and Critical Linguistics

I choose to remember Kris differently. I see him in the garden of his historic house in the south of France. I see him sitting in the shade of the fig tree (which he hated so much, but somehow changed his mind about cutting down), staring at his swimming pool (which he planned on installing this coming summer) and sipping on a glass of red. He is smiling, of course. He is happy. He is peaceful. He is home.

This past year was nothing short of disastrous, and it ended in the greatest of losses to all of us.

Assistant Professor of English Literature

Dr. Aercke left his students the legacy of excellent reading and he left us, his colleagues, the legacy of excellent listening. He was a master of the art of listening and of acting upon what he intently listens to. He dealt with every concern that reached his desk extremely professionally and with greater care. He used to ‘become’ the complaints we brought to him and he used to solve them with exemplary empathy. The warmth of his jovial face would gladden the heart and top up with a witty comment or a funny joke. Like a soldier falling in battlefield, he died heroically in Beirut while performing his educational duty and serving our nation.   

As a former colleague, I’d like to present my condolences to Dr. Kris Aercke’s family and to his LAU colleagues. May they find comfort during this tragedy.

God rest his soul.

Associate Professor of English Studies

To Dr. Aercke
Oh! Sorry to Kris
For his modesty
Who insisted to be called by his first name
To our beloved colleague, a friend, brother, and mentor
Who was and is still the beacon of our department
LAU will miss you and the Department of English will not be the same without you
You will always be with us, in our prayers, our thoughts, and our lives
We can still see your beautiful smile
We can still hear your morning greetings everyday
We can still smell your cup of herbal tea with different flavors
We can still hear your subtle sarcastic jokes
We can still feel your support, your kind heart,
Your love of poetry, your love of literature
Which inspired everybody, faculty and students
We are left with many memories
You became one of the poetry slam juries
You encouraged students to read and set up The Page Turners Club
You advised many generations of English majors
​And guided them towards their journey
Your adoration for Shakespeare
You saw yourself as Prospero from Shakespeare’s Tempest
Who had magic powers to enchant everybody
You indeed have enchanted us and still do.
May you rest in Peace
God bless you

Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs

The first time I met Kris Aercke, we sat next to each other on a bus ride from Beirut to Byblos campus for the annual faculty meeting and talked continuously and comfortably as if we had known each other for years. I immediately liked his quick wit and his unique sense of humor. In the 10 years that followed, I came to know Kris as a supportive and dynamic department chair, an empathetic colleague, and a passionate advocate for literature. I will never forget his excitement over “Literature Day.” It was palpable and contagious. Kris was also integral in promoting all department programs and in the establishment and growth of the Writing Center. He was an avid supporter of the Center and made use of its services himself, only one example of his humility that endeared him to colleagues and students alike.

Kris, I will miss visiting you in your office and admiring your tea collection. I will miss listening to your stories of faraway times and places. I will miss running into you on campus and listening to one of your anecdotes. The English Department will never be the same without you, but your legacy will live on, in our collective memories, and in and through your students.  

Assistant Dean at the School of Arts and Sciences

My acquaintance with Dr. Aercke goes back to his early days at LAU. We both came to Lebanon around the same time.

D. Aercke and I have spoken many times about his lengthy stay in Lebanon. We shared how we have seen Lebanon develop and advance over the years after the end of the civil war. In this sense, Dr. Aercke was as much Lebanese as anyone can be. Like most Lebanese people, he had a love-hate relationship with Lebanon: Complaining about the constant chaos yet enjoying every bit of the country. Dr. Aercke has seen more of Lebanon than many Lebanese themselves, enjoying its Mediterranean lifestyle. You would often see him in a café or restaurant in Raouche sipping Arak and enjoying the view. 

Dr. Aercke was an explorer. Not only did he cover Lebanon but many parts of the Middle East as well. I would often seek his advice on places to visit in the region (especially Turkey). I shall miss his input…

On the professional level, I have seen him at work as a chairperson of the English Department. He took his job seriously, always delivering on time and ensuring high quality education.

Professor of English and Comparative Literature

I used to see him daily at the University since his office was adjacent to mine. I would normally start the day armed by Kris’s amazing sense of humor and charisma, which brightened the day and made the work smoother. Kris was a pivotal element in the decisions that we made in the School and the challenges that we encountered, with his deep insights and incisive intellectual capacities. He changed the dynamic wherever he went with his innovative thinking and vision. Throughout all this time, he combined a unique mix of sophistication and humility, which endeared him to all his colleagues and his students. And what was more remarkable, was his deep long-standing attachment to his wife Muriel who was the driving source of his life, and a vital source of inspiration.   

I am saddened beyond words at Kris’s tragic and unexpected loss, but consider myself fortunate to have known him and worked with him.  

I will miss him, no doubt, every time I go to my office and find his door closed.

Chairperson of the Department of English

Colleagues of Kris’s caliber do not die!

Since his passing, our classrooms have been relentlessly echoing his love for students and passion for literature

Since his passing, our corridors have been continually reverberating his teaching legacy

Since his passing, our collective memory has transcended professional bickering

In his memory, the Department of English will always live!

Alumnus (BA English ‘19)

“ðonne sorg ond slæð
somod ætgædre
earmne anhogan
oft gebindað.”

-The Wanderer

Dr. Aercke’s passing has left me and many others in a state of shock and disbelief. It is hard to imagine my undergraduate years without his presence. He was, and remains, one of the cornerstones of my initiation to the field of literary studies, be it through medieval, romantic, or postmodern texts. I will never forget the seamless intertwining of lightheartedness and seriousness of which his classes consisted. Nor will I forget his invariably controversial comments that he delivered with his signature mischievous smile.

The last time I spoke to him was in his office. I was visiting the English Department with a fellow graduate. He pulled out an old notebook that dated back to his early days at LAU. He opened it to a random page and counted to 19, the number of absences one of his students, who took one of his classes in the nineties. He kept all such records, in a drawer in his office, next to the infinite boxes of tea he owned. You will always be with us, professor, for your teachings will forever echo in our thought chambers.

Rest in knowledge.  

Instructor of English

I first met Dr. Aercke in 2000 when I took my first literature course. I had no idea I would enjoy literature to the point of taking eight courses with him during my BA. I fell in love with literature because of him and because of his generosity in class. When reading a text in his class, you can’t help but notice the margins of his books: full of scribbles, ideas and information he accumulated during years of teaching.

Our journey continued during my MA, with an eye-opening honesty. I will never forget his intervention during my thesis defense even though he was not on the committee. I realized then that we would never stop being his students. That was also true when I became a faculty member, and often sought his help with my syllabi for the literature courses. 

As department chairperson, he did his best to be involved in all its operations. He learned more about the Writing Center and even took an appointment to have his paper reviewed, becoming the center’s greatest advocate. 

I could go to him with any concern knowing that he would always tell me the truth. It was an honor being his student, and very humbly his colleague.

Alumna (BA ‘20)

For three years, Dr. Aercke taught me about the marriage of discipline and talent. He honed my potential as a literary academic, and for that, I am indefinitely grateful.
But above all, he was there for me as my confidante, whose wisdom I sought in my darkest hours. We would have biweekly meetings in his little office with the occasional presence of Salt, the cat, and tea from his vast collection (that I envy ‘til this day). He taught me love through his relationship with Muriel. He taught me patience and meticulous attention to detail through his mentorship for my senior thesis. But most importantly, he taught me to be the most virtuous version of myself, paying no heed to others.
For the years to come, he will live through and with me in the constant interrogation “what would Kris do?”, and the vast wall of tea I hope to replicate in his memory when I am fortunate enough to carry on his literary legacy.

Alumna (BA ‘20)

Our dearest Dr. Aercke was more than just an instructor and a mentor, he was more like a family member. Throughout my journey at LAU, it was difficult to keep up my academic efforts along with my multiple jobs to pay off my tuition. One day, in my Early Novel class, I blurted out in Arabic that “I wish he could just delay our midterm, I’m too overwhelmed” to my classmate. Dr. Aercke looked at me with a straight face and said, “la’ habibi”. The whole class was flabbergasted, as he would have described it. We knew Dr. Aercke was a foreigner, who did not speak Arabic. I asked him, “are you secretly Lebanese?” and he answered without hesitation, “eh ana men Zahle.” After class, I asked him to show me his ID. He refused of course and gave me a riddle about his origin instead. He told me he was from the only country in the world that imports sand. After giving up, he told me he was from Belgium, with a sarcastic smile. That was my first class with the marvelous Dr. Aercke and the start of a great mentorship and friendship. He was the ultimate literature guru.

Alumnus (BA ‘19)

As much as Aercke taught us about literature, and as much as his fabulous digressions taught us about everything else under the sun, he taught us about teaching. Teaching with absolute joy, compassion, empathy, and devotion towards every person in the room. Those of us who have had the fortune of witnessing Aercke teach can testify that he enabled us to read, think, and grow better than we ever thought we could. I hope we can one day give our own students half of what Aercke gave us.

Instructor of English

In Memory of Dr. Aercke…

I first met Dr. Aercke back in 2007 in the Comparative Literature Program at LAU. He was my teacher and then became my thesis advisor. I will never forget the day he called me to his office where we discussed my term paper. He spoke passionately about literature in general and the novel in particular. His passion inspired me. However, we had our share of ups and downs during the writing and composition of my thesis. He wanted to be gentle and kind with me (because at that time I was pregnant with my daughter), and he did not want to upset me. Nevertheless, he knew, and at the right moment, how to inspire me to improve and make sure that my thesis chapters were well written and properly organized. He was firm and assertive yet kind and patient at the same time. He has influenced me as he has influenced many students as well. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He will be truly missed.

Senior Instructor of English

Senior Instructor of English 

I count it a privilege to have known Dr. K. Aercke as a challenging chairperson, staunch supporter of the Writing Center, and a genuine gentleman. His sudden passing froze our minds.

I remember vividly how he celebrated the fifth-year anniversary of the Writing Center with us, wore the commemorative T-shirt and took part in the on-campus writing activities. On another occasion, while videoconferencing with the Northeastern University WC team, he joined the discussion with the tutors beyond regular hours. He was always present for the Creative Writing Competition celebrations and contributed to the advancement of the annual activity.

To learn more about the operation of the Writing Center, he surprisingly made an appointment just like any student writer, brought a research paper of his own, and shared it with a tutor, who happened to be his former student. After the session, he shared his positive experience with colleagues in the English Department. This incident, in particular, taught many lessons in humility, always inspiring confidence and respect from those with whom he had contact regardless of status.

We shall miss his surprise visits and his cheeky smile, but the memories will last for a long time.

Alumna (BA ‘19)

I first emailed Dr. Aercke as a second-year student looking for a literature elective. I asked if he would send me the syllabus for his course “Romantic and Victorian Poetry,” instead he enthusiastically invited me into his office for a chat. Anyone who has been to his office will tell you it is literally walls upon walls of tea – and also that having Dr. Aercke as a professor is an experience. He was amazingly well read and insightful, but the main thing that struck me about him was how he never took himself too seriously. He removed half of the course material – Victorian poetry – because he said it was “too boring.” One time he was dressed up to support his students on Literature Day, and when I walked up to him he said with a smile, “if you’re going to make a fool of yourself, you might as well go all the way!”

I wish I had spoken to him after the course to let him know he was the reason I started reading poetry and appreciating it in a whole new light. Dr. Aercke was so valued and admired by everyone who knew him, and he will be dearly missed. 

Instructor of English and Moral Reasoning

Kris hired me as a part-time faculty member, then hired me as a full-timer, and he empowered me with every visit to his office.

The first time I asked for the Sophomore Rhetoric course (the holy grail for me at the time), he gave me three of his own books, a copy of his syllabus, and told me to write up a new one. I spent all weekend working on that syllabus and had it in his inbox by Monday morning. He replied with: this is good. you will have a course next semester. (No capitalization of course because he did things his way.)

Kris was the kind of professor you want to have at university - quirky, unique, and mesmerizing.

It was difficult for our insane work culture to allow room for someone who classified his different types of tea. It’s becoming more and more difficult for us to find people willing to own their idiosyncrasies, but if you can’t find such interesting diversity in academia, then where would you find it?

I’m heartbroken that this year has taken one more soul and has gotten a bit darker as a result.

Kris deserved better. May he Rest in Peace.

Student (BA English Literature and Arabic Language & Literature)

When I think of Dr. Aercke, I remember his vintage bag, his colorful Converse shoes, and his butterfly vest – the one handmade by his mother-in-law. I remember the serenity of his office, the plants dangling from every corner, the cats resting on each chair, and the countless opened and sealed tea boxes. He was famous for his exceptional collection. I remember the happiness I felt when running into him near the English Department or somewhere around campus. If I were to tell the world about Dr. Aercke, I’d tell them about his smile – the warmest of all smiles, the love and immeasurable acceptance he had for everyone, and the miniature olive tree he let me take care of while he was abroad last Christmas.