Professor Emeritus, Former Provost, Mechanical Engineering

The best leader and boss I ever worked with. Upon the arrival of Dr. Joseph Jabbra as he took over the presidency, he gathered his vice presidents and told us that he wished to retain all VPs for the time and establish a relationship of trust. Trust was also the theme of our first retreat. Once trust was established in deeds rather than in words, working together was smooth sailing, a pleasurable experience and a gratifying life as we all witnessed the giant leaps LAU was making in higher education. Then came the vision and the strategy with the first LAU Strategic Plan, followed shortly with the launching of the work toward accreditation with NEASC (now NECHE), and all other accomplishments that can’t all be listed here. I will always remember the long after-hours early evenings where we met in his office and exchanged very informally on higher education and the values that drive our mission. This is where I discovered the deep soul of this man and what makes him tick indefatigably. Our friendship grew over time as we shared discussions over subjects of common interest, very precious moments that I will miss.

Instructor, Pediatric Endocrinologist

I congratulate you for all the successes you have achieved and wish you all the best in the future. I’m sure that you will remain a great support for LAU.

Clinical Professor/Chair, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery/Assistant Dean for Faculty Development

President Jabbra was and will always be an inspiration to us all. He loves LAU, his faculty, staff, alumni and students with all his heart and soul. He has always managed to build further and forge ahead where few dared to venture, armed with his infectious enthusiasm, integrity and unrelenting perseverance. He will be missed but hopefully will continue to be involved with advancing the mission of education at LAU and in Lebanon. God bless you Dr. Jabbra!

Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Economics

No words can describe the impactful personality of President Jabbra. The university under his leadership became a world-class institution of higher education not only in Lebanon, but also across the region. His wisdom, coupled with a gentle human touch, played a significant role in motivating faculty and staff. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did for our beloved institution.

Assistant Professor of Physiology

Thank you President Jabbra for what you did for LAU and for all of us. All the best!

Professor of Clinical Surgery and Chair, Department of Surgery

As a newcomer, I had heard of this giant of a man who took LAU to higher levels and was intrigued to meet him. What struck me in our first meeting was his modesty and affable character. As I got to know him more, I started seeing the traits of a visionary leader, of someone who works indefatigably with incredible energy for the service of the community. I know now how Dr. Jabbra has been able to inspire generations to dream and dare to achieve the seemingly unattainable.

Assistant Professor of Operations Management

I am very fortunate to have joined LAU when it was under Dr. Jabbra’s leadership. Returning to Lebanon in 2013 may not have been the best decision, considering the turmoil in the region. In times of doubt, Dr. Jabbra has always provided reassurance that we are in good hands and, even more, that LAU is a “beacon of light” in the darkness surrounding us. Dr. Jabbra’s vision, determination and good vibes made LAU an amazing workplace, a refuge from a chaotic world. Thank you, Dr. Jabbra, for all that you gave us.

Dean, School of Architecture & Design

President Jabbra played a key role in the expansion of the university, both on campus and beyond. When he came in, the medical school was just a large excavation site. A few years later, it became a reality, and then later, a new state-of-the-art library building was completed next to it. In Beirut, the acquisition of the Gezairi building and its complete renovation provided a much-needed ‘home’ for the School of Architecture & Design. His passion was contagious, and he drove everyone to do their best for the university. Dr. Jabbra will be remembered as a great builder of institutions, both in the literal and the figurative sense. His legacy will live on for generations to come.

Vice President for Advancement

As Dr. Jabbra stamped LAU with his indomitable spirit for over a decade and a half, he will also stamp it with his legacy for a long time to come. His beloved LAU owes him a debt of gratitude that will not wane over the years. Dr. Jabbra will always be remembered with fondness and respect for his humanism, daring, exceptional dedication and, above all, boundless energy. He will also be remembered for his firm belief that LAU has yet to tap more than a tiny fraction of its vast potential. His elevated position in the collective memory of LAU will continue to be a source of inspiration and renewed momentum.

Head of Cardiology and Chief Medical Officer

Dr Jabbra, an exceptional man who dedicated almost two decades of his life to LAU. A great leader who was aware of every detail without losing the big strategic picture. A visionary who made LAU a label of excellence and proud belonging. I remember this handing-over ceremony in July 2009, the date LAU acquired LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, a ceremony marked by deep emotion and great ambition, and since that day emotion and ambition have been our main drivers in guiding our strategic plan for the hospital and for LAU healthcare in general. During these years, we went through difficult times and hard paths where Dr. Jabbra provided inspiration and commitment. He never ever showed any signs of hesitation or failure. He had an unwavering determination to make our medical center a fully integrated component of LAU. His last project in making LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital the hospital of reference for the LAU family will be one more landmark achievement in the history of our university. Thank you, Dr Jabbra. Yes, the torch is transmitted as brilliant as ever and we promise you that we will preserve it as per your recommendations and guidance.  

Chairperson, Department of Communication Arts 

When I joined LAU in 2016, I quickly noticed Joseph Jabbra’s towering personality. It was palpable. His ubiquitous presence and fingerprints were unavoidable in everything big or small. The explosive energy he exuded when entering a room or mounting a stage was infectious. No matter what the circumstances, no matter how bad the situation, you felt his encouragement pushing you through the thicket of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and with the most delicate touch. I feel fortunate to have served the university under his presidency and experienced this rare breed of leadership firsthand. I will miss his reassuring intense gaze and emphatic voice! 

Clinical Professor and Chairman Emeritus, Department of Ophthalmology

Dear Dr. Jabbra, LAU will miss you and we will miss the amazing energy and optimism that you always provided to us all. As a former chairman during the difficult years of the Ophthalmology department at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, I won’t forget your support and your firm stand to preserve its staff, residents, students, and services. We wouldn’t be here without you and for this I am thankful. Now, when the whole country is passing through difficult times, leadership is desperately needed, but unfortunately lacking. I wish you all the best, and hope that I can see you one day soon in a place where you can serve Lebanon like you served LAU.

Senior Instructor/Musician-in-Residence, Department of Communications Arts

كبير من بلدي من لبنان ومنه الى العالمية، الدكتور جوزف ج جبرا المحترم، رئيس الجامعة اللبنانية الاميركية. شكرا لك ايها الكبير النبيل، شكرا لك ايها المثال في الانسانية، ايها الاب الصالح والمربي الفاضل، شكرا لك يا ايقونة الاخلاق، شكرا لك يا منارة في العلم والابداع والخلق. يدك باركت كل بنيان في الجامعة، بنيان البشر والحجر، يا امينا لرسالتك، وكم عرفت جيدا التعامل مع وزنات الله التي كانت بين يديك.، يا داعما كبيرا للعلم والفن والثقافة والابتكار، يا امثولة عظيمة في التضحية، كما ولن ننسى الى الابد تواضعك الثمين. شكراً لك حضرة الدكتور جوزف ج جبرا، لك من زملائي ومني كل التقدير والاحترام والمحبة، ورافق الله حياتك وفرّح قلبك مع عائلتك ومع كل انسان تحبه. شكرا شكرا شكرا مع محبتي جوزف ف خليفة

Professor and Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Dear Dr. Jabbra, Thank you and sincere congratulations for all that you accomplished at LAU and for higher education in Lebanon. You are really a person who would do the impossible to make education available to many Lebanese who would not have access to it otherwise. I particularly salute your endless support for the establishment of the Medicinal Cannabis Research Center at LAU, the first in the Middle East and Arab World and a dream that will come true under the new university leadership. Generations of students will benefit from your vision and the seeds you planted during the 16 years of giving at LAU. We were lucky to have you as our president and lucky also to have Dr. Mawad continuing the journey toward academic excellence. I would like to conclude with a quote from Maya Angelou: “We may not remember everything you said, but we will remember how special you made us feel.” Have a peaceful and wonderful retirement Dr Jabbra. LAU will miss you.

Clinical Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology

I remember the first day I met Dr. Jabbra, during my pre-employment interview almost three years ago. He came in a bit late, which was probably the only time ever he was late for a meeting. This in a way made me feel special from the start. Then he asked me several questions, among which was: “What made you want to come back to Lebanon?” After I enumerated to him all the reasons I had archived in my mind, he so elegantly and intuitively summed up almost everything I said in one very deep sentence that will live with me forever. He said: “Dr. Ghazi, we all here share one sin, which is that we were all born in this country, an infection we can never overcome.” While these may not be the same exact words he used, they are as accurate as I can recall. Dr. Jabbra, thank you for contributing to my professional maturity on every occasion we shared.

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Social Sciences

Dear President Jabbra,Thank you for being an inspiration. Thank you for being the definition of a leader. Thank you for being futuristic. Thank you for leaving behind a solid, proud, and ever-growing institution. Be assured that we will always make you proud.

Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs

When I first met President Jabbra shortly after joining LAU around eight years ago, I was immediately struck by his larger-than-life presence, his passion for LAU, and his incredible energy. An inspiring role model and strong leader who took LAU to unprecedented new heights, Dr. Jabbra is also the reason many of us feel LAU is home and consider ourselves lucky and proud to be members of the “LAU family.” LAU, to me, will always be inexorably linked to President Jabbra, his vision, his leadership, and his infectious positivity.

Associate Dean for Medical Education

When I first met him, he greeted me by my name. Back then, I was surprised that the President of LAU knew the name of a recently recruited faculty. It took me a few months to realize that Dr. Jabbra knows each and every constituent of the university, the place I confidently call home. There are so many reasons LAU feels like home. Purpose and satisfaction are the two magical words that define the state of mind of employees coming to LAU every morning. All this did not happen by chance. It is the result of years of love, care, determination, aspiration, and leading by example. “The sky is the limit” has been repeatedly stated by President Jabbra as an actionable motto. He made LAU the place where academic excellence is the norm, a space for free expression, and the institution that students, staff and faculty take pride in belonging to its family. Dr. Jabbra was always someone characterized by eloquence, dynamism, classiness and taste. LAU will miss you Dr. Jabbra.

Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Dear President Jabbra,

Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. Your dedication and devotion to establish a school of medicine at LAU provided me with the opportunity to come back to Lebanon and achieve my dream to become an established biomedical scientist and participate in building future generations of physicians.

Warm Regards..

Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

As the saying goes “a tree is known by its fruits” and what an amazing basket of assorted, ripe, nutritious fruits President Joseph Jabbra is leaving us with. In my teaching, I will always carry the “providing our students with an education that is second to none” fruit. In my research, I will enjoy eating the “seeking excellence in everything we do” fruit. And lastly, LAU will remain at the heart of my life mission due to the “no matter what you do, never forget LAU” fruit. Thank you, my “indefatigable” role model, for these wonderful fruits of wisdom.

Clinical Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

With mixed feelings, we received the announcement of President Jabbra’s retirement. Thank you very much for all the fruitful years you served LAU as an exemplary leader. I witnessed the tremendous leap LAU has transcended in becoming a world-wide reputable university, first as a student and then as a faculty member at my beloved institution. I will always look up to you as a role model in leadership, integrity, and success. We are grateful for all that you did for LAU.

Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Management

“Like steel.” “Abdo, it is in your mind.” “It is our battle to lose.” “With your help, we will make it.” Words of wisdom, of encouragement and of motivation that kept us going. Words that kept us in the driver’s seat and forced other institutions to TRY to follow us in terms of enrollment management. The attached picture shows how proudly you were showing First Lady Haraoui one of our leading initiatives during the Gala dinner. I will never forget those words. They will always be my guiding principles, especially in times of crisis. President Jabbra, we had many highly strategic and unforgettable adventures together. I thank you for everything you have done and I will miss you. Go have fun and enjoy precious moments with your family. From the bottom of my heart, Abdo (Abdul ilah as you always called me).

Assistant Vice President, Department of Finance

A leader has a vision; a great leader has the vision, preaches it, disseminates it and most importantly achieves it. This is Dr. Joseph Jabbra. Early in my career with Procter & Gamble Co. I was told that there are three types of managers: managers who wonder what is happening, managers who know what is happening and managers who make things happen. This is Dr. Joseph Jabbra. I believe LAU was extremely fortunate to have Dr. Jabbra as a president. He transformed the university into a full-fledged institution through the set-up of the various governing bodies; the university has exponentially grown whereas the assets and the student body almost doubled. We will miss a determined leader who helped us in one way or another.

Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications

Dr. Jabbra or the passionate commitment, determination, and persistence. His storied success at LAU started with a formidable challenge that he quickly overcame. He then carried on a blitzkrieg path of raising the LAU reputation firmly as one of Lebanon’s leading universities. Beyond his established success as our president, he has supported our department’s mission in integrating our communications efforts, and enabled us to move forcefully into increased communications and into digital communications. In key crossroads, he was there to support us always with the most agile manner. At a more personal level, I pay tribute to his unique, high-intensity leadership style: an extreme listener, he is constantly and genuinely curious and respectful, engaging feedback and input, before making decisive and bold moves, in an always-on communicative style. The frown, the smile, the gentle hand, the piercing eyes, the larger-than-life commanding voice…

Deputy Director, Continuing Education

Dr. Jabbra has been a unique and visionary leader. I have always admired his leadership style, modesty, professionalism, and his great sense of humor. As a matter of fact, the changes at LAU’s tenure have reflected his exemplary vision for the institution to become an “Innovative Hub of Learning,” which would reflect the intercultural diversity and mission the university serves locally and globally. His exemplification and influence on the LAU community will be rooted for decades to come.

Senior Director of IT Infrastructure

Dr. Jabbra, you have been an extraordinary role model for LAU staff, faculty and students over the years. I would like to thank you for your dedication, passion and care for the university. We will miss you.

Director, Center for Lebanese Heritage

بَـحثًا عن الخامسة والعشرين _____________هنري زغيب

في ذاكرة المؤَسسات أَسماء مِن نور، تبقى ساطعةً بِــبهاء بعد مغادرة أَصحابها مقعدَهم فيها، يكونون جاؤُوها مِن المستقبل ليواصلوا مواسم الماضي يُغذِّون بها بيادرَ الحاضر.

هكذا وصل سنة 2004 إِلى الجامعة رجلٌ استثنائِيٌّ لقيادتها، مُثَمِّنًا إِنجازات السَلف، مضْمِرًا أَن يُكثِّر أَغمار الجنى يسلِّمها خلَفَه بركاتٍ تغتذي منها الجامعة نورًا جديدًا مع كل شمس.

منذ التقيتُه، قبل 16 سنة، قرأْتُ في نبرته الوُثقى أُفقًا يُضمره لـ”مركز التراث اللبناني”. ولم يتوقَّف عن منحه دفعًا لجناحيه، دفقًا لشرايـينه، نبضًا لقلبه، فواصل “المركز” مسيرته ناشطًا بـرعاية “الرئيس” وحضورِه أَنشطتَه، يتابع منشوراته، يطالع مجلته “مرايا التراث” ويعودُ إِليَّ لا مشجِّعًا ما تَـمّ، بل مُـحفِّزًا ما سوف يكون. ما التقيتُهُ يومًا إِلَّا وهو على أُهْبة لقاءٍ أَو اجتماعٍ أَو سفَر، فكنتُ دومًا إِخاله باحثًا عن الساعة الخامسة والعشرين، يقطف منها نبضًا آخرَ لخصوبة الجامعة.

يغادرَها اليوم، قائدًا سالفًا لخلَفٍ صالح، لكنَّ شمسَه لن تؤُول إِلى غُروب: سنظلُّ نسمع عينَيه الوثَّابتين، ونرى نبرتَه الوُثقى تُشجِّع كلَّ جديد، ولدى كل وثبةٍ للجامعة إِلى أَعلى سنشعر أَنْ سيكون أَوَّل المهنِّئين. أَنَّـى سيتوجَّه بعد مغادرته، سيحمل معه دعاءً منّا يُرفَع لكل كبيرٍ عَلا إِلى رتبة الروّاد.

وسيبقى في “مركز التراث اللبناني” صدًى مبارَكٌ مبارِكًا تَنامي الغلالِ أَغمارًا ذهَّبَ قمحَها الرياديَّ الرائدُ الكبيرُ جوزف جبرا

Senior Logistics Driver, Dean Mawad’s Office

Dear President Jabbra, It’s with mixed emotions that I write this message to you. Unfortunately, you will soon be leaving. LAU has been extremely fortunate to have you as its president. All these years you have been an exceptional leader to the students, staff and faculty, a guide and a friend. Please know that we all appreciate the wonderful memories we have made together all these years. You will always be a part of LAU family, and we wish you all the best. We love you.

Executive Director of Budgets and Financial Planning

“Leading by Example.” This is how I will remember Dr. Jabbra. Whether you arrive to the office early in the morning or leave late in the evening, you can be sure that President Jabbra is around. Whenever we had a hard task to accomplish, we knew that he was overseeing the process and helping, directly or indirectly, to make things happen. LAU’s policies and procedures were not only widely developed under Dr. Jabbra’s watch, but also incremented by his undeniable human touch. A caring, compassionate and faithful leader. Need I say more? Dear Dr. Jabbra, thank you for everything you have done for LAU and for all of us.

Lead IT Support Administrator

For the first time in my seven-year career in IT support, I have had the opportunity to work in an institution whose president has such an amazing impact on its community, who really cares for its people and truly values each member. I had the privilege of supporting Dr. Jabbra during my three years at LAU and got to know how great and extraordinary he is. Helping him and seeing the way he wanted to know and write down everything we do to fix his computer issues was something I had never experienced before! Just because he did not want to “trouble us,” as he says, every time he had a problem with his computer. This is just amazing and hugely respected. His positive character and energy reflected on myself and everybody else and made me love working here and more dedicated to LAU. It was an honor meeting and getting to know Dr. Jabbra, who will be missed here among us. We only wish he had stayed longer! I wish you the best, Dr. Jabbra!

Practice Lecturer, School of Architecture and Design

Putting my architecture and engineering hats aside, and as a physicist, I strongly believe that the Master Albert Einstein would have given up on analyzing and formulating President Jabbra’s enormous positive and creative energy! It is a pronounced honor to have been inspired by President Jabbra’s leadership and infinite achievements that will landmark LAU and impress all its future generations. Respect, gratitude, and best wishes for a safe, joyful and long-term retirement. All my best to you Dr. Jabbra!

Assistant to the President for Special Projects

As much as I am happy that the Board and Dr. Jabbra took the right decision to keep the LAU ship sailing with Dr. Michel Mawad, as much as I am not able to hold my sadness and confusion in imagining LAU without Dr. Jabbra. Your leadership ignited our energy to produce excellence in everything we do. Your humanity taught us the meaning and practice of goodness to build a better world. Your modesty shook our behavior and made us stand with our feet on the grounds. Your innovation made us continue the race and try to reach new levels at every stop we make. Your knowledge was fundamental and pushed us to keep diving and explore the depth of realization. Your experience trained us to become better people. Your recognition motivated us to always give more and more. Your guidance all these years was parental to me in my career and personal life. My tears and words cannot express well or enough what you really mean to me. These lines cannot thank you enough, but my mind, my heart and my prayers will always do.

Senior Director of Athletics and Senior Instructor, Department of Education

Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra, Most Valuable President, MVP 2004-2020. Your constant words of encouragement, wisdom and unconditional support have been a great inspiration to everyone involved with LAU Athletics and has helped us to carry on, against all odds, and to stay at the forefront of intercollegiate athletics and, for that, we are eternally grateful. Good luck with your future plans and always remember that we will always love you and we shall miss you dearly. God bless you and your family and always stay safe!

Senior Fabrication Labs Supervisor, School of Architecture & Design

Dear President Jabbra, Please allow me to thank you for all that you have done for us. We, the LAU community, are losing a valued and treasured member.

Thank you for investing your precious time in the advancement of LAU. I have learnt the principles of ethics not from a book but from an encyclopedia that walks and talks during our meetings with you twice a year. You always gave us directions not orders. There have been highs and lows, but you have navigated us through them all with grace and strength. Finally, you gave my daughter Ghinwa a bachelor’s degree in architecture, and my son Omar a bachelor’s in interior design. May all Lebanon’s saints be with you. Please remember us.

Senior Academic Assistant, Computer Science and Mathematics

Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra is a great leader who has worked hard to implement his vision for LAU. He has empowered the LAU community and given the staff the support to continue their education and better serve the university. It was an honor working under his leadership for more than 14 years. I would like to thank him for his words of encouragement that motivated us in every meeting to serve students in the best possible way. We are proud community members who fulfill our duties with “passion” at this prominent institution which he has enriched with significant achievements. I would like to express my gratefulness for giving me and my colleagues the opportunity to learn and grow through seeking graduate studies at this distinguished university.

Senior Executive Assistant, Office of the President

I remember the first meeting with Dr. Jabbra. He asked me what I expected from a new president. Sixteen years ago, I told him it would be to have an open door to everyone who knocks on it, to listen to people, students, staff … to anyone searching for an answer to their need. Dr. Jabbra, thank you for being that president who did not let anyone leave your office without a pinch of hope, consolidation and solution. You have been a president who is special, humble, strong, and had an answer to give to everyone. I am very grateful to have my three children graduate during your term.You were, and will always be a blessing to LAU, to us and to your family. Dr. Jabbra, I wish you a healthy retirement full of joy and peace. May God bless you, and may he fulfill your heart’s desire. Thank you for everything from the depths of my heart.

Senior Instructor of English/Former Director of the Writing Center

I feel honored to have been a faculty member and the Director of the LAU Writing Center during the time when Dr. Joseph Jabbra was President of LAU. The university’s mission under his leadership strongly commits to civic engagement, which is exactly why the center applied and was awarded a grant from the US Embassy in 2016 to train teachers and coordinators from several Lebanese public and private schools on launching their own writing centers. Upon the completion of the project, I was privileged by the presence of President Jabbra at the closing ceremony, welcoming all attendees who included Ms. Rose Lindgren, the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, addressing the audience with an inspiring speech and assisting in the distribution of certificates. His sense of pride of the center’s accomplishments pushed the team to serve further, both at the institutional and national levels. President Jabbra always affirmed that LAU is second-to-none; we took it upon ourselves to establish a center that is indeed second-to-none in Lebanon. President Jabbra’s shrewd leadership style and sharp vision were our driving force.

Senior Archivist, Archives and Special Collections

Dr. Jabbra, words are helpless to express. You raised LAU so high. You made it sparkling despite all the tragic challenges. You made us proud to say “LAU”. THANK YOU for everything & we are so blessed to have met such a GREAT person like you hoping our roads will be crossed together one day. “Joseph Jabbra”, a name that will always echo steadily.

Editor’s note: At the contributor’s insistence, this tribute was unedited and appears in its original form.

Lead Accreditation and Continuous Improvement Coordinator, SAC Chairperson (2017-2019)

Dear Dr. Jabbra,Thank you for helping LAU grow and for making it reach the top despite all the challenges and the turbulent situation in the region. I am so honored to have served as the chairperson of the Staff Advisory Council during your term. Because of your tremendous support, I believe we made a difference in SAC’s achievements, contributions and involvement in the strategic life of the institution. Your support and guidance to me personally and to all members was priceless. You have encouraged us to raise our concerns and voice our opinions.Thank you for inspiring us every day and for lifting our spirits during tough times. Your compassionate messages during hard times helped us have faith in a better future. I would like to let you know that we will truly miss an amazing, hardworking and energetic president. We will miss your loud voice, full of passion for LAU, and your quick steps that I was never able to keep up with on campus! Happy retirement and best wishes for joyful relaxing days with your family and friends. All the best.

Lead Director of Development

To a dedicated and admirable leader: we wish you prosperity, health, and happiness, and thank you for all that you have done for LAU. The LAU community will forever cherish your leadership. Your legacy will never fade away.

University Registrar, Student Development and Enrollment Management

I am honored to pay tribute to our outgoing President, Dr. Joseph G. Jabbra. I left LAU as a faculty and returned years later as a university registrar only to find LAU transformed from a very good to a top-notch university, ‘second to none!’ Thanks to Dr. Jabbra’s visionary approach and commitment to excellence, the university grew and expanded tremendously, focusing on quality assurance standards and accreditation. My personal encounters with Dr. Jabbra were mostly related to enquiries about student academic cases where they had a difficulty or a challenge. Dr. Jabbra dealt with these cases humanely and with great compassion, always looking for solutions within the parameters of our rules. Furthermore, he never passed up an opportunity to recognize and appreciate success stories or new initiatives. President Jabbra, you will be fondly remembered for your legacy of steadfast leadership and vivacious spirit. You are leaving LAU on a much higher trajectory! Happy retirement to you and Dr. Nancy Jabbra!

Senior Academic Assistant, Department of Education

My gratitude and admiration for you as a person and as our president is supreme, and will never change. Having you as a leader with a vision, we were never afraid, for we had our biological family and our institutional LAU family who was equally important and supportive. In order to lead, we have to start with a vision, your vision, that you as a great leader embedded in every one of us. Former President of Southern Connecticut State University, US, Cheryl Norton once said that “We often avoid progress by worrying that it has never been done before.” Being first was always your motto, and you constantly encouraged us to put LAU first because you believe, as we do, in this great institution. Innovation happened because together we were willing to apply solutions to current problems or embrace new opportunities. Leadership is about vision and taking initiatives. Please Dr. Jabbra make sure that we will always follow the lead no matter what the challenges are. I wish you all the health and success in everything you do because we believed and still believe in you. Thank you for your support and your kind words at every difficult blow on the personal and global levels.

Senior Performing Arts Theater Manager, Department of Communication Arts

Dr. Jabbra’s unconditional support and passion for the arts and specifically theater is remarkable. For a president who has huge responsibilities and workload pressures to travel a long distance straight to attend a student or major play production is an act of appreciation that we will never forget. Students used to get so excited and happy to know that the president of their university was making an effort to watch their performance. Actually Dr. Joseph and Dr. Nancy Jabbra have been keen to attend most of our LAU theater productions and festivals. They did so willingly and with great pleasure. It was custom to keep a side seat for Dr. Jabbra in the last row of Gulbenkian Theatre in case he arrived late or had to leave early for another commitment. Dr. Jabbra, I will never forget your brotherly support, compassion and consolation when our beloved colleague Mr. Milad Karkour left us for another world. The words of affection that you sent to me and the theater team are still ringing in my ears. Thank you very much Dr. Jabbra for your distinct encouragement. I wish you a splendid time with your family. God bless you!

 Senior Assistant Archivist, Library-Collection Management

Great respect for a leader who worked tirelessly to bring LAU to where it is now. With your tremendous efforts, LAU stood tall despite all the challenges facing our beloved country. Thank you for everything you have done for the community and for our youth. Dr. Jabbra, you will always be a mentor leader, a role model to many, always in our hearts. All the best to you always.