
Dr. Samar Aad
Assistant Professor
Bio
Dr. Samar Aad is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Adnan Kassar School of Business at the Lebanese American University. Her interdisciplinary research explores the intersections of artificial intelligence, smart cities, sustainability, digital transformation, and employability, with a particular focus on the evolving role of student and media influencers. She is the co-author of After Generative AI: Preparing Faculty to Transform Education, Learning and Pedagogy (Emerald Publishing, Great Debates in Higher Education series), which examines how generative technologies are reshaping academic roles, learning design, and institutional strategy.
Dr. Aad’s current research investigates how management education can prepare students for rapidly changing labor markets through AI-integrated curricula, smart city frameworks, and authentic learning experiences. She also studies issues of trust, legitimacy, and monetization among digital influencers, particularly within higher education and employability contexts.
She is actively engaged in international research collaborations and has participated in funded initiatives supported by organizations such as MEPI, DAAD and CNRS-L. Dr. Aad frequently contributes as a speaker and consultant on strategic planning, project management, faculty development, and cross-border educational innovation. Her publications include papers on AI, smart cities, and management education, and she serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals.”
Teaching Interests
- Higher education in the digital age
- Quality assurance, accreditation and ranking
- Marketing management
- Digital management
- Artificial Intelligence for business
- E-business and e-commerce
- Management information systems
Selected Publications
- Haque, M. N., Beckers, D., Costales, E., Aad, S., Sharifi, A., & Mora, L. (2025). A systematic review of research on just, equitable, responsible, and inclusive smart cities. Technology in Society, 103050.
- Kirikkaleli, D., Aad, S., & Kirikkaleli, N. O. (2025). Sustainable development and investment in artificial intelligence in the USA. Humanities Social Science Communications, 12, 246
- Aad, S., & Hardey, M. (2025). Generative AI: Hopes, Controversies, and the Future of Faculty Roles in Education. Quality Assurance in Education, 33(2), 267–282.
- Aad, S., & Hardey, M. (2025). After Generative AI: Preparing Faculty to Transform Education, Learning, and Pedagogy. Emerald Publishing.
- Aad, S., Dagher, G. K., & Hardey, M. (2024). How Does Cultural Upbringing Influence How University Students in the Middle East Utilize ChatGPT Technology? Administrative Sciences, 14(12), 330.
- Aad, S., Sayegh, N., Sayegh, N., & Karkoulian, S. (2024). The Mediating Effect of Knowledge Sharing and Usage on Human Resource Practices and Innovative Behavior: Developing vs. Countries of Crisis. Studies in Higher Education,
- Aad, S., & Hardey, M. (2024). Generative AI: Hopes, Controversies, and the Future of Faculty Roles in Education. Quality Assurance in Education, 33(2), 267–282.
- Aad, S., & Hardey, M. (2024). After Generative AI: Preparing Faculty to Transform Education, Learning, and Pedagogy. Emerald Publishing.
- Aad, S., & Hardey, M. (2024). How Does Cultural Upbringing Influence How University Students in the Middle East Utilize ChatGPT Technology? Administrative Sciences, 14(12), 330.
- Aad, S., Sayegh, N., Sayegh, N., & Karkoulian, S. (2024). The Mediating Effect of Knowledge Sharing and Usage on Human Resource Practices and Innovative Behavior: Developing vs. Countries of Crisis. Studies in Higher Education,
- Raaper, R., Hardey, M., Aad, S. Negotiating authenticity and student transitions: Experiences of student -influencers on social media. Journal of Youth Studies – Scopus Q1 https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2024.2419085.
- Aad, S., Hardey, M. Title: Generative AI: Hopes, Controversies, and the Future of Faculty Roles in Education. Quality Assurance. (https://doi.org 10.1108/QAE-02-2024-004) (Accepted 25 August 2024) Scopus Q2. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-02-2024-0043
- Raaper, R., Hardey, M., Aad, S., “Filling the gap: Student influencers as support providers in marketized higher education”, Studies in Higher education journal-Scopus Q1. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2385614.
- Souki, K. Aad, S., Karkoulian, S. (2024). The correlation between 360 Degree Feedback Appraisals and their influence on Innovative behavior within the organization. Mediated by Organizational Justice. International Journal of Organizational Analysis. (Student thesis). Accepted May 2024- Scopus Q2-https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-12-2023-4146 (This research won the Young Researcher Award at LAU during the LAU Research Day Spring 2025.)
- Aad, S., Ginzarly, M., F.J. Srour (2023) The Interplay of Institutional Support and Faculty Roles during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Implications for the future of Online Teaching and Learning, Online Learning Journal. Status: Accepted July 2023- Published March 2024. Scopus Q1-https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v28i1.3911
- Kertechian, K.S., Karkoulian, S., Ismail, H.N. and Aad Makhoul, S.S., 2022. A between-subject design to evaluate students’ employability in the Lebanese labor market. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 12(4), pp.732-748.
- Makhoul, S. A. (2019). Higher education accreditation, quality assurance and their impact to teaching and learning enhancement. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences.