AKSOB Celebrates Excellence Across Its Community
The annual Excellence Awards Ceremony brought faculty, staff, students, and alumni together for an evening of recognition, appreciation, and celebration.
The LAU Beirut campus came alive with music and celebration on September 30, 2026, as the Adnan Kassar School of Business (AKSOB) honored the people behind its achievements at the 2025–2026 Excellence Awards Ceremony. Bringing together faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the event recognized outstanding contributions to teaching, innovation, service, and leadership, celebrating the dedication and talent that drive the school forward.The ceremony honored faculty members whose work continues to enrich the academic experience. Assistant Professor Lara Khabbaz received the Early-Career Teaching Innovation Award; Assistant Professor Samar Aad, the Digital Enhanced Learning Award; Associate Professor Walid El Gammal, the Teaching Dedication Award; and Lecturer Mary Habib, the Outstanding Instructor Award. Senior Instructor of Practice and Director of the Institute for Banking and Finance, Hisham Tabsh, received the Senior Educator Award, while Instructor Maryanne Fayad was honored with the Teaching Dedication Award.
Further recognition went to Associate Professor Dia Bandaly, who received the Service Award; Instructor and Director of the Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management Studies Bassem Slim, the Applied Excellence Award; Adjunct Assistant Professor Maya Shayya, the Adjunct Educator Award; and Instructor Rabih Abi Ammar, the Practitioner Educator Award.
The celebration also recognized staff members whose dedication and teamwork are essential to the school’s daily operations. Principal Executive Assistant Georgina Elias received the Dedication Award; Senior Administrative Coordinator Jihane Abou Ibrahim, the Teamwork Award; Senior Academic Assistant Rola Bleik, the Catalyst Award; and Academic Assistant Lilian Awar, the Emerging Talent Award.
Students also had their moment in the spotlight, with Duaa Kibrit (BS ’26) receiving the Outstanding Academic Award, Jad Ramadan (BS ’26) the Leadership Award, and Graduate Assistant Gabrille Ange Issa (BBA ’22, MBA ’26) the Service Award.
The honors extended to the wider LAU community, with alumnus Najib Lamah (BS ’25) receiving the Dedication Award and alumnus and athlete Wael Arakji (BS ’16) the Achievement Award. Philanthropist and LAU honorary doctorate recipient Toufic Kreidieh (BS ’93) was also recognized with the Leadership Award.
In a particularly meaningful gesture, AKSOB faculty presented Dean Dima Jamali with an award of appreciation for her leadership and dedication to the school.
The tribute added a personal dimension to an evening where appreciation mattered as much as achievement.