Azar had loved mathematics since her school days. But by the time she finished high school she decided to go into medicine, so she joined AUB’s mathematics department as a pre-med student. “My professors were excellent, and I enjoyed the courses I took a great deal,” she reminisced. Her enthusiasm was reflected in her grades; she graduated with High Distinction and received the I. E. Mhanna Award for excellence in mathematics. Her experience in the department and success in the subject made her want to pursue a career in academia rather than in medicine.

Upon the recommendation of one of her AUB professors, Azar joined Purdue University in the United States, where she completed her PhD in 2008, focusing on some lower and upper bounds in real algebraic geometry. The following academic year she served at Purdue as a lecturer in mathematics.

Azar currently teaches Discrete Mathematics and Linear Algebra to undergraduates. Her research interests are in real algebraic geometry, especially its computational aspects and applications. She hopes to collaborate with other mathematicians in her department to conduct research on areas of common interest.

When not busy with academic work, Azar enjoys reading fiction. She goes to the gym three times a week, likes to go hiking, listens to classical music, and plays the piano. Already with a good command of Arabic, English, and French, Azar is currently teaching herself Italian. She enjoys “peace and quiet” and believes that a person should strive for goodness and “live and let live.”