Announcing the Asfari Institute’s International Advisory Board (2026

Main Links
- About AUB
  About AUB
  
  Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut is a teaching-centered research university based on the American liberal arts model of higher education. AUB has over 8,000 students and 800 faculty members. The University encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.
- Academics
  Academics
  
  AUB is accredited in the US by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and includes six faculties: Arts and Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Architecture, Agricultural and Food Sciences, Health Sciences, and Business. AUB offers more than 130 programs leading to bachelor's, master's, MD, and PhD degrees. The main language of instruction is English.
- Admissions
  Admissions
  
  Learn more about how you can join the American University of Beirut. AUB seeks applicants with a proven record of academic excellence, intellectual vitality, and civic responsibility. In accordance with its founding mission and its equal opportunity policy, the University admits students regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or nationality.
- Research
  Research
  
  The vibrant and dynamic research environment at AUB enhances the educational experience for all and serves the wider communities—local and global—by advancing knowledge in a wide range of disciplines.
- Outreach
  Outreach
  
  Recognizing and honoring our responsibility for others has been an integral part of AUB’s mission since the earliest days. Today, AUB is at the forefront of addressing the most pressing concerns of this country, this region, and its people.
- Boldly Campaign
  BOLDLY Campaign
  
  To ensure the University can continue to inspire current and future generations of smart and able students who can rise to this challenge, we are embarking on a transformative capital campaign, BOLDLY AUB: The Campaign to Lead, Innovate, and Serve.
AUB Community
- A - Z
- Find People
- Libraries
- Alumni
Public
- Telehealth
- AUBMC
- Give
Useful Tools
- E-learning
- AUBSIS
- Webmail
- Title IX Online Training

Announcing the Asfari Institute’s International Advisory Board (2026–2028)

Monday, February 16, 2026

Office of Communications, communications@aub.edu.lb

The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut (AUB) is pleased to announce the members of its International Advisory Board (IAB) for the 2026–2028 term.

The International Advisory Board brings together senior leaders from academia, civil society, philanthropy, diplomacy, and public policy to provide strategic guidance to the institute's work. Through their regional and global expertise, board members support efforts to strengthen research-informed policy dialogue, civic engagement, and collaboration between knowledge production and practice.

The 2026–2028 International Advisory Board members are:

Dr. Zaher Dawy, provost, American University of Beirut
Dr. Marwan Muasher, chair of the advisory board and former foreign minister of Jordan
Muna Abbas, chief executive officer, Asfari Foundation
Ziad Abdel Samad, Arab NGO Network for Development, and university lecturer
Prof. Mohamad Alkadry, professor, School of Public Policy, University of Connecticut
Saba Almubaslat, MENA regional director, Ford Foundation
Ziyad Baroud, lawyer, university professor, and former minister of interior and municipalities of Lebanon
Amal Charif, founder, HalTek
Dr. Noha El-Mikawy, dean, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University in Cairo
Houry Geudelekian, former president, NGO/CSW New York, and international civil society consultant
Dr. Mary Kawar, former minister of planning and international development of Jordan
Julia Middleton, founder, Al Fanar
Anita Nayar, director, Regions Refocus
Dr. Hadeel Qazzaz, MENA regional gender director, Oxfam International

During their term, the board will advise on strategic directions, research priorities, and partnerships, and will support engagement with regional and international policy processes. Their collective guidance will reinforce the institute's mission to advance citizenship, rights-based governance, and social justice in Lebanon and across the MENA/SWANA region.

Contact Us

For various questions, please try contacting us via social media first!
read more

Privacy Statement

We take data privacy seriously and adhere to all applicable data privacy laws and regulations.
read more

Copyright and Disclaimer

Written permission is needed to copy or disseminate all or part of the materials on the AUB website.
read more

Title IX, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Discriminatory Harassment

AUB is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment to all members of its community.
read more