Honorary Doctorate Degrees
The Lebanese American University (LAU) awards honorary doctorate degrees on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for outstanding achievement or leadership in a field or activity consistent with the values, ideals and mission of the University. The Policy on Awarding of Honorary Degrees sets forth procedures for granting honorary degrees.
Criteria for Selecting Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipients
The Board of Trustees (BOT) may award honorary doctorate degrees to recipients who reflect the diversity of interests, backgrounds, and concerns embodied in the society and world it serves. Candidate selection will be based upon outstanding contributions or leadership during the course of a career in a variety of fields, including arts and culture, sciences, business, humanitarian outreach, philanthropy, public service, scholarship or any other impactful endeavors, and upon the extent to which such achievements exemplify the values, ideals and mission of the University. Final selection should take into consideration principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Honorary Doctorate Degree Nomination
We invite you to nominate candidates to be considered for an honorary doctorate degree at a future commencement ceremony. Nominations will be open through this form from October 15 to February 15.
Note: In case you try the new link and get a message that the form is not accepting responses, the reason is that responses will be accepted starting October 15.
Honorary Doctorate Recipients Since 1997
1997
- George Zakhem
1999
- Dr. Michael DeBakey
2002
- Prime Minister Rafic Hariri
2005
- Sheikha Hussa El Sabbah
2006
- Rabab Sayed Sadreddine El-Sadr
- Benita Ferrero-Waldner
- Leila El Solh Hamade
- Paul Orfalea
LAU Graduates 1,266 in Beirut and Byblos
2007
- H.E. Abdel-Aziz Khoja
- Suad al-Husseini Juffali
- Raymond Audi
2008
- Adnan Kassar
- Dr. François Bassil
Commencement 2008: Excelling Students at the Forefront
2009
- Riad Salameh
- Dr. Bassam Z. Shakhashiri
LAU 2009 Generation: Strong Characters and High Academic Achievements
2010
- Dr. Phillip Salem
- H.E. Amr Moussa
- Dr. Riad Jarjour
- Dr. Mohammad Sammak
- HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud
- H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani
1,563 Students Graduate from LAU
LAU Bestows Honorary Doctorate upon Saudi Prince
LAU Honors Leader of Qatar with Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters
2011
- Mouna Elias Haraoui
- H.E. Gilbert Chagoury
- Rose-Marie Chagoury
- Said Tawfic El Khoury
Commencement Fever Ripples Through LAU
2012
- Sheikh Abdulaziz Ali Alturki
- Myrna Emile Bustani
- Samih Taleb Darwazah
- MP Nehmé Y. Tohmé
- Dr. Charles Elachi
- Rizk Iskandar Rizk
Mabrouk, LAU Byblos Class of 2012
Hats Off to LAU Beirut Graduating Students
Out of This World
2013
- May El Khalil
- Abdallah Wahbé Tamari
- Dr. Chafic Frem
- Dr. Leila Saad
2014
- Jacques Saade
- Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi
2015
- Dr. Ghassan Salameh
- Elie Saab
- Wajih Nahle
2016
- Fouad Makhzoumi
- Ahmad (Andy) Khawaja
- Nayla Moawad
LAU Byblos Applauds Its Class of 2016
New Beginnings
Ethics and Knowledge, Weapons of LAU’s Graduates
2017
- Naaman Azhari
- Marcel Ghanem
- Joseph Ghossoub
- Salim Sfeir
LAU Announces Its 2017 Commencement Honorary Degree Recipients
Byblos Commencement Speakers Underscore Human Values
LAU Beirut Class of 2017 Urged to “Breathe New Life” into Lebanon
Adnan Kassar School of Business Celebrates Class of 2017
2018
- Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
- Pierre Choueiri
- Farah Daghistani
Honorary Doctorages Given to Leading Figures in Professional Services, Media and Development
2019
- Raya Haffar El-Hassan
- Philip Stoltzfus
- Mohamed (Mike) Ahmar
LAU’s 2019 Honorary Doctorage Recipients Announced
2022
- Dr. William A. Zoghbi
- Abdel Rahman El Bacha
LAU Names Its Honorary Doctorate Recipients
2023
- Dr. Ogarit Younan
- Dr. Mona Nemer
- Antoine Frem
Honorary Doctorates 2023
2024
- HRH Princess Wijdan Bint Fawaz Al Hashemi
- Dr. Rabab Abdul-Kader Kreidieh Ward
- Manal Boukzam Saab
- Henri Zoghaib
Honorary Doctorates 2024