Governance and Administration

Office of the President

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
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
Commencement 2008: Excelling Students at the Forefront

2009

  • Riad Salameh
  • Dr. Bassam Z. Shakhashiri
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
Congratulations, LAU Byblos
Celebrating LAU Beirut’s Class of 2013

2014

  • Jacques Saade
  • Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi
From the archives:
Class of 2014, We’re Proud of You
An Unfolding Dream: Alf Mabrouk!

2015

  • Dr. Ghassan Salameh
  • Elie Saab
  • Wajih Nahle
From the archives:
A New Beginning: Hats Off to the Class of 2015!
Mabrouk Beirut Class of 2015!

2016

  • Fouad Makhzoumi
  • Ahmad (Andy) Khawaja
  • Nayla Moawad
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
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
From the archives:
Honorary Doctorages Given to Leading Figures in Professional Services, Media and Development

2019

  • Raya Haffar El-Hassan
  • Philip Stoltzfus
  • Mohamed (Mike) Ahmar
From the archives:
LAU’s 2019 Honorary Doctorage Recipients Announced

2022

  • Dr. William A. Zoghbi
  • Abdel Rahman El Bacha
From the archives:
LAU Names Its Honorary Doctorate Recipients

2023

  • Dr. Ogarit Younan
  • Dr. Mona Nemer
  • Antoine Frem
From the archives:
Honorary Doctorates 2023

2024

  • HRH Princess Wijdan Bint Fawaz Al Hashemi
  • Dr. Rabab Abdul-Kader Kreidieh Ward
  • Manal Boukzam Saab
  • Henri Zoghaib
From the archives:
Honorary Doctorates 2024