Helping out during a time of great need
April 14, 2022
Fawwaz Ulaby (BS ’64) is a bit envious of the students studying engineering at AUB today. “What Dean Alan Shihadeh and his colleagues are doing represents the future of engineering – a future of invention, creativity, and discovery. It’s the type of engineering program that I would have loved to have been a part of when I was a student.”
The Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ulaby has been a generous supporter and has stayed in close touch with AUB over the years. President Khuri recently asked him to chair a team of experts that conducted an external evaluation of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA). “During many meetings with students, faculty, and staff, you could sense the terrible economic pressures everyone was dealing with,” he says. Knowing this, Ulaby was even more impressed with the “enormous energy, hope, and strength – and commitment” there is at MSFEA – and at AUB – today. “It was uplifting to hear all this positivity, to feel people coming together to overcome challenges. It made you want to do what you can to help.” That’s what Ulaby has done, establishing a fund to support educational, research, and other activities at MSFEA. “I hope to be able to do more,” he says.
“It is extremely gratifying to receive such praise from Dr. Ulaby, an extraordinary man and legendary innovator. And I can’t disagree with him – the work that the faculty is doing to bring forward a better future through technology, design, and open learning is indeed inspiring,” said Shihadeh. “The time Dr. Ulaby dedicated to the task he took on was already an extremely generous contribution, which makes us all even more appreciative of this donation.” Ulaby hopes that other AUB alumni will join him in supporting their alma mater. “AUB is a jewel of the entire Middle East. We owe it to the university to support it not just now, but in all circumstances,” he says, “because the benefit it provides to Lebanon and the region is so beautifully large.”
“I think nearly every alumnus and friend of AUB would agree with Dr. Fawwaz that this institution is like no other, and punches well above its weight in impact. I invite others to take up the challenge and support the work we are doing – and will continue to do,” says Shihadeh.