For the second consecutive year, the Dalia and Ramzi Rishani Charitable Fund reaffirmed its commitment to empowering students at the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). The renewal was formalized on Friday, May 23, 2025, during a signing ceremony at the Rectorate, with USJ represented by Rector Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, and the fund represented by Ms. Dalia Salaam Rishani.
The ceremony brought together key figures in USJ’s leadership, including Prof. Carla Edde, Vice-Rector for International Relations, and Mr. Danny Maalouly, Director of Fundraising at Fondation USJ, alongside Youssef Rishani, son of Ms. Rishani, and the three students currently benefiting from the fund.
Prof. Daccache underscored the critical role of philanthropy in sustaining education amid Lebanon’s ongoing challenges. “We have responsibilities toward our students, our faculty, and our staff. The challenges we face are numerous, yet our priority is clear: to support as many students as possible,” he said. He also highlighted USJ’s ambitions, including plans to create residences for students from regions distant from the capital—projects whose success depends on continued community support.
Despite the country’s persistent crises, Prof. Daccache expressed confidence in the University’s mission: “The quality of education and teaching at USJ remains exceptional. Even international accreditation bodies, such as ACQUIN, have recognized the strength and resilience of our community.” He also addressed Lebanon’s youth exodus: “Enrollment has declined by 30%, yet USJ has maintained tuition rates and avoided layoffs—a testament to our commitment to our students.”
Ms. Dalia Rishani praised USJ’s dedication to equal opportunity: “I am deeply moved by the absence of any form of discrimination. All students are treated fairly, regardless of their faith.”
A distinguished Lebanese editor and advocate for educational, social, and political reform, Ms. Rishani holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford and a master’s from Georgetown University. She founded Hood Hood Books, a London-based publishing house promoting interfaith dialogue, and serves on the board of the Al-Makassed Islamic Philanthropic Association, as Vice-President of the Center for Lebanese Studies, and as a global advisor for Stanford University’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.
Her husband, Mr. Ramzi Rishani, a British-Lebanese financier, holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is co-CEO of Longview Partners LLP, a London-based asset management firm he founded in 2001. He has also served on the boards of Inspired Education Holdings Limited and the MIT Foundation (UK) Limited.
Following the ceremony, Ms. Rishani toured USJ’s iconic campuses, including the Campus of Medical Sciences (CSM), the Charles Corm Foundation, and the MIM Museum. The visit highlighted the tangible impact of initiatives like the Rishani Fund, which enable USJ to continue nurturing talent and supporting students in realizing their ambitions.