The new academic year brought several appointments, elections, and re-elections of deans and directors. We will present here, one by one, the career paths of the newly elected deans and directors, mapping out their professional backgrounds, outlining the challenges they are facing, and presenting projects for their term.

Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) is delighted to announce that Mr. Fouad Zmokhol has been elected Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Management (FGM), effective September 1st, 2020.

Fouad Zmokhol is the President of the Association of Lebanese Business People in the World (RDCL World) and a professor at FGM - USJ. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from LAU and a PhD in Business Administration from Newport University (USA).

Speaker and member of numerous boards of directors, Fouad Zmokhol knows the Lebanese market by heart.

In these difficult times, during which Lebanon is facing economic, social, financial, monetary and political crises, on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges are many.

Zmokhol believes that a crisis is both “Danger and Opportunity” (according to the Chinese translation of the word “crisis”). He explains how he plans to face this crisis and launch his projects:

- follow in priority the 3 Ls method: Listen, Learn and Lead;

- apply the 3 Cs: Communication, Connections and Creativity;

- follow the 3 Ds strategy: Development, Diversification and Delegation.

His main priorities as Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Management are:

- to succeed in the new unusual and online academic year while inviting international speakers;

- to obtain the international accreditation of AACSB;

- to revamp the curricula and introduce more soft skills, practical courses, entrepreneurship courses, focusing on innovation and creativity and having professional speakers in all courses as well as hands-on projects with companies;

- to prioritize building consistent and transparent communication with students;

- to build partnerships with international universities, international organizations, embassies, private and public companies;

- to organize regular conferences, webinars, discussions with students and professors.

Zmokhol added: “It’s always been said that universities need to partner with companies. Instead, we’ve become more creative and innovative. This time, companies are partnering with universities to help students better understand the challenges of the economic world, to help them better prepare themselves and to establish their role in an increasingly uncertain, harsh and difficult environment.”