Dr. Diane Nauffal is an associate professor of education in the Department of Social and Education Sciences at LAU, holding a PhD in Education from the University of Birmingham, UK. Her educational background includes a BS in Mathematics and an MA in Mathematics Education from the American University of Beirut (AUB). This dual foundation in education and mathematics is crucial to her role as Assistant to the President for Institutional Research and Assessment at LAU, allowing her to drive critical decision-support research that informs strategic planning, policy formulation and institutional effectiveness.

Dr. Nauffal has shaped educational policy and governance through various roles. As a member of the Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) team in Lebanon, she influences policy at both national and institutional levels. Her contributions include serving on the Higher Education Policy Committee, the Quality Assurance Committee of the University Association of Universities (UAOLB), and the National Taskforce for University Governance. Her involvement in the 2023 review of Lebanon’s five-year Higher Education Strategic Plan, along with drafting legislation for a Lebanese quality assurance agency in 2010, underscores her impact on university governance.

Research Interests

Her research encompasses educational leadership, management, and policy, with a particular focus on higher education systems. Her scholarly work addresses various topics, including organizational dynamics, strategic development, economic impact and drivers of student development.

SDGs Research Mapping

Dr. Diane Issa Nauffal conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

Professional Memberships

Dr. Diane Nauffal is a dedicated advocate for higher education reform, with active involvement in several professional organizations. She is an active member of the Lebanese Association for Educational Studies (LAES), having served as president from 2012 to 2014. Internationally, Dr. Nauffal is recognized for her expertise in institutional research, having served as president of the Middle East and North Africa Association for Institutional Research (MENA-AIR) from 2015 to 2020. She has also been a member of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) in the USA since 2007.

Selected Publications

1. Sanchez-Ruiz, M. J., Khalaf, T., Tadros, N., Nauffal, D., Nader, J., Diab, R., and Akle, B. (2024). Trait Emotional Intelligence, Positive Affect and Self-Care as Predictors of Academic Engagement and Performance in Lebanese Undergraduates: Lessons Learned from an Online Setting. International Journal of Psychology https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.13215
2. Nauffal, D., Nader, J. (2022). Organizational cultures of higher education institutions operating amid turbulence and an unstable environment: the Lebanese case. Higher Education. 84, 343-371. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lau.edu.lb:2443/10.1007/s10734-021-00771-y
3. Nauffal, D. I. (2019). Measuring the economic impact of universities operating in unstable environments: The case of a private institution in Lebanon. Higher Education Quarterly. 
4. Nauffal, D. and Skulte-Ouaiss, J. (2018). Quality Higher Education Drives Employability in the Middle East, Education and Training, 60(9), 1057-1069.
5. Nauffal, D.I. (2015), Institutional research and planning in the Middle East. In K. L. Webber and A.J. Calderon (Eds.), Institutional research and planning in higher education: Global context and themes. Abingdon: Routledge.
6. Nauffal, D. (2012). Assessment of Student Engagement: An Analysis of Trends, Tertiary Education and Management, 18(2), 1-21.
7. Nauffal, D. and Nasser, R. (2012). Strategic Planning at Two Levels, Planning for Higher Education, 40(4), 32-39.

Academic Degrees

• PhD in Educational Management and Policy, 2005, University of Birmingham, UK.
• MA in Mathematics Education, 1985, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
• BS in Mathematics, 1981, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
• TD, 1981, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.