In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. Leila Khoury
Throughout the past century, the efforts of dedicated faculty members helped shape LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences (SoAS) into the educational edifice it is today.
On November 26, 2024, SoAS lost one of its revered members, Dr. Leila Khoury, who passed away at the age of 94, having embodied LAU’s commitment to professional service with compassion, love and care.
Dr. Khoury was born and raised in the city of Ramallah in occupied Palestine, where most of her family still lives. Though she dedicated herself to her adopted country and its people, she remained deeply connected to her Palestinian origins and carried her heritage with pride and respect.
She obtained her PhD in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1966, after which she joined the Beirut College for Women (BCW)—as LAU was known back then—in 1969 as an associate professor of mathematics. She continued to serve the institution in multiple capacities, notably as chair of the former Natural Sciences Department during the challenging years of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) when, along with her courageous colleagues, she sustained the department and safeguarded the highest standards of academic integrity at personal risk.
Under Dr. Khoury’s leadership, the department expanded its faculty, attracted more students, and introduced new programs, such as the BS in Computer Science. She focused on advancing mathematics and science education at BCW, particularly in strengthening the math-computer program, ensuring rigorous student guidance, and expanding academic offerings, including plans for a master’s program and new science degrees.
Dr. Khoury recognized the shifting social dynamics that enabled more women to pursue higher education, “as they don’t need to be encouraged to take science; they are doing so on their own and by their own choice,” she said in an interview published in Al-Raida in 1983. She also emphasized equal opportunities for women in science and the need to improve laboratory resources in Lebanese schools.
With her dignified demeanor and ready smile, Dr. Khoury was a pillar of the Beirut campus for years. According to longtime friend, Dr. Samira Aghacy—former professor, chairperson of the Department of Humanities, and SoAS dean—Dr. Khoury was “conscientious, very sensitive, a perfectionist in her work, and totally devoted to her students and her friends.”
Associate Professor Samer Habre, who joined the department in 1992, has fond memories of Dr. Khoury as a chairperson, senior colleague, and mentor. “I recollect her special care to help me navigate through the challenges of life in Lebanon in general and a new educational environment in particular,” he said.
He recalled how Dr. Khoury pushed him and others to strive for academic excellence while fostering supportive relationships with the students. “It is through her eyes that I learned more about the college, and it is her unparalleled dedication that instilled in me a special connection to LAU,” he added.
Dr. Khoury’s teaching had a lasting impact on her students, particularly in challenging subjects. Senior Instructor at the Department of English and Creative Arts Paula Abboud reflected on the years under Dr. Khoury’s mentorship. “She taught me a course that was feared by many, but her passionate teaching, giving spirit and constant guidance [transformed] learning into an adventure,” she noted.
Mrs. Abboud highlighted that Dr. Khoury’s impact as an educator went beyond merely imparting knowledge to the point of becoming a source of inspiration. “Teaching us statistics was her mission,” she said, “but teaching us what counts in becoming genuine educators was her staunch specialty.”
Above and beyond her academic commitments, Dr. Khoury was a connoisseur of fine music and an avid supporter of the arts, frequently collaborating with her close friend, the late faculty member, director of theater, administrator, and chairperson of the Humanities Division Dr. Irene Faffler, along with the theater people at BCW in the various stages of play production. While much of her life revolved around the Beirut campus, Dr. Khoury was also an active member of the community and the church in her much-cherished Ras Beirut.
In a final tribute to Dr. Khoury, SoAS Professor and Assistant Dean Sami Baroudi recounted how, in late spring 2000, mere weeks after the liberation of South Lebanon, a group of LAU faculty and friends made a trip to the region. Dr. Khoury, known for her strength and composure, walked toward the separating fence near the border to gaze at the land of her forefathers for what may have been the last time. Dr. Baroudi recalled witnessing a deeply emotional moment: “Tears rushed from the eyes of this strong and highly composed woman.”
This moment, etched in his memory, highlights the profound connection Dr. Khoury had with her heritage. She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by her LAU family and friends.
Dr. Sami Baroudi, Professor of Political Science, Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Samer Habre, Associate Professor of Mathematics