Why support USJ? Quite simply because my father, my brother, and I are all alumni of USJ. I spent nearly 20 years there and earned nine degrees, it felt only natural to give back. USJ is also a francophone institution, and as someone deeply connected to French language and culture, I never considered supporting any other university.

As the Rector often says, USJ’s Jesuit identity is about educating both ‘how to be’ and ‘how to do.’ My experience there brought that philosophy to life. The education goes beyond academics, it shapes the moral, spiritual, and intellectual dimensions of a person. What truly sets USJ apart is the close, personal connection between students and professors.

USJ played a defining role in shaping who I am. It gave direction to my personality, helping me channel both my thinking and my emotions. When I first arrived, I had potential, but it lacked focus. Over the years, the University helped me grow into someone more grounded, more self-aware, and clear about where I was going. In many ways, it helped me understand what truly matters in life. USJ is part of who I am, I could never separate myself from it.

Lebanon is part of a region that has been a cradle of civilizations. If those who have the means and the values leave, this heritage risks being lost to those who may not fully understand its history or significance. That is why staying engaged matters.

To the students who benefit from these scholarships, I would say this: I was fortunate to have parents who gave me the opportunity to pursue my education. I hope you are given that same chance, to build yourselves, and one day help rebuild the country that shaped you.

I never had children, and supporting scholarship students gives a deeper sense of purpose to my life. In many ways, they are like children to me. I created two scholarship funds in honor of my parents, who gave me the opportunity to study and to grow into a strong, independent person. This is my way of giving back, and of supporting the next generation.

Philanthropy, to me, is about inner freedom. No matter the circumstances, when you are grounded and strong within, you can keep building and keep hoping. Education and culture are the only true tools we have to grow, both in mind and in spirit. Truth always finds its way to the surface, and I believe deeply in justice. As we say in Arabic, “blood is thicker than water.”

I lived in France for 25 years, and it became a second home. It taught me a great deal. But nothing compares to Lebanon. This is where I was born, where I grew up, it is part of me. No one can ever take that away.” 

It is education and culture that lead to freedom!