French
FDSP, ISP, FSE, FGM, IGE, and ISSA 2026 Graduation Ceremony
Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) concluded its series of 2026 graduation ceremonies by celebrating the graduates of the Faculty of Law and Political Science (FDSP), the Institute of Political Science (ISP), the Faculty of Economics (FSE), the USJ Business School (FGM), the Institute of Business Administration (IGE), and the Higher Institute of Insurance Science (ISSA) on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at the Science and Technology Campus, in Mar Roukoz.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the guest of honor, Mrs. Lamia Moubayed Bissat, Director of the Institut des Finances Basil Fuleihan, a recognized specialist in development and public policy, whose career within the United Nations and the Lebanese public administration has been recognized with several international distinctions.
Opening the ceremony, Mrs. Christine Omeira Wazen, Director of the Publications and Communication Office (SPCOM), welcomed the graduates, their families, and their loved ones, recalling the special nature of this fifth and final graduation ceremony of the academic year. “This evening is yours,” she told the new graduates, before inviting everyone to fully savor this shared moment of pride.
In his speech, the Rector of USJ, Prof. François Boëdec, SJ, shared that he was experiencing this ceremony with particular emotion, as these were the first graduating classes to whom he was presenting diplomas since taking office last January. Addressing the students directly, he invited them never to forget their journey or those who had helped them through each stage of it.
Paying a heartfelt tribute to the students of the South Lebanon Campus – Rev. Fr. André Masse, SJ, in Saida, who continued their studies despite the war, he praised “their courage in persevering in their studies” and described them as a “source of pride” for the University. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the families, professors, and all USJ staff, recalling that the graduates’ success was the result of a collective effort.
Referring to the many crises that marked the academic years of this graduating class, the Rector stressed that this graduation ceremony represented “a collective victory” against obstacles, demonstrating the University community’s ability to stand firm despite hardships. Then, he urged the graduates to exercise their future responsibilities with integrity, discernment, and openness to dialogue, while rejecting “all forms of mediocrity.”
Addressing future lawyers and political scientists more specifically, he stressed their responsibility in defending the rule of law, recalling that “there can be no lasting peace without justice, no lasting peace that is not founded on the law.” Inviting the graduates to remain attached to Lebanon, whether they choose to build their future in the country or pursue their careers abroad, he asked them to constantly reflect on how they could serve their country. Finally, he called on them to remain faithful to their alma mater, join the alumni associations, and contribute to enhancing USJ’s standing, convinced that a graduate’s greatest achievement lies in “improving, even modestly, the lives of others.”
Taking the floor, Mrs. Bissat first invited the graduates to turn their attention to their parents and reflect on the sacrifices they had made to enable them to access higher education despite the successive crises Lebanon has endured. She considered that this ceremony celebrated their courage as much as the diplomas themselves.
Looking back on her own journey, she explained that even the most difficult circumstances never definitively determine a life and that integrity must always prevail over compromise. Drawing on her experience within the United Nations and public administration, she recalled that “nations are never saved by the brightest, nor by the richest, but by the bravest.”
In a speech deeply focused on public service, she encouraged the graduates to defend institutions, justice, competence, and merit, considering that sovereignty is not limited to State decisions but begins with the daily behavior of citizens. Inviting the new generation to show courage in facing the country’s challenges, she urged them to say “no” to corruption, identity-based divisions, illusions, resignation, and the use of artificial intelligence as a substitute for human judgment. Conversely, she called on them to say “yes” to the State, courage, citizenship, and Lebanon, inviting them to become, in the words of Pope Francis whom she quoted, “bridge builders” and “artisans of just peace.”
At the end of her speech, Prof. Boëdec presented Ms. Bissat with USJ’s 150th anniversary medal in recognition of her exemplary career in the service of the State, public governance, and education.
Taking the floor on behalf of the Federation of USJ Alumni Associations, Mayssam Younès Skaf, Esq. welcomed the new graduates into the alumni community. She recalled that this ceremony did not mark a separation but “a simple goodbye,” as the University would continue to accompany its graduates throughout their professional journeys. Inviting the young graduates to become ambassadors of their Faculty and University, she encouraged them to confidently face the challenges of a rapidly changing world, particularly under the influence of artificial intelligence. Citing the journeys of J.K. Rowling, Nelson Mandela, and Michael Jordan, she stressed that failures can become the starting point of the greatest successes and urged them to pursue their ambitions with integrity, determination, and perseverance.
The graduating class was then represented by three students from the USJ Business School, who shared complementary testimonies reflecting the diversity of their classmates’ journeys.
On behalf of the graduates, Mira Khoury looked back emotionally on her first years at USJ, recalling a campus that had once seemed enormous before becoming “a second family.” She recalled that despite the divisions and difficulties imposed by the war, the students had learned to engage in dialogue, respect their differences, and move forward together. Praising the dedication of professors and University staff, she stressed the resilience demonstrated by the entire graduating class in the face of exceptional circumstances. She also paid an emotional tribute to her parents, dedicating each of her achievements to them.
Representing FGM’s English-language section, Maya Baydoun highlighted USJ’s international outlook and the complementarity of languages, stressing that “excellence knows no language.” She recalled that the University’s numerous international accreditations and its excellent graduate employability were major assets for students. Reflecting on her own journey, she recounted how she found her first job through the Job Fair organized by USJ, before sharing that she had lost her home in the South of Lebanon during the war. “I lost my home in the South of Lebanon, but I built a new home at USJ,” she said emotionally, presenting the diploma as a symbol of resilience, the opportunities offered by the University, and the transformative power of education.
Finally, Batoul Darwish, from the South Lebanon Campus – Rev. Fr. André Masse, SJ, shared a particularly personal testimony about the hardships she faced during her studies. Looking back on a memorable episode when traffic difficulties prevented her from attending a ceremony, she recounted the support she received from the Dean, Mr. Fouad Zmokhol, who made a point of celebrating her achievement with her and her family. She also praised the continuity of the University’s mission, which “did not close for a single day, even during the war,” enabling students to continue their education despite bombings, displacement, and instability. Thanking the professors, University officials, staff, and families, she stated that the success of an entire graduating class was the result of a collective effort.
The ceremony continued with the class oath, taken by Karim el-Fil, top-ranking graduate of the Institute of Business Administration, before the most eagerly awaited moment of the evening: the official presentation of diplomas.
This fifth and final ceremony concluded USJ’s series of 2026 graduation ceremonies, reaffirming the University’s mission: to educate competent and responsible women and men, deeply committed to serving the common good.
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