P&S Alumnus Named President of the American University of Beirut

In September, Fadlo R. Khuri’89, an internationally recognized molecular oncologist, was named the 16th president of the American University of Beirut. He will continue to hold an appointment as professor of hematology and medical oncology at Emory University, where he served as the Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research, chair of hematology and medical oncology, deputy director of the Winship Cancer Institute, and executive associate dean of research before taking the position in Lebanon.

Born in Boston, Dr. Khuri was brought up in Beirut, where he attended AUB before returning to the United States and earning his BA degree from Yale University. He was previously a member of the faculty at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. His research has focused on the development of molecular, prognostic, therapeutic, and chemopreventive approaches to improve the standard of care for patients with lung and aerodigestive cancers.

Based on the American liberal arts model of higher education, the American University of Beirut was founded in 1866. Other distinguished P&S alumni have held prominent leadership positions, including the late Calvin H. Plimpton’51 MSD, who served as the 10th president, and Thomas Q. Morris’58, a longtime member and currently chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees. Another prominent Columbian, Frederic Herter, MD, the Auchincloss Professor Emeritus of Surgery, served as a member and chair of the Board of Trustees at AUB before serving as president of the university from 1987 to 1993.

(Dr. Herter died in November 2015; the next issue of the magazine will include his obituary.