The American University of Beirut (AUB) Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the renaming of its prestigious Teaching Excellence Award, first established by the Office of the Provost in 2002. This accolade will now be known as the Saouma Boujaoude Teaching Excellence Award, in recognition of Professor Boujaoude’s exceptional contributions to science education and his unwavering dedication to promoting scientific literacy at AUB, throughout Lebanon, and across the globe. Dr. Saouma Boujaoude, a distinguished educator and celebrated TAKREEM laureate and board member, is widely regarded as one of the region’s foremost leaders in science education. His impressive career includes receiving the Kuwait Prize in 2017, and being the first from the Arab world to receive the North America Research in Science Teaching’s highest honor. In 2020, he was bestowed the NARST Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award, where he was hailed as the “nucleus of science education [in] the Arab region” and recognized for building essential bridges between the region and the international community. As a renowned researcher, Dr. Boujaoude has been named among the top 2% of most cited scholars in his field, with his work significantly shaping educational practices and policies worldwide. His advocacy for inquiry-based and authentic learning experiences has played a pivotal role in reforming science curricula in Lebanon and beyond. Dr. Boujaoude’s connection to AUB spans over 35 years, where he currently holds the Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst professorship in the Department of Education and serves as senior advisor to the university president. His roles in leadership have been vast, including interim dean and associate dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, chair of the Department of Education, and director of both the Science and Math Education Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning. The renaming of this award stands as a testament to his legacy of academic excellence, mentorship, and leadership in the educational sphere. It also reflects his commitment to the values embodied by TAKREEM—excellence, dedication, and the pursuit of knowledge that transcends borders and inspires generations. TAKREEM is proud to celebrate the achievements of one of its esteemed laureates and board members, Dr. Saouma Boujaoude, whose lifelong dedication to education continues to uplift and empower communities in the Arab world and beyond.

For the full article: https://aub.edu.lb/articles/Pages/Saoum-Boujaoude-Teaching-Excellence-Award.aspx