Safa Jafari Safa, Office of Communications, communications@aub.edu.lb
The community of the American University of Beirut mourns the passing of Dr. Adib Saad, former dean of the
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) and professor of plant pathology at the Department of Agriculture.
Described by the university president, Dr. Fadlo Khuri, as “a long and faithful faculty member and leader at the American University of Beirut," Dr. Saad was known for his dedication to service in education and the mission of the university.
Upon receiving his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin in 1964, Dr. Saad joined FAFS as an assistant professor of plant pathology in 1965 and was promoted to associate professor in 1971 and to full professor in 1979. In 1990, he was appointed FAFS dean and he continued to head the faculty until 1994. He was also chairperson of the faculty's Plant Sciences Department from 2001-2007.
He served on numerous professional societies such as the American Phytopathological Society; the Arab Society for Plant Protection (ASPP), the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the International Society of Plant Pathology (ISPP), and the Union of Arab Biologists.
Dr. Adib Saad is survived by his son Rani and his two daughters Dalia and Layal. He will be remembered, with great admiration and respect, by his friends, colleagues, and students.