Draft:George E. Nasr

George E. Nasr is a Lebanese-American engineer and academic administrator who currently serves as the Provost of the Lebanese American University (LAU).

Early life and education

Nasr was born and raised in Lebanon. He joined the University of Kentucky at Lexington in 1981 where he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies, graduating with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in 1988, and then serving as Assistant Professor in his alma matter until 1991. He then joined Valdosta State University in Georgia for two years, before transferring to LAU in 1993.

Career

Upon joining LAU, Nasr led the establishment of the School of Engineering and Architecture in 1995, as a result of the efforts of a committee that he assembled from the university. He was named Chair of the newly formed Department of Electrical, Computer and Industrial Engineering in the same year. He served in that capacity until October 2005, when he became the school's Acting Dean. Nasr was named Dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture in October 2006. The school later changed its name to the School of Engineering (SOE) in 2009.

Nasr successfully advanced the institution in academics, administration, strategy, evaluation, and accreditation throughout his time as dean. He led the charge to secure the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET) initial accreditation of the school's undergraduate programs in 2011 and its subsequent renewal in 2017. He oversaw the first and second thorough strategic planning procedures at the school, which enabled the SOE to fulfill the highest academic requirements and significantly improve its standing in the academic community. Additionally, he has played a significant role in LAU's general institutional growth, particularly in relation to its NEASC accreditation and academic ranking .

Numerous articles written by Nasr have appeared in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed international journals . Neural networks, energy modeling and forecasting, mathematical modeling and optimization, and engineering education are among his areas of interest. He played a key role in the establishment of LAU's multidisciplinary energy research group, which has led the way in energy modeling and forecasting studies in Lebanon. Active engagement in the technical and organizing committees of numerous international conferences and professional meetings is another aspect of his scholarly commitment.

As a member of the Council of Higher Education of Lebanon and an ABET Program Evaluator, Nasr remains highly involved in professional education circles. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Eta Kappa Nu, Sigma Pi Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, and the Order of Engineers in Lebanon . He also served a three-year term as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC, 2013-2016).