Beirut:The American University of Beirut (AUB) has announced the establishment of the Rula and Fuad Tamer Chair in Engineering Artificial Intelligence (AI), funded by a $2.5 million donation from alumnus Dr. Fuad "Ford" Tamer. This chair aims to enhance education through innovative teaching, curriculum development, and mentorship, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across various fields and positioning AUB as a leader in engineering AI.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, Dr. Tamer's contribution was announced during his keynote address at the AUB North American Technology Conference in Palo Alto, California, in March 2026. Dr. Tamer, who has a long career in semiconductors and software, currently serves as the CEO of Lattice Semiconductor and holds a strong academic background with degrees from MIT and AUB.
The new chair will hold appointments at AUB's Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and the new School of Computing and Data Sciences. This initiative is part of AUB's broader mission to advance in the field of artificial intelligence and provide significant educational opportunities for its students. Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, expressed confidence in attracting top talent to fill the chair and enhance the university's impact in AI education and research.
Dr. Tamer and his wife, Rula Tamer, both have deep connections with AUB, and their support has previously benefited numerous initiatives at the university. The couple emphasizes the importance of giving back to education in Lebanon and sees AUB as a beacon of academic excellence in the region.
