Najib Saab, Secretary General of Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) and Publisher of Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia magazine was voted by the Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut (WAAAUB) as the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2014. The award was presented by AUB President Peter Dorman and WAAAUB President Nabil Dajani, during the annual global convention of AUB Alumni held in Beirut between 20-22 June, “in recognition of exceptional service to AUB and its alumni and remarkable contributions to his profession.”

 

The award citation described Najib Saab as “Founder and Secretary General, Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) and editor of its annual reports on the state of Arab environment; Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Al-Bia Wal- Tanmia (Environment & Development) which produced environmental education programs and sponsored hundreds of school environment clubs; recipient, UNEP’s Global 500 Award in 2003 and Zayed International Prize for the Environment in 2011; columnist and author of numerous books; established architect who also lectured at the AUB’s Department of Architecture and Design.”

 

Najib Saab graduated in Architecture from the American University of Beirut in 1977-78, where he also studied mass communications and political science. At AUB, he published a monthly magazine (Wujhat Nazar- Point of View) and founded an independent student movement which executed development projects at the grassroots level.