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The latest announcements, achievements and events from the Syrian American Academic Society.

Latest news

What's new at SAAS

Official statement from the Syrian American Academic Society (SAAS)

SAAS strongly rejects the recent remarks attributed to US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claiming that Arabs do not produce science or literature and have not won major international scientific awards.

Meet our members: Ms. Malak Al-Rifai

A Syrian academic and professional based in the United States, originally from Daraa, Syria, working in administration, judicial support and institutional process development.

New academic expertise in SAAS leadership: Dr. Anas Al-Fattal appointed Vice President

SAAS welcomes Dr. Anas Al-Fattal as Vice President, in recognition of more than 20 years of academic and administrative experience at educational institutions around the world and his contributions to higher education, research, marketing, entrepreneurship and AI.

2026 ACS Green Chemistry Challenge Award for Dr. Alaa El-Din Al-Subaie

Together with Professor William Dichtel, Dr. Al-Subaie received the 2026 ACS Green Chemistry Challenge Award for innovative, sustainable solutions for recycling polyurethane.

Ms. Ayah Saleh Bek Kanj joins the Board of Directors

SAAS welcomes Ms. Ayah Saleh Bek Kanj to its Board of Directors and announces her appointment as the association's public relations coordinator in Syria.

Dr. Ahmed Qatsha appointed Chairman of the Board

SAAS announces the appointment of Dr. Ahmed Qatsha as Chairman of the Board, drawing on more than twenty years of academic and research experience at leading universities and research centers in Japan and the United States.

Congratulations to Dr. Alaa El-Din Al-Subaie on his appointment as Associate Professor

SAAS congratulates Dr. Al-Subaie on his appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and wishes him continued success.

Dr. Muhammad Hassan Al-Mikdash promoted to Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine

Congratulations to Dr. Al-Mikdash on his promotion to Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, effective 1 June 2026.

New academic achievement for Dr. Anas Al-Fattal

SAAS congratulates Dr. Al-Fattal on receiving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

New Syrian academic pride: Dr. Reem Haykal shines at TSU

SAAS congratulates Dr. Reem Haykal, professor of law at Texas Southern University, on a series of distinguished academic achievements that reflect her scholarly excellence and strong presence in global educational institutions.

Meet our members: Dr. Sami Sbei

A biomedical researcher and postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, studying somatosensory disorders with a focus on chronic pain and chronic itch and the neural mechanisms and opioid receptors behind them.

Academic achievement: Dr. Dima Dira wins an NSF CAREER Award

SAAS congratulates member Dr. Dima Dira on receiving the prestigious 2026 NSF CAREER Award.

Second webinar in our monthly series

You are invited to a talk titled "Reshaping Education: Building Better Education Systems".

Meet our members: Mr. Moses Chbib

A cell and gene therapy specialist who combines precise lab expertise with highly compliant clinical manufacturing, helping develop and produce cell and gene therapies used in the clinic, especially in oncology.

New research paper by Dr. Alaa El-Din Al-Subaie

SAAS congratulates Dr. Al-Subaie on publishing his paper "Peptide-Functionalized Rosette Nanotubes: Programmable Supramolecular Assembly and Tunable Peptide Surface Organization".

Meet our members: Dr. Hasan Aljabbouli

A data science and AI researcher and Associate Professor at New York University, focusing his teaching and research on machine learning and real-world data analysis applications.

A new milestone for our academic community: 100 members

SAAS has reached 100 members: Syrian academics and researchers across North America.

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Recording: "AI Tools for Academics"

Thank you to everyone who attended and took part in the talk given by Dr. Hasan Aljabbouli, "AI Tools for Academics".

Lecture: using AI to support researchers and university faculty

In collaboration with the Universities of Aleppo and Damascus, an online training course on using AI effectively and professionally in teaching and scientific research.

Meet our members: Ms. Marcelle Shehwaro

SAAS welcomes Ms. Marcelle Shehwaro, a member of the association, activist and feminist writer.

New Syrian academic achievement: Dr. Layla Al-Husseini

Congratulations to Dr. Layla Al-Husseini on defending her PhD with distinction and honors, earning a doctorate in media and public relations, specializing in global and intercultural communication.

Ms. Rasha Al-Rifai joins the Board of Directors

SAAS welcomes Ms. Rasha Al-Rifai to the Board of Directors, where she takes charge of the coordination office.

Talk: "AI for Academics"

An academic session given by Dr. Hasan Aljabbouli, SAAS member and Associate Professor of Computer Science at New York University (NYU).

Webinar: rethinking research practice in the age of AI

You are invited to an online seminar titled "Rethinking Research in the Age of AI".

Scientific webinar series

SAAS is launching a monthly series of online seminars.

Congratulations to Dr. Noura Masri

Warm congratulations to Dr. Noura Masri on starting her new position as a postdoctoral researcher.

A Syrian scientific achievement recognized at the US national level

SAAS announces a Syrian scientific achievement recognized nationally in the United States in the evaluation of government healthcare programs.