Dr. Elise Salem

Vice President for Student Development & Enrollment Management, Lebanese American University (LAU)

Dr. Salem is the senior female administrator at the Lebanese American University (LAU). She joined LAU in 2008 as the Vice President for Student Development & Enrollment Management and is a full professor, scholar in the field of Middle East literature, and advocate for gender equity in Lebanon.

As VP, she has transformed her division to ensure that students have the needed resources, services and opportunities to succeed.  She is responsible for Enrollment Management on two campuses, including Registrar, Student Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid. She has secured over $100 Million in USAID and MEPI grants for needy top students in Lebanon and across the MENA region. 

She is responsible for Deans of Students offices on two campuses, including Orientation, Advising, Peer Tutoring, Career and Placement, Health and Counseling, Student Activities, Elections, Athletics, Residence Halls, and Graduation. She also established two dynamic new units in the past few years: OCE (Outreach and Civic Engagement) with Model U.N., Model Arab League, Model European Union, Model African Union, Leadership and Volunteerism projects, with programming in LAU NY; and OIS (Office of International Services) with Study Abroad, International Exchange and Erasmus + initiatives, along with the SINARC Arabic for foreigners program.