Beirut and Beyond – MIT Alumni Toast IAP (and One Another)

While Toast to IAP unites MIT alumni worldwide each year, the recent January 22 event had special meaning in Lebanon. Two local alumni leaders, who were unable to collect their Alumni Association awards last fall because of personal and political events, finally had them in hand.

Neither Manal Moussallem MEng '99 nor Diana A. Zreik SM '91, PhD '95 could attend September’s Alumni Leadership Conference, where annual awards are normally bestowed. A second try by local volunteer Nicolas Chammas SM '87, a local business executive and longtime Association leader, was foiled in December by political disruptions in Beirut. But when MIT alumni recently gathered in a downtown Beirut café, the deed was done.

“Despite the dangerous security situation, a dozen or so alums showed up to share the moment with Manal and Diane, who were very grateful to be recognized by the AA,” says Chammas.

• Moussallem received the Harold E. Lobdell '17 Distinguished Service Award. An active member of the MIT Club of Lebanon since 1999, she has served as treasurer and vice president and is currently the club’s president. Moussallem has initiated and organized many new events, including the country’s first Admitted Students event, the annual Summer Send-Off, the Toast to IAP gathering, and the MIT College Admissions Arab Mentorship Program.
• Zreik received the George B. Morgan ’20 Award, honoring educational councilors. For more than eight years, she has been vice chair for the Levant sub-region of the Middle East, a role that presents unique challenges and requires her to work around sensitive political and cultural issues. In addition to managing the interview load for other ECs, Zreik helps admitted students after the interview process and provides them with matriculation advice.

What does it mean for MIT alumni to gather in a place like Beirut? Mousallem says it’s “an opportunity to reunite and to remember the very unique MIT days.” According to Zreik, "What unites us is the fact that we have all 'survived' MIT! Plus the feeling of belonging to an exclusive club, a special place which is very far from the mainstream and not catering to the rich and powerful but for the smart and hardworking regardless of their background."

To Chammas, “any MIT event brings back good memories and reminds us how cool those days at the Institute were. More so with the Toast to IAP which in addition revives the spirit of 'coopetition' among dear friends and colleagues.”

Worldwide, Toast to IAP brought together more than 1,200 alumni at 67 events in communities from Alabama to Wisconsin, Canada to Venezuela. The MIT Clubs of Rhode Island, Spain, and Morocco, and alumni in Indianapolis held their first Toast to IAP events this year.