Would you like to share your memories of Dr. Naim Atiyeh here? Email his daughter, Dr. Lyna Atiyeh at lynajma@gmail.com

George Saliba, Ph.D. (جورج صليبا)

Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Columbia University

Dr. Saliba talks about Dr. Naim Atiyeh from 6m 37s to 9m 04s.

Brigitte Khoury, Ph.D.

Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology at American University of Beirut
Director, Clinical Psychology Training Program
Director, Arab Regional Center for research and training in mental health
Vice President, Lebanese Order of Psychologists

“Dr. Naim Atiyeh was my first inspiration to delve more into clinical psychology, and think of it as a career of providing treatment and support to individuals suffering from mental health problems. Dr. Atiyeh’s classes were always challenging, pushing us out of our comfort zone, looking beyond our limited experience into a larger horizon of life. Though scary, I found out eventually that it was essential for me to grow professionally and personally. Dr. Atiyeh’s style was always gentle, respectful and ‘fatherly’ providing us with a safe zone of self-exploration and freedom of expression, which was often missing in the war context of 1990’s Beirut.

When I think of Dr. Atiyeh now, I have fond memories of long conversations, a few disagreements, which always ended with him offering chocolate as a sign of peace and hospitality. He was a Professor, a mentor, a colleague and a friend. I wish him a long life and much happiness surrounded by his family, and the past students with whom he is still in touch.”

Rouane Itani, M.Ed.

Masters audiovisual arts, writer, producer and media specialist

“Dr. Atiyeh was a faculty Professor in the AUB Education Department where he devised and taught various courses in educational psychology and childhood development. He encouraged debate in the classroom, challenged his students to think critically and work on innovative projects with impact in the Lebanese academic or mental health fields. One of the textbooks included chapters about gender identity, sexuality and other taboo topics. His lectures tackled them in a scientific way, including examples from his work as a therapist and his time in the United States. 

Dr. Atiyeh was also a graduate student’s advisor, and supervised a tutorial where he facilitated field trips to a psychiatric hospital in Lebanon for students to observe patients along with medical students. One of his important projects was standardizing IQ tests in Arabic. Dr. Atiyeh encouraged students, including many women, to pursue PhD programs in the United States, and receive specialized training and certifications to be well equipped for their future careers. His dream was that the Lebanon he loved would have highly-qualified professionals who would contribute to further advance the Lebanese education and psychology fields. He is proud of his many students who earned advanced degrees and reached prestigious positions, including his two children who are medical doctors in America. 

Thank you Dr. Atiyeh for all you gave Lebanon and the Lebanese.“

Ketty Sarouphim-McGill, Ph.D.

An Associate Professor at Lebanon American University

“I was Dr. Atiyeh’s student from 1987-1991 in the Master’s in Educational Psychology program at the American University of Beirut. The knowledge and insight that I received from Dr. Atiyeh during those years of study allowed me to pursue a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Arizona. And later, to join the faculty of the Lebanese American University.

I talk about Dr. Atiyeh in my courses all the time. I tell my students about his wisdom and groundbreaking work in the area of intelligence testing. The test that he designed in 1984 called Intellectual Development Measure was the only IQ test developed in Lebanon for preschoolers and validated on a sample of Lebanese participants. To this day, no other IQ test was developed and tested in Lebanon. This is significant because for IQ tests to yield valid and reliable scores, they need to be administered to the people in the countries of their  inception. In Lebanon, when psychologists measure the IQ of individuals, they use tests imported from the West, which yield at best a rough estimate of a true score. The work of Dr. Atiyeh will always be of great value as history will remember him as the first scholar who ever designed a valid measure for IQ tests in Lebanon.“

Imad E. Rubeiz, M.A.

Colloquium Director, Lecturer in Psychology and Theology, University of Balamand

“A witness to a majestic figure in Educational Psychology that marked the American University of Beirut, my name is Imad E. Rubeiz. I have an M.A. in Educational Psychology in School Guidance and Counseling. I’m the Colloquium Coordinator for Psychology students as well as Lecturer of Psychology and Theology at the University of Balamand, Lebanon.

Just thinking about Professor Dr. Naim Atiyeh brings back a smile and recollection of a very out-of-the-norm experience. I was at A.U.B. for 5 years completing my M.A. degree in Educational Psychology in 1990.

Professor Naim has marked me for life, and I am sure quite a good number of fellow students who passed under his tutorship would agree. I first knew Professor Naim during my M.A. program, taking Educational Psychology in Fall 1992. He was very attentive to students and dedicated to his field of study. He wanted us to search for answers to problems he would raise in class, and was always open for discussion. Even when our answers were incorrect, he would enthuse us to look further and deeper into the matter until we discover our own mistake and correct it. If we succeeded, he felt like he succeeded too.

I remember his empathy to our personal circumstances and needs, as when my mother passed during the semester. As students, should we pass through a personal difficulty, he was always ready to understand the matter and offer counseling, granting us an additional grace period if need be to complete given tasks.

I was thrilled when I learned that Professor Atiyeh would serve on my thesis committee. I remember coming to him for advice of which he never deprived me. When he sees talents in his students, he would never be reluctant to put the concerned student in contact with a clinical psychologist / counselor so that the student experiences observation and intervention psychotherapy. This was when it was not yet part of what recently became a prerequisite for clinical and educational psychologists to become eligible at the end of their M.A. program to sit for the colloquium exam to acquire their practicing license.

Dr. Atiyeh has a progressive mind that is very hard to find nowadays in many university professors. He’s a walking encyclopedia that truly puts himself to the benefit of all his students. Long live Professor Dr. Naim Atiyeh; what an honor to have been your student!“

Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Ph.D.

Professor of New Testament Studies
Dean, St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, University of Balamand
President, Association of Theological Institutes and Faculties in the Middle East

“Dr. Naim Atiyeh is one of the most exceptional scholars I have met. His international contributions to the fields of education, tests and measurements speak for themselves.

Dr. Atiyeh has received international accolades for his accomplishments. It is an honor for me to count him as a friend, as our long conversations are a source of wisdom and knowledge. One learns a lot from Professor Naim Atiyeh, from both his questions and his answers, his thoughts and inquiries.

Lebanon should indeed be proud of Dr. Naim Atiyeh’s achievements and contributions.“

Lina Ibrahim, MA

Licensed Educational Psychologist
President of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [E.M.D.R.] Lebanon Association, Board member of the Lebanese Order of Psychologists

“When you ask people who had an impact on their lives, people may mention a family member, relative, teacher, coach, or friend. The person who had a great impact on my life is Dr. Naim Atiyeh. He is my mentor, my friend, and my father figure.

I met him as my university Professor while I was specializing in Educational Psychology at the American University of Beirut. A calm-tough Professor, who expected his students to give more than their perceived capacity. He promoted autonomy, independence, critical thinking, sound problem-solving skills, and innovativeness. Underneath that calm-toughness, he had a soft heart that interacted empathetically with each one of his students. He is constantly encouraging his students to move forward and go beyond what they think are their limits.

He has a passion for psychoeducational assessments, especially mental development tests, and has developed several such assessment tools. This passion was ‘contagious,’ and I happened to catch it. We spent many years working together on these assessment tools, and I learned a lot from Dr. Atiyeh’s brilliant mind.

His knowledge, constant encouragement and guidance, and innovativeness had a huge impact on me as an educational psychologist and a person. Enormous respect for such a contributor to life and the field of psychology in Lebanon.”