As LAU celebrates the new graduates, who will be joining its 54,000-strong alumni network worldwide, two outstanding alumni have been honored for their achievements and contributions to their community.

Having reviewed the nominations for the annual awards, the Alumni Awards selection committee has bestowed the Alumni Achievement Award to entrepreneur and founder of Nada Ghazal Fine Jewelry, Nada Ghazal (BA ’92).

World-renowned jewelry designer Ghazal launched her bespoke jewelry brand Nada G. in 2004, rebranding it in 2019 to “Nada Ghazal Fine Jewelry” as it is now known. Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength while operating from Beirut where master craftsmen work alongside Ghazal.

Nada Ghazal Fine Jewelry has established its presence with jewelry retailers in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris. As recently as April 2024, Ghazal’s collections also found a home at Harrods in London. Her client list is studded with local and international celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nancy Ajram and Wael Kfoury.

Her creations, Ghazal said, stem from her memories and experiences. Behind every piece of jewelry is a story, an emotion, an expression, and an experience—in her words “jewels with a soul.” Some of her collections are even inspired by Lebanese heritage and architecture or dedicated to preserving Lebanese traditions.

Ghazal graduated from LAU with a BA in Advertising Design in 1992. She spent 10 years working with an advertising agency in Dubai, before returning to Lebanon and establishing her business.  She won the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at the Brilliant Lebanese Awards 2017 and was named one of Forbes Middle East’s Top Five Women Behind Middle Eastern Brands 2020.

“While it feels like a lifetime since I was at LAU,” Ghazal said, “the years spent there were instrumental in shaping the person I am today and are an integral part of my achievements.”

“I cherish the experiences and relationships forged during that time, and I am eager to contribute in any way I can to give back to my alma mater and its community,” she added.

Thanking LAU for the award, Ghazal expressed her hope to carry forward the support and guidance she received, “fostering a legacy of excellence and empowerment for future generations at LAU.”