Maya Nehme, a graduate of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was recognized on Apr. 17 for her contributions to reforestation efforts in Lebanon and her ongoing influence in agricultural research and education.
Nehme’s work is significant because it demonstrates how expertise developed at Penn State can have a global reach, preparing students to address environmental challenges worldwide. The college aims to advance agricultural research and education to enhance quality of life, according to the official website.
As director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, Nehme has played a key role in developing national guidelines and policies while leading projects that have planted more than 1.6 million trees across Lebanon since her appointment in 2018. She said her recognition by Penn State gives her “a positive push forward, especially during the difficult period my country is going through,” adding that reconnecting with the university community feels like having “another family at Penn State.”
Nehme’s legacy at Penn State includes helping inspire the international agriculture and development graduate dual-title degree program (INTAD), which now enrolls up to 40 students each year from various disciplines. Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global, said: “Thanks to Maya, Penn State has alumni around the world who are equipped not only with technical expertise but also with the ability to work on complex global issues with multiple partners and cultures.”
During her doctoral studies under Kelli Hoover, Nehme researched invasive species such as the Asian longhorned beetle. Hoover said: “Maya’s research and technology transfer activities provided an essential service for managers of this invasive species in many parts of the world… Not only has Maya left a legacy at Penn State and around the world through her research contributions, but her work continues to support management of this invasive species.”
The College contributes its expertise through facilities such as barns, laboratories and classrooms on its University Park campus; it operates as Penn State University’s land-grant college; extends its reach through Extension offices statewide; collaborates with industry partners; delivers services addressing social needs; and promotes equity and inclusion—all according to information from its official website.
Behring called Nehme “the best of the best alumni Penn State has trained.” Looking ahead, Nehme encouraged young people “to pursue their dreams — but to do so responsibly,” emphasizing stewardship over natural resources: “Our planet’s resources are finite, and we must find better ways to conserve and manage them for the future.”
