Fadi P. Deek

Portrait of an Expatriate: A Lebanese-American Story

“I was born in a land rich in culture, family, and tradition yet marked by strife and recurring conflict throughout its long history. During my youth, our country was engulfed in civil war and suffered under prolonged occupation. These were difficult and volatile times. There were days filled with uncertainty, years shadowed by instability. Yet even amid insecurities, our home was grounded in faith, love, and encouragement.”

So begins Fadi P. Deek’s remarkable memoir, Portrait of an Expatriate: A Lebanese-American Story. The author describes his childhood in Byblos, the modern-day city of Jbeil, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, skiing in the hills of Mount Lebanon, secure in the love of his father, mother, and four brothers. This world begins to unravel with the emergence of foreign armed groups on Lebanese soil, eventually leading to a devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990. Deek leaves his beloved home mid-way through the war to complete his higher education in the United States. Now, more than four decades later, he offers personal history, a reminiscence of the world he left behind, the life he created in America with his wife, Maura, and his career as a scholar and academic leader. He concludes with a heartfelt letter to his young grandchildren, offering them a message of hope for their own journeys.

Biography

Dr. Fadi P. Deek is Distinguished Professor of Informatics and Mathematical Sciences at New Jersey Institute of Technology. He received his BS and MS in Computer Science, and PhD in Computer and Information Science—all from NJIT. Dr. Deek has also served NJIT in a wide range of leadership roles, culminating in a decade as Provost and Senior Executive Vice President. Prior to this, he served as Dean for the College of Science and Liberal Arts, also for a decade. Dr. Deek is the author/co-author of six books, fourteen book chapters, and more than 200 scholarly publications in journals and conference proceedings. He is the editor/co-editor of five edited collections. In addition to his commitment to science and technology education and research, Dr. Deek is an activist for peace and prosperity in Lebanon and for all of its citizens.

Publication: Spring 2026