Dr. B. M. Salameh

To say a little about myself, I was born in Lebanon, and raised in a small village, Roumieh El-Matn, in the mountains facing the Mediterranean Sea.  From my home, the view was spectacular, because I could see the capital city of Beirut, as well as a long section of the coastline all the way to Byblos and beyond as you head North.  I went to one of the best schools in the world for 12 years, Brummana High School, a Quaker institution, and under the most unusual conditions, War.  I believe my school, my parents, and my aunt Yvonne were the factors that influenced me to continue in the field of Education; my mom was a school teacher, my dad was a Microbiologist, and my aunt, who also happened to be a university professor, was my sponsor here in the US.  I left my country of birth at age 16, to finish high school that year, and finish my educational career after 14 years at universities in Texas and California.  I have a B.S. in Biology from Baylor University in Waco, TX, a M.S. in Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Parasitology) from University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, and a Dr.P.H. in Disease Control from the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.  I have worked in the public sector at the Houston Health Department, and the private sector at an Environmental Consulting company.  I have also taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels at several Universities and Colleges.  It seems that I enjoy teaching the most.  I believe knowledge is like cow manure; to make it work, it must be spread around, to enrich the minds of those who are born ignorant, as we all are, but choose to seek knowledge.  My students often say I teach with a passion and a sense of humor (wicked, sometimes).  I agree, but there is always a difference between fun and funny.  Students should be able to enjoy the learning experience, instead of being bored to sleep in class.  I believe in giving my students the best of two worlds, knowledge and experience.  I hope they learn to be good human beings first, and then whatever they strive to be later.  I try to live by the words, Character and Persistence, and would like my students to do so as well.