Dr. Ramzi Rihan was a professor of physics at Birzeit University. He was the dean of the Faculty of Science and held a number of administrative positions, including vice president for planning and development, vice president for community affairs and advisor to the president.
He said, “In 1948, I studied the sixth grade at Birzeit School, and then my family left Palestine like many Palestinian families to escape the occupation, hoping to return in the near future.” Dr. Rihan added, “I returned to Birzeit in 1970, wherein only 200 students were enrolled in the first and second years. The students who wished to pursue their studies afterwards joined the American University of Beirut and other universities.”
Dr. Rihan did not realize that his chance meeting with Hanna Nasir in 1970 would lead to working at Birzeit for 45 years. During this time, he witnessed and contributed to the transformation of Birzeit College into a university. He also held senior academic and administrative positions out of his belief in the university’s mission and development. Dr. Rihan died in March 23, 2020.
