College of Ag Sciences alumna’s legacy: Research and growing global impact

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Long before she led reforestation efforts in her native Lebanon, Maya Nehme was a graduate student in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, researching ways to combat invasive species threatening forests.

Even then, her vision extended beyond the lab — helping to inspire what would become the college’s international agriculture and development graduate dual-title degree program, known as INTAD. Nearly two decades after Nehme graduated with a doctorate in entomology in 2009, the INTAD program enrolls 30 to 40 students each year across 15 graduate programs, preparing future leaders to tackle global challenges.

Today, Nehme, of Jdeideh, Lebanon, serves as director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, a leading nongovernmental organization in Lebanon. In that role, she has been instrumental in developing national reforestation guidelines and shaping policy, bridging science and practice.

“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,” said Deanna Behring, assistant dean and director of Ag Sciences Global. “She continues to make an impact as a champion of the environment and reforestation.”

In recognition of her contributions — at Penn State and globally — she recently received two prestigious honors from the University: the Penn State Global Outstanding International Alumni Award and the Fox Graduate School Alumni Award for Outstanding Service.

“Being recognized by such a professional and outstanding group of people makes me proud and gives me a positive push forward, especially during the difficult period my country is going through,” Nehme said, referring to ongoing challenges in Lebanon. “It also reminds me that I have another family at Penn State that I’m very happy to reconnect with on many levels.”

While at Penn State, Nehme worked with Kelli Hoover, now a professor emerita of entomology, conducting research on the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive pest that kills maple and poplar trees. Nehme developed a trapping system for the insect, spending two summers in China — the pest’s native range — testing traps across different habitats.

“A pest cannot be managed without a useful monitoring system,” 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, including Italy, Germany, Britain, Austria and the U.S. Not only has Maya left a legacy at Penn State and around the world through her research contributions, but her work continues to support the management of this invasive species.”

Research was just one aspect of Nehme’s work at Penn State. As a complement to her entomology studies, Nehme said she wanted to broaden her worldview, so she enrolled in the dual-title program in comparative and international education through the College of Education.

“Aside from professional development and the deep research experience, the Penn State community taught me how to work in a team, how to share and support each other,” she said. “It also taught me the value of diversity: I learned so much about other cultures from the international student activities and the cultural events. My dual-title degree exposed me to the social science side, which was new to me, and has been very valuable in my current career.”

At the time, those experiences led Nehme to question why the college did not offer its own dual-title degree program focused on global agriculture, especially given agriculture’s significant international impact. Her suggestions reached Behring, who supported the proposal.

Together, they developed the international agriculture and development graduate program, tailored specifically for students in agriculture. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary coursework, cross-cultural competency and field-based experiences to prepare students to address challenges such as food security, sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Behring said that Nehme remains a trailblazer for the many students who have benefited from her vision. This past year, the INTAD students held a fundraiser for Nehme’s organization at their annual Global Gallery research presentation conference. The funds raised were used to support individuals whose farms were damaged by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

“Maya speaks at our events and continues to inspire us with her commitment, engagement and energy for what is right and what is needed to build strong and sustainable communities,” Behring said. “Maya represents the best of the best alumni Penn State has trained.”

Nehme’s impact extends beyond Penn State. As director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, she has helped develop national reforestation guidelines while advancing large-scale restoration efforts across the country. Lebanon’s forests are under pressure from a combination of environmental stressors and human factors.

Since her appointment in 2018, Nehme has been responsible for more than 120 projects totaling $50 million across 275 towns. Thanks to her efforts, more than 1.6 million trees have been planted.

She also has worked to engage women in the forestry sector, supported youth training and employment, and served as a consultant throughout the region, including in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Armenia and Morocco. She was recognized by the United Nations in 2022 on International Women’s Day for her work.

Nehme said her ability to make an impact would not have been possible without her mentors and experiences at Penn State, and she hopes to pay that forward by inspiring the next generation.

“Agriculture and natural resources are the foundation of life,” she said. “No matter how much technology advances, there remains a critical need to improve how we manage and sustain it. I encourage young people to pursue their dreams — but to do so responsibly. Our planet’s resources are finite, and we must find better ways to conserve and manage them for the future.”