Joseph Aoun

Joseph Aoun Overview

Joseph Aoun, a Lebanese-born American linguist and esteemed academic administrator, currently holds the position of the 7th president at Northeastern University in Boston since his inauguration in August 2006. Prior to his tenure at Northeastern, Aoun served as the dean of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC). He joined USC in 1982 as a Linguistics Professor and subsequently ascended to roles of leadership, including the head of the academic Senate. Aoun's profound influence in the realm of linguistics is marked by his significant contributions to theoretical syntax, particularly in the domains of logical form and wh-movement. Aoun's academic journey began with a Masters in Oriental Languages and Literature from the Université Saint-Joseph in Beirut in 1975, followed by a Diploma of Advanced Studies in General and Theoretical Linguistics from the University of Paris VIII in 1977. His academic pursuits culminated in a PhD in Lin