Building Bridges: Lincoln University's Multidisciplinary Research Center

An Interview with the Dean of Students, Mohamed Tailab, DBA

In a milestone moment for Lincoln University, the Dean of Students Office has successfully organized its first Multidisciplinary Research Center (MRC) Conference, bringing together distinguished scholars from UC Berkeley, San José State University, and beyond.

The conference reflects a bold commitment to academic accessibility, offering our community an enriching research experience comparable to high-cost conferences, at no barrier to our students.

As Academic Success Center Coordinator and Lincoln Chronicle Editor, I sat down with Dr. Mohamed Tailab, Dean of Students & Director of the Multidisciplinary Research Center, to discuss the vision, journey, and what this event means for the future of Lincoln University.

1. Thanks for joining us for an interview, Dr. Tailab. Every great initiative starts with a moment of inspiration, what was yours? Was there a specific experience or observation at Lincoln University that made you say, "We need to make this happen"?

Thank you for having me as the Founder of the first-ever Financial Sustainability Conference 2026. I have been a very active participant in conferences even before coming to Lincoln University (LU). After joining LU as a student, I attended several conferences, and later, as a faculty member, I was invited to moderate sessions at a number of them.

It has always been my vision to bring similar academic activities to LU in order to create a more engaging academic environment and break the routine that LU students experience every day.

2. Access to high-quality academic experiences is often a privilege reserved for well-known institutions. How did you personally ensure that Lincoln University students would not be left behind, and what creative solutions did your team put in place to make this conference truly free and open to all?

I describe myself as the son of academia. Therefore, I have a deep understanding of what we offer to our students, their qualifications, and what they aspire to have at LU. Lincoln University students are highly qualified, talented, and capable individuals. The results of the recent survey I conducted regarding LU alumni employment, which is available on the alumni webpage, support what I am saying.

I selected my team based on my life philosophy: “People can either do their job as a basic responsibility or perform it with excellence.” I chose team members who genuinely love what they do. Together, we brought dedication, motivation, and excitement to ensure the event was successfully executed.

3. Landing speakers from UC Berkeley and San José State University is no small feat for any institution. Can you take us behind the scenes? How did those conversations begin, and what was your pitch to bring these distinguished scholars to our campus?

Before answering your question, let me draw your attention to something that I believe is the key to the success of any institution. As you know, every institution has its own mission; however, not everyone, especially front-line employees, is able to translate that mission statement into practical action.

What I did was actually very simple: I transformed LU’s mission statement into a practical approach for inviting speakers. I reached out to them based on our main goal of creating an accessible platform aligned with our mission of providing affordable education to students from low-income backgrounds. We wanted to ensure that our students have access to the same opportunities as their peers from more affluent institutions.

Again, as I describe myself as the “son of academia,” I had no doubt that my invitations would be accepted because speakers, regardless of the prestige of their institutions, are ambassadors of education who genuinely value sharing their knowledge with those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to reach them.

4. In your view, what is the single most important thing a Lincoln University student can gain from being in a room where multiple fields of knowledge converge?

It is enough for them to feel that they are part of a real academic institution. Once students experience this sense of belonging and academic engagement, all other academic achievements can follow later.

5. Organizing a conference of this scale is rarely a smooth journey. What was the moment that tested you the most, and what did it teach you about leadership and perseverance?

When I decided to cancel the hotel reservation and host this conference at Lincoln University, I learned that it is possible to achieve significant results with limited resources and a small team.

6. If you could hand every student who walks through those conference doors one piece of advice on how to make the absolute most of this experience, what would it be?

First of all, those who walk through the conference doors already know what they want from their attendance. My main advice is to stay connected with everyone, because you never know where a relationship may lead you. Some of the speakers I met personally at other conferences.

7. This conference places Lincoln University in conversation with some of the most respected research institutions in California. Where do you see these relationships going and what role do you envision Lincoln playing in the broader academic landscape five years from now?

I strongly believe in the qualifications of LU students, as I mentioned earlier. The main challenge facing LU is a lack of effective marketing. If we are able to better promote Lincoln University, it can play a significant role in the broader academic landscape. This is what I am currently working on by developing a new platform to bring LU alumni together in one space, strengthen engagement, and enhance the university’s visibility and impact.

8. Do you see this becoming a defining annual tradition for Lincoln University, and if so, what would your dream version of this event look like in its third or fifth year?

Yes, this will be an annual event, and it will be continuously adjusted based on attendee feedback, including the feedback I have already received from the first conference.

I do not simply dream; I build practical tools that help achieve my future goals and adjust them regularly to stay aligned with my long-term vision. Our goal is to establish this conference as a global platform under the name of Lincoln University, expanding its reach and impact beyond its current scope.

9. For a first-generation student, or someone who has never attended a research conference before, walking into a room full of PhDs and academics can feel overwhelming. What would you say to that student to help them find their voice and their place in these conversations?

At this conference, I intentionally invited LU alumni to speak to current students. My message to them was simple but meaningful: everyone who is speaking to you today once sat in the same chairs you are sitting in now. Their academic journey started from the same place, which shows that what you are experiencing today can also be the beginning of your own path forward.

10. Dr. Tailab, beyond the logistics, the speakers, and the program at its heart, what does this conference mean to you personally, and what do you hope the Lincoln University community remembers about this moment years from now?

I will express the meaning of this event for me by using an Arabic proverb: “The impossible is a rock that explodes in the face of determination and will.” 

If this event becomes a global platform, I hope the LU community remembers that it all started one day in a small room: Room 304 at LU.