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Lafayette Mayor-President Presents Key to the City to Dean Ahmed Khattab and Names Him ‘Honorary Cajun’
Mon, 10/20/2025 - 3:57pm
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Mayor-President Monique Boulet presented Dean Ahmed Khattab with the Key to the City of Lafayette in recognition of his leadership, community engagement, and dedication to students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The presentation took place during the Alumni/Dean’s Networking Reception, “Khattabedeaux’s Roundup,” held during the 2025 Homecoming Week.
In addition to receiving the Key, Mayor-President Boulet honored Dean Khattab with a certificate officially recognizing him as an “Honorary Cajun,” a title reserved for those who embody the welcoming spirit, resilience, and joie de vivre of Acadiana.
As an Honorary Cajun, Dean Khattab is now formally charged to work hard (which he already does), play harder, welcome visitors with open arms (which he already does), and share the enduring Cajun spirit (which he already does), a spirit that lives in all Cajuns, whether by blood or by the “back door.”
During the ceremony, Mayor Boulet praised Dean Khattab for his unique blend of scholarship and real-world impact:
“Dean Khattab is a cut above – very academic but also very real world – that mix is where we find the magic,” she said. “We want the academics and the research and all the great things that happen on a university campus, but we need to apply them to our real-world problems. That is how we progress as a community. Thank you for being a part of our community and for loving the University, the College, and the students that come here. We appreciate your passion and your dedication.”
Reflecting on the recognition, Dean Khattab shared his gratitude and affection for the community he now calls home:
“Eighteen years ago, I moved to Lafayette to join the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I didn’t realize then that this would become more than a job, it would become a family,” he said. “UL opened the door to the heart of Cajun Country, to crawfish étouffée and so many other wonderful traditions. I feel I am from ‘Breaux Bridge,’ or so I have been told. And now I am Dean Khattabedeaux.”
The presentation underscored the strong connection between the College of Engineering and the Lafayette community, honoring Dean Khattab for his commitment to education, innovation, and enduring Cajun spirit.
