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Dr. Sarsar Awarded for Global Initiatives Contribution

Dr. Saliba Sarsar, political science professor and associate vice president for global initiatives at the University, received the award for academic excellence at the 10th Anniversary Gala for the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) on Tuesday, Oct. 29.

The annual Gala is held in order to honor the accomplishments of distinguished Palestinian Americans. Sarsar was one of three honorees being recognized for their achievements.

“We, your family, friends, and our community are proud of your personal accomplishments, your spirit of public service, your pride of your heritage, and your commitment to our great country,” said Dr. Ziad Asali, ATFP President, as he congratulated Sarsar. “You are a role model of success and accomplishment that our youth can learn from and emulate.”

The keynote address was given by Dr. Philip Gordon, special assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region.

There were various performances from musicians, singers and comedians throughout the night to ensure a lively atmosphere for guests to enjoy.

On Wednesday, following the Gala, Sarsar attended a National Security Council briefing with a small group of ATFP leaders. The meeting was held in the White House to discuss the current situation in the Middle East.

The American Task Force on Palestine was founded in 2003. The organization’s mission is to raise awareness to the fact that peace between Israel and Palestine is in America’s national interest.

Due in part to the task force, it is now a consensus in Washington that the commitment to developing a solution to the two-state conflict is imperative.

ATFP continues to play a role in American foreign policy by urging the community to continue its efforts in ensuring that a peaceful solution becomes a reality in the near future.

In addition to the historic accomplishments made by ATFP, the organization has continued to recognize and honor the contributions of distinguished Palestinian Americans like Sarsar at the annual Gala for the past seven years.

Past awards presented to Sarsar include the Stafford Presidential Award of Excellence in 2006 and the Global Visionary Award in 2007, both from the University.

He also received the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice in 2001 for his activism in Arab-Jewish dialogue and peace building.

Sarsar has authored several articles and commentaries on the Middle East as well as two books of poetry titled Crosswinds and Seven Gates of Jerusalem.

In 2003, he was featured in a New York Times article, “His Mission: Finding Why People Fight – A Witness to Mideast Conflict Turns to Dialogue and Peace.”

University Provost, Thomas S. Pearson, said, “[The University is] proud of Sarsar’s academic excellence, stewardship, and global outreach in support of diplomacy and peace in the Middle East.”

The event took place at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC and was attended by around 650 people. The guests included White House staff members, U.S. Department of State, Congressional leaders, diplomats, academics, religious institutions, and other distinguished members of the community.

PHOTO TAKEN from ahherald.com