|
|
 |
Oct. 15: A. James Clark School of Engineering Innovation Hall of Fame Induction Oct. 16 and 17: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend Nov. 11: Maryland Society Reception (prior to Shirley Povich Symposium) Nov. 11: Shirley Povich Symposium Nov. 19: College of Education Alumni Awards Dinner |
Join the Clark School in honoring Buno Pati ’86,M.A. ’88 and Ph.D. ’92 for his innovations in electronic circuitry that paved the way for the powerful, low-cost electronic devices that are now part of everyday life. |
 Securing Faculty Competitive With The Best$1M Gift Aids Pursuit of Global Peace By Lauren Brown
A $1 million pledge by George Zahkem, an internationally recognized Lebanese businessman well known for his vision and philanthropic support of education, will sustain ongoing research at Maryland on Lebanon's most famous poet, as well as establish the college’s third chair devoted to peace studies. Suheil Bushrui, research professor emeritus and a widely published author, poet, critic and translator, will serve as the Lisa and George Zakhem Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace. He previously served as the director of the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project, named for the Lebanese-American writer best known for his 1923 book “The Prophet.” The chair will be devoted to advancing understanding of the country and people of Lebanon, the culture and civilization of the Middle East, relations among people of different religious faiths and cultures, and issues of peace and conflict resolution. “It will, through teaching, research and organizing conferences, create a better understanding between cultures, religions, civilizations and ethnic groups,” Bushrui says. A scholar and professor for the past 55 years, Bushrui stepped down in 2005 from Bahá’í Chair for World Peace, which he established and held for 12 years. He continued to work for the Gibran Chair Project. The other chair, dedicated to peace in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, is the Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development. Dean John Townshend says that the new chair complements the two existing peace chairs and adds to the college’s strength in peace-related activities. “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Zakhem for his gift and the opportunity it provides to significantly expand our scholarship in the area of peace studies,” Townshend says. Bushrui secured the gift from Zakhem, a friend of 20 years who is chairman of the family’s company, Zakhem International S.A., focused on construction, engineering and investments in the Middle East. He and his family are longtime supporters of higher education in his home country, funding university campus expansions, establishing endowed positions, supporting engineering studies and sitting on boards of trustees. As the new chair, Bushrui intends to promote interfaith activities; dialogue among various religions; and the importance of recognizing, respecting and being able to work with the “other” toward the well-being and progress of humanity, he says. “Our religions may be different; our purpose must be one and the same.” Bushrui, who is currently teaching “The Spiritual Heritage of the Human Race” through the Honors Program, will be honored with his new title at a ceremony in November. It coincides with the university’s “Semester on Peace,” an array of courses, lectures and programs devoted to the topic. Learn how you can make your mark on Maryland by supporting the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.  | ||||||
