FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 May 2005
Contact: Samar Assad, 202-338-1290
Samar Assad Named Palestine Center Executive Director
The Jerusalem Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Samar Assad as Executive Director of The Fund and its educational program, the Palestine Center. Her appointment became official on 15 May 2005.
“The Board thought that Samar’s experience with The Fund, her excellent knowledge of the issues, and her background in the Occupied Territories made her the perfect candidate. We are confident that she along with the current staff will do a tremendous job,” said Dr. Subhi Ali, Board Chairman.
Samar Assad, a journalist by training, begins the position of Executive Director from a strong foundation within the organization, having served it as Interim Executive Director since January 2005 and as Senior Analyst for The Fund’s educational program, The Palestine Center, from April 2002-December 2004.
“I look forward to working with a dedicated Board and staff to further promote the Palestinian perspective on key issues facing the future of Palestinians,” Assad said.
Known for her informative research on Palestinian politics and the Arab-Israeli conflict, Assad served as communications advisor to the Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit in the West Bank from 2000-2001 before joining the Palestine Center in Washington, D.C. She was based in Jerusalem from October 1996 through June 2000, covering Palestine and Israel for the Associated Press prior to her work with the NSU. Before joining AP, Assad worked at the Jerusalem Bureau of the Los Angeles Times. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 1994 after studying journalism and international relations. Assad was raised in Ramallah.
Established in 1977, the Jerusalem Fund for Education & Community Development is an independent non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. The Fund provides humanitarian relief to the Palestinian people, educational outreach to the American public, and showcases the vibrant, rich culture of Palestine and the Arab world. For more information, see www.thejerusalemfund.org.
Assad can be reached by phone at (202) 338-1290 or by email tosassad@palestinecenter.org.
