Former head of American-Arab body passes away
Regional-USA, Local, 4/27/2002

Dr. Hala Salaam Maksoud, President of the Arab-American anti Discrimination Committee (ADC), passed away on Friday after a long illness, ADC announced.

"It is with a profound sense of loss and sadness that the Board of Directors and the national office staff of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) mourn the passing of Hala Salaam Maksoud," said ADC.

One of the most influential and important leaders in ADC's history, Maksoud served as ADC President from 1996 to 2001. Dr. Maksoud had been actively involved with ADC since its inception in 1980, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for many years.

Dr. Maksoud held a Ph.D. in political theory and an M.A. in government from Georgetown University, and an M.A. in mathematics from the American University of Beirut. She taught courses at George Mason University and at Georgetown. In addition to her academic career, Dr. Maksoud was a prominent Arab-American leader and participated in the founding of several organizations, including the American Committee on Jerusalem, the Association of Arab-American University Graduates, and the Arab Women's Council.

Maksoud was a nationally recognized advocate of civil and human rights, and was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the American Immigration Law Foundation in March 2002.

Maksoud is survived by her husband, Clovis Maksoud, former Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United States and the United Nations, and current professor of international relations at American University.

ADC President Ziad Asali said "this is a devastating loss for the entire Arab-American community, as well as for me personally. Hala was a visionary leader who charted a path to empowerment we will be following for many years to come. Her extraordinary command of politics was matched by exceptional compassion and a genuine commitment to human rights.

She had a remarkable ability to communicate effectively with and inspire people of very different cultural and political backgrounds and across lines of religion and social class. Leaders of Hala's caliber are exceedingly rare and we shall miss her guidance and wise counsel. Our task now at ADC is to try to live up to the standard she set for us all."

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