Biography
Morning Keynote
Associate Professor, Dept: CMLLC (Near Eastern Studies), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. B.A., History/Politics, Beirut, Lebanon, 1966; M.A., Modern Middle East History, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 1973; D.PHIL., Modern Middle East Socio-Economic History, Oxford University, 1983 PUBLICATIONS: HAIFA: Transformation of an Arab Society: 1918-1939. I.B. Tauris, UK. St. Martin’s Press, USA. July 1995, paperback 2000, Arabic translation 1997.
Selected articles: “Women and Religion in Bahrain : An Emerging Identity”, Oxford University Press 1997, in Islam, Gender and Social Change edits: John Esposito and Yvonne Haddad; “Bahraini Women in Formal and Informal Groups: the Politics of Identification”, Berg, Oxford 1997, in Organizing Women: formal and Informal Women’s Groups in the Middle East editors: Dawn Chatty and Annika Rabo; “Kuwait and Bahrain: The Appeal of Globalization and Internal Constraints”, in Iran, Iraq, and the Arab Gulf States, editor: Joseph Keshishian, Palgrave Publishing , St. Martin’s Press, 2001.
Current Research activities: Currently Dr. Seikaly is researching the Social History of the Arabian Gulf through the eyes of its women and using oral history as the tool of that research.
Afternoon Guest Speaker
Susan Chenard is an English professor and freelance writer from Middletown, Connecticut. She co-authored Running for All the Right Reasons: A Saudi-born Woman’s Pursuit of Democracy with Ferial Masry. In addition, she teaches English composition, Arabic literature, and communications at Gateway Community College in New Haven. In 2007, Yale University awarded Chenard a PIER fellowship with the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. For fourteen years, she served as an international educator and educational advisor at the high school and university levels in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Her freelance stories, reports, and interviews have been published in the Saudi Gazette, Arabian Woman magazine, and other American and international journals.
Break-out Session Speakers
Rima M. Charara graduated from Wayne State University College of Allied Health and Profession with a Bachelor in Pharmacy in 1994. She also pursued a degree in medical billing at Carnegie Institute in 2002. After graduation, Rima pursued a career in Pharmacy at Rite Aid Corp. and practiced as a full-time Pharmacist for 10 years. She then chose to work with her husband in a surgical office and continued to work as a part-time Pharmacist. In the past 12 years, Rima's expertise in the field of pharmacy as a Pharmacist and a Preceptor has helped train many Pharmacists and assisted in Patient Education. Rima is a member of several Pharmacy Organizations such as American Pharmacist Association.
Rima has been an active parent at MAYA since 1998 and joined the MAYA board in 2004.
Jumana Judeh has been a commercial appraiser for fifteen years where she has had an opportunity to develop strong skills in valuing a variety of properties including strip centers, office buildings, industrial properties, hotels/ motels, gas stations, banks, marinas, and more. She has also become an expert on tax appeals both to the local level as well as the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Jumana’s qualified staff are also licensed and trained to value single-family homes.
Hoda Amine, Ph.D., LMSW, CSW, CAC-II, DCSW is the director of the Arab Domestic Violence Intervention (A-VIP) Program in her private practice (Dearborn counseling Services). She provides individual and family counseling, and consults with various organizations and professionals on mental health and transcultural issues. In May 2004, she was invited through ADC delegates to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon to meet with her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, and the first two ladies of Syria and Lebanon and many other dignitaries/NGO'S. Dr. Amine is a concerned community activist/advocate humanitarian supporting and fighting for justice for the elderly, children, human rights and women's issues. Dr. Amine is the recipients of several awards: The ADC hala Maksoud Activist Award in Dec. 2007, "Spirit Award" from Wayne County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. "Loretta Moore 2003 WOMAN OF THE YEAR" award from (NOW) the National Organization of Women, "2002 WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD" from HENRY FORD COMMUNINITY COLLEGE. She was also HONORED in the Detroit News newspaper in March 2002 for Women History Recognition Month as one of the "FIVE OF THE KIND" distinct women who made the difference in their communities. She is a board member in several professional and community organizations: Faculty advisor on Arab culture and Ethnicity/Multicultural Work Groups through University of Michigan-D, AAUW (Association of American University Women), was an advisory board member at Madonna University' s BSW advisory committee, focus on Women program at Henry Ford Community College; Child's Hope advocacy program with Child Abuse Prevention Council; Batterer Intervention Services Council (BISC); n personality in the Arabic Community. She has been on several radios and TV/Cable shows locally and nationally. She has helped with Telethons, Walkathons, Marathons, and Prevention programs including ACCESS, The Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation, Focus On Women project (FOW) , the Kiwanis club and Domestic Violence Coalitions. She has presented in many professional and educational conferences nationally and internationally.
Najah Bazzy, RN, is a Transcultural Nurse Clinical Specialist and a Diversity Specialist with 25 years specializing in the area of transcultural health care. She has an extensive background in critical care nursing with special expertise in Arab and Muslim health care, beliefs, and practices. She is CEO of Diversity Specialists and Transcultural Health Care Solutions. She is also the Executive Director and Founder of Zaman International, a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides "hope for humanity". Najah Bazzy is well known locally and internationally for her lectures on many topics related to Islam, including interfaith dialogue, gender equity and equality, human rights, and medical ethics. Since 9/11, she has spoken to thousands of non-Muslims and has engaged extensively in interfaith outreach that includes the United States Army, United States Department of Justice, New Detroit, and the Susan B. Komen Foundation. She is noted for her "ambassador" style of diplomatic dialogue.
Zana Macki is the former regional coordinator of the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee. In the early 1990s, she helped negotiate the airing of Ramadan Public Service Announcements on Channels 2, 4 and 7. She was instrumental in having Muhammad: The Messenger of God air on WDIV-Channel 4 during Ramadan. She holds a Master’s degree in Studies and dual bachelors in English and Mass Communications. Currently, she teaches Fundamentals of Public Speaking at Henry Ford Community College. She is also President of Zana Macki Communications, Inc.
Dr. Wijdan AlSayegh Associate Professor with over 16 years of diverse responsibilities in teaching and writing about Arabic language and literature. Areas of expertise: modern Arabic fiction, poetry, and criticism. Taught in different universities in Iraq, Jordan, and Yemen. Dozens of published articles and conference presentations and seminars. Member of various committees supervising graduate students. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of various publications.
Camille Bazzy Alawan born in Michigan and resided in Dearborn for 35 years. Attended Dearborn schools Salina and Fordson High School, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I have been employed by Ford Motor Company and several medical technology companies. I presently reside in Farmington Hills, MI. I am married to Hajj Charles K. Alawan and I have three adult children. I made my Hajj pilgrimage in 2009.