Educational Conference Call Briefing
Dial in 1/27: Challenges and Opportunities: Higher Education for Israeli Arabs

Please join the next Task Force educational conference call briefing with Dr. Raed Mualem, Senior Vice President, Nazareth Academic Institute and Dr. Shany Payes, Director, Peace Center and Head of Peace Studies, Nazareth Academic Institute. The call will take place Thursday, January 27, 12:00 - 12:40 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Dr. Mualem and Dr. Payes will discuss challenges and new opportunities related to higher education for Israel's Arab citizens using the model of the Nazareth Academic Institute (NAI). NAI is the first fully accredited Israeli institution of higher education established at the initiative of the Arab community in Israel.

All are welcome to join this call. Please extend this invitation to your colleagues and constituencies. Feel free to post these opportunities in your organizational announcements, newsletters and on your website. Past educational conference call briefings are posted in the Task Force's audio library. To listen to past calls, click here.

Call-In Information:

US and Canada - (866) 794-4960
Passcode: 738 770
Outside the US and Canada - (630) 299-0025
Passcode: 738 770

RSVP to Hillary Bailey at hillary.bailey@jdcny.org or (212) 885-0825

Upcoming Schedule:

Thursday, January 27 / 12:00 - 12:40 pm Eastern Standard Time
Speakers: Dr. Raed Mualem, Senior Vice President, Nazareth Academic Institute and Dr. Shany Payes, Director, Peace Center and Head of Peace Studies, Nazareth Academic Institute
Topic: Challenges and Opportunities: Higher Education for Israeli Arabs

Thursday, February 24 / 12:00 - 12:40 pm Eastern Standard Time
Speakers: Professor Avishay Braverman, Israeli Minister of Minority Affairs and Mr. Aiman Saif, General Director of the Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab Sector in the Prime Minister's Office
Topic: Special Update on the Implementation of the Government's Five-Year Development Plan for the Arab Sector

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Speaker Bios

Dr. Raed Mualem
Senior Vice President, Nazareth Academic Institute

Dr. Raed Mualem received his Ph.D. in Biology (1996), M.H.A in Health Administration (1994) and M.A in Educational Management and Leadership (2009) from Tel Aviv University. During 2004, he played a significant leadership role in the US Department of State's International Leadership Program, where he developed professional relationships with Arab university leaders from countries throughout the Middle East. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Mar Elias Educational Institutions which provide elementary through high school education. Dr. Mualem is currently the Senior Vice President of the Nazareth Academic Institute and previously served as Senior Vice President of Mar Elias campus, a satellite campus of the University of Indianapolis. In addition, Dr. Mualem governs the Center for Teacher Professional Development. He worked extensively to get the recent full accreditation for the Nazareth Academic Institute from the Council of Higher Education in Israel. His area of responsibility includes development of new academic programs, international academic partnerships and strategic planning for the academic campus.

Dr. Shany Payes
Director, Peace Center and Head of Peace Studies, Nazareth Academic Institute

Born in Petach Tikva, Dr. Payes is a graduate of St. Antony's College, Oxford, where she completed her Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies. Her book, "Palestinian NGOs in Israel: The Politics of Civil Society", was published by IB Tauris, London, in 2006. Before joining the Nazareth Academic Institute, Dr. Payes taught at the MA Program for Conflict Resolution at Kingston University, London.