Aref Assaf, A short bio:
Dr. Aref Assaf (PhD,
Political Science and International Law) is president and founder of American
Arab Forum, AAF, a non partisan think-tank specializing in advocating positive
image of the American Arab community. Dr. Assaf was also a founding member of
ADC-NJ Chapter and has served as its media chair for five years before serving
as its president in 2004. He was also elected and did serve for one year as a
Board Member of the Palestinian American Congress. Dr Assaf is the founding
president of the NJ Arab American Heritage campaign which was signed into law by
Governor Jon Corzine creating the commission in October 24, 2008.
Dr. Assaf serves on and is a member of several state, national boards and
academic organizations. These includes the American Society of Political Science
and the American Society of International Law. Dr. Assaf is currently serving a
second three-year term as a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Ethnic Advisory
Council. His selection was the first of its kind for an Arab American to serve
on this statewide council.
Dr .Assaf was a member for fifteen years of the Denville Rotary Club of which he
became its President in 1994 and was awarded Rotary's highest honor, Paul Harris
Fellow, in addition to being recognized twice as a Rotary Foundation
Benefactor..
Dr. Assaf writes frequently in several New Jersey papers about contemporary
American Arab issues and perspectives. Currently he is a feature columnist for
the Star Ledger's NJ.Voices. His views are regularly appearing in the Bergen
Record, the Herald News, the Star Ledger in addition to Time Magazine, Al-Ahram,
Gulf Times and the Daily Star. He has appeared on many television programs such
as CBS’ Sunday Morning, CNN in addition to metro TV stations. Dr. Assaf is
available for limited speaking engagements. Email:
aref@aafusa.org
Feature stories on President Aref
Bergen Record, March 23, 2008: An Unyielding Arab Voice by Liz Llorrente
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Daily Record,
May 9, 2002, Palestinian Refugee torn by experience
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