Saliba Sarsar

Saliba Sarsar "was born and raised in Jerusalem, a multi-ethnic, multilingual, conflict-ridden, peace center of the world! At age 11, he lived through the Six-Day War, an experience that led him to engage in volunteer work as a youth and in later years to focus his studies and community activities on conflict resolution, reconciliation, and peace building.

"Sarsar completed his elementary and secondary education at Christian Brothers and St. Joseph's in the Old City of Jerusalem. He received an A.A. degree from Brookdale Community College in 1977 and a B.A. in political science and history interdisciplinary, with summa cum laude, from Monmouth College in 1978.  In 1984, he earned his doctoral degree from Rutgers University in political science, with specialization in international relations and Middle Eastern affairs.  His dissertation focused on Egypt's Anwar Sadat's policies toward the State of Israel, especially his conciliatory approach between 1975 and 1977.

"Sarsar is currently the Associate Vice President for Academic Program Initiatives and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Monmouth University. As Associate Vice President, he provides main direction for general education, experiential education, study abroad, Honors Program, Global Understanding Project, and Governor's School for Public Issues and the Future of New Jersey; has administrative responsibility for outcomes assessment of student learning; and acts as the point person on accreditation.

"Between 1994 and 1999, Sarsar was the Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He was also the Executive Director and Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Public Issues between 1993 and 1996.  As Special Assistant to the President for Leadership Initiatives in 1993-95 and as Assistant Dean for Leadership Initiatives in 1990-93, he had overall administrative responsibility for the implementation of Monmouth University's five-year comprehensive plan to Educate for Leadership and Social Responsibility.  These initiatives have brought about curricular and co-curricular programs, including ones in conflict resolution and mediation, human relations, volunteer and community service.

"Sarsar is a frequent speaker on Middle East relations. His articles have appeared in such journals as Clio's Psyche, Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, Middle East Quarterly, Jerusalem Quarterly File, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives and Area Studies, Journal of South Asian and Middle East Studies, Journal of Leadership Studies, and Leadership & Organization Development Journal.  He is co-author of two books: Ideology, Values, and Technology in Political Life (1994) and World Politics: An Interdisciplinary Approach (1995).  He is editor of Education for Leadership and Social Responsibility (1996).  He has just completed guest editing a special issue of the International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, focusing on Palestinian-Israeli relations.

"Sarsar's first book of poetry, titled Crosswinds, was published in 1999. The poems include impressions of a teenager experiencing Jerusalem under Jordanian and Israeli rule, and maturing in a land of “between war and peace.”  He has just completed his second book of poetry, Seven Gates.  It is his personal journey into the depth of dialogue, inclusion, and peace.

"In 1993, Sarsar co-founded Project Understanding in Monmouth County, New Jersey, an organization that brings Arab Americans and Jewish Americans for dialogue and peaceful coexistence activities. In recognition for his work, he received in September 2001 the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice.  On April 6, 2003, he was featured in The New York Times, “His Mission: Finding Why People Fight-A Witness to Mideast Conflict Turns to Dialogue and Peace.” Section 14, New Jersey, pages 1, 4.  He was Scholar-in-Residence at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem during Summer 2003.

"Sarsar is an American citizen. He is married to Hiyam Zakharia, also of Jerusalem."


 * Director, American Task Force on Palestine

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