Kaplan Joins Collective of National Council Advisors Guiding U.S.-Arab Relations Educational Programs

Washington, D.C.: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org], founded in 1983, is pleased to announce that award-winning producer and journalism pioneer Richard (“Rick”) Kaplan has joined its International Advisory Board. Members of the Council’s International Advisory Board make suggestions and recommendations, and provide strategic support to the Council’s Board of Directors together with its President and Chief Executive Officer.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Duke Anthony and Board of Directors Chairman John Pratt stated, “We are honored that Rick Kaplan has accepted the National Council’s invitation to serve on its Advisory Board. The depth of his experience in television news media is virtually unmatched. That he is so widely recognized and awarded for his accomplishments in journalism is a testament to his ability to analyze, assess, and act on trends in information communication industries. The Council looks forward to continuing to benefit from his insight and perspective.”

Rick Kaplan chaired a session on “Dynamics Impacting the Future of the U.S.-Arab Relationship” at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations 28th Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Kaplan has been President of CNN-U.S., Senior Vice President of ABC News, President of MSNBC, Executive Producer of CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and Executive Producer of This Week with Christiane Amanpour. He has lectured on journalism, advertising, and politics in media at institutions including Duke University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Cornell, Wellesley, Boston College, Columbia College, the University of Southern California, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Pennsylvania, and, his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

At the National Council’s 28th Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference in October 2019, Mr. Kaplan served as the Chair for a session on “Dynamics Impacting the Future of the U.S.-Arab Relationship” that featured New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Mr. Thomas L. Friedman, American University in Cairo Distinguished Lecturer of Political Science The Right Honourable Mona Makram-Ebeid, Atlantic Council Middle East Programs Director of Regional Security Ms. Kirsten Fontenrose, and Beirut Institute Founder and Executive Chairman Ms. Raghida Dergham. Audio and video recordings of Mr. Kaplan’s session along with recordings of other sessions and speakers from the Conference are available online from the Council.

About the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations: Founded in 1983 and based in Washington, D.C., the National Council is an American non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization. The Council pursues its educational mission through nine programs, projects, events, and activities. Each is dedicated to enhancing American awareness and appreciation of the extraordinary benefits that the United States has long derived from its special relationships with countries in the Arab region – and vice versa.

At the center of the National Council’s efforts to advance American knowledge and understanding of Arab culture, societal dynamics, and systems of governance are the Council’s flagship education, training, and leadership development programs. These are designed to elevate the leadership skills and empirical Arab-centric educational experiences of the emerging generation of young Americans and Arabs. Upon their shoulders will rest the responsibility for ensuring that the relationships between the American and Arab peoples are continuously strengthened, improved, and sustained far into the future.

Information about the Council can be found at ncusar.org.

Washington, DC Summer Internship Program

May 26 – July 30, 2020

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Washington, DC Summer Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a ten-week professional, academic, and career opportunity internship in the nation’s capital. The program features a demanding mix of professional involvement, intellectual challenge, career exploration, and cultural encounters designed to provide interns with a rich and varied experience during their time in Washington.

• Professional work experience: Interns are placed with one of over a dozen Near East and Arab world-related organizations in Washington, D.C., where they are expected to work 35-40 hours per week under the direct supervision of their host organizations.
• Academic seminars: Interns take part in twice-weekly seminar sessions designed to provide them with greater depth of knowledge about the Arab world, to underscore the cultural, economic, and political diversity of Arab states, and to explore the intricacies of Arab-U.S. relations. There will be a particular emphasis, though not exclusively, on Arabia and the Gulf.
• Site visits: Interns receive a behind-the-scenes look at many of the central institutions of federal government, national security policymaking, international diplomacy, and international business.

About the Program

The National Council’s Summer Internship Program offers professional work experiences combined with twice-weekly evening seminars that bring academic experts and experienced foreign policy practitioners to meet with the interns in candid off-the-record discussions and dynamic question-and-answer sessions. Its objectives are:

1. to provide a realistic Washington, D.C. work experience that will pave the way to career development;
2. to offer interns firsthand exposure to the foreign policy analysis and advocacy processes in Washington, D.C.;
3. to incorporate a strong academic component focusing on U.S. political, economic, and cultural relations with Arabia and the Gulf region;
4. to help participants begin the process of career networking by introducing them to working professionals in government, business, journalism, and NGOs; and,
5. to highlight the wide range of career opportunities awaiting those who aspire to work in the field of U.S.-Arab relations, as well as to provide counseling on graduate school and fellowship application processes.

As complements to the program, interns will also be exposed to D.C. in a less formal manner via films, cultural events, embassy and museum visits, off-the-record conversations with former diplomats, group dinners, and suggestions for exploring the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C. This allows students to not only experience working in the city, but also encourages them to appreciate the experience of living in a diverse urban environment, and to take advantage of the exciting cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities available in the nation’s capital.

Continue reading »

AMBASSADOR MURPHY HEADS COLLECTIVE OF NATIONAL COUNCIL ADVISORS GUIDING U.S.-ARAB RELATIONS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Washington, D.C.: The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations [ncusar.org], founded in 1983, is pleased to announce that Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy, one of America’s most accomplished Arabist statesmen, has been named Co-Chair of the Council’s International Advisory Board. The Board’s other Co-Chair is HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. While the International Advisory Board does not formally govern the organization, its members make suggestions and recommendations. They also provide strategic support to the Council’s Board of Directors together with its Founding President and Chief Executive Officer.

In announcing the appointment, National Council Founding President and CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony and Board of Directors Chairman John Pratt stated, “We are honored that Ambassador Murphy has accepted Co-Chairmanship of the Council’s Advisory Board. The evidence of Ambassador Murphy’s exemplary record of public service is abundant and impressive. His command of Arabic and intercultural skills have been honed and tested for decades. His extensive empirical experience navigating the Arab region’s strategic and geopolitical challenges and opportunities is virtually unmatched. His integrity is beyond question. Ambassador Murphy will be an extraordinarily valuable resource and advisor as we work to continuously improve, strengthen, and expand the Council’s U.S.-Arab relations leadership development and bridge-building educational efforts.”

Ambassador (Ret.) Richard W. Murphy

Ambassador Murphy served in the United States Foreign Service for 34 years. His early career postings in the Arab region included Beirut, Lebanon; Aleppo, Syria; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Amman, Jordan. From 1968-1971, he was Country Director for the Arabian Peninsula and Director of Personnel for the Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs.

In 1971, President Nixon appointed Ambassador Murphy as U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania. From 1974 to 1983, he served successively as Ambassador to Syria, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. Between 1983 and 1989, he held the highest possible position of any specialist in the United States Government with regard to the Arab region, the Middle East, and the Islamic world: Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. During this period, he took an active role in the Arab-Israeli peace process.

In 1985, Ambassador Murphy was named Career Ambassador. Illustrative of the high professional esteem, innumerable accomplishments, and unrivalled prominence that this position reflects, it is a title held by only five of America’s thousands of diplomats serving at any given time.

Continue reading »