FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 3, 2004

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

FULBRIGHT SPECIALIST FROM SAUDI ARABIA TO VISIT DRAKE

A Fulbright visiting specialist from Saudi Arabia will visit Drake University and Des Moines for nearly two weeks as part of the "Direct Access to the Muslim World" program sponsored by the Fulbright Scholar program and the Drake Center for Global Citizenship. The program is designed to give Americans the opportunity to gain a better understanding of Islam.

Hend Majid Al-Khuthaila, professor of higher education administration at the University Studies Center for Girls, King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will begin her visit to Des Moines on Friday, Nov. 5.

Professor Al-Khuthaila will speak in various classes at Drake and will meet with students in local school districts and with members of churches and advocacy organizations. In addition, she will give a public lecture titled "The Role of Women and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center, 28th Street and Brattleboro Avenue. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Al-Khuthaila also will give public presentations at two local churches. She will speak at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at Central Presbyterian Church, 39th Street and Grand Avenue. On Sunday, Nov. 14, she will speak at 10:10 a.m. in the Greenwood Room at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 42nd Street and Ingersoll Avenue.

After earning a Ph.D. in philosophy from Syracuse University, Al-Khuthaila returned to Saudi Arabia and defeated gender barriers in the field of higher education by becoming the first Saudi woman to be appointed dean of the Women's Colleges Center in 1984. While serving as head of the education department from 1995 to 1997, she founded the first-ever pre-school department in Saudi Arabia.

She is a weekly columnist for an Al-Jazeerah newspaper and the author of three books. In addition, she has been selected among the top 10 pioneer figures in the Arab world by the magazine Heya. Professor Al-Khuthaila specializes in human rights, gender issues, management and leadership.
For more information, call the Drake Center for Global Citizenship at (515) 271-4803 or visit the center's Web site at www.drake.edu/cgc.

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Note: Professor Al-Khuthaila will be available for interviews during her visit. To arrange an interview, contact Lisa Lacher at (515) 271-3119 or lisa.lacher@drake.edu.