The Grand Opening of the Leila Fawaz Library Collection – April 25, 2023

By Ciara Moezidis

On Tuesday, April 25, the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies had its grand opening of The Leila Fawaz Library Collection. Seventy students, staff, and faculty from across Tufts University came to the center to celebrate this addition to the Fares Center.  The event included remarks by Fares Center Director Nadim Rouhana, Program Coordinator Amaia Elorza Arregi, and Professor Leila Fawaz.

Professor Fawaz is the Issam M. Fares Professor of Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Born in Sudan and raised in Lebanon, Professor Fawaz received a B.A. and M.A. in History from the American University of Beirut and an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from Harvard University. She joined the Tufts faculty in 1979 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 1994.

As Chair of the History Department from 1994 to 1996, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Jackson College, and Associate Dean of the Faculty between 1996 and 2001, Professor Fawaz has made incredible contributions to countless academic and professional activities on campus. She was the Founding Director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies at Tufts University between 2001 and 2012. She holds a dual appointment as a Professor of Diplomacy at The Fletcher School and a Professor of History at Tufts University.

Professor Fawaz curated a unique and diverse collection of 500 volumes focused on the Middle East and North Africa that will serve as the foundation of this new library. The library collection inventory is also available online.

The Fares Center is incredibly excited to have this new addition to the center. The unique, specialized library collection is open to all Fletcher faculty and students, as well as the broader Tufts community.