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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Libyan UN Ambassador Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham to speak on challenges of the Arab world April 19th

Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham, Libyan ambassador to the United Nations, will deliver the 2010 Featherman Humanities Lecture at noon, April 19, 2010 in the  St. Francis Room of the Ketchum Library on the University of New England's Biddeford Campus.

He will be speaking on "The Arab World and the Challenges of the 21st Century." 

In his lecture, prominent statesman and author Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham will address some of social, political, economic, and educational challenges facing the Arab world in this new century.

In addition to his position as Libyan ambassador to the United Nations, Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham has served in a number of appointments that include secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Joint Libyan-Italian Company; member of Cultural Innovation Committee; and member of the Libyan Arabic Language Academy. From 1998-2000, Mr. Shalgham was secretary of foreign affairs at the Secretariat of the General People's Congress.

He also has an extensive journalism background, including his position as editor of Al-FAJR-AL-JADID newspaper and as director general of Libya's News Agency for two years. From 1981-1983 he was the Libyan minister of information. Ambassador Shalgham has authored numerous articles and papers on political, cultural and literary topics, and has published an anthology of poems, ASRAR ("Secrets"). He is fluent in four languages - Arabic, Italian, French and English.

Featherman Lecture

The Featherman Humanities Lecture was established by  University of New England President Emeritus Sandra Featherman, Ph.D., and her husband, Bernard Featherman.

Committed to promoting humanistic values and to enriching the learning experience at UNE, the Feathermans have created a permanent forum for exciting dialogues on diverse and provocative topics by thoughtful and renowned speakers.

For more information, contact  Prof. Ali Abdullatif Ahmida, coordinator Featherman Fund Distinguished Lectures on the Humanities, 207-602- 2804, E.mail: AAhmida@une.edu

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.