Khalil Jahshan

Khalil Jahshan (Arabic: خليل جهشان) (born in Nazareth, British Mandate of Palestine in 1948) is a Palestinian-American activist and media commentator. He serves currently as Executive Director of Arab Center Washington DC, a nonprofit think tank focussing on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Between 2004-2013, Jahshan was a Lecturer in International Studies and Languages at Pepperdine University and Executive Director of its Seaver College Washington DC Internship Program. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and French from Harding University in 1972

Early life

Jahshan was born to a Palestinian Christian family in Nazareth, British Mandate of Palestine in 1948. He completed his elementary (Ecole Jesu Adolescent-Don Bosco) and secondary education (Terra Sancta) there. In 1969, he traveled to the United States to pursue his college education.

Titles and positions

• Member of the boards of directors and advisory boards of various Middle East-oriented groups, including ANERA, MIFTAH and Search for Common Ground in the Middle East
• 2000–2003 — Executive Vice President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and director of its government affairs affiliate, NAAA-ADC
• 1996–2003 — Vice President of the American Committee on Jerusalem
• 1990–2000 — President of the National Association of Arab-Americans
• June 1989–December 1990 — Associate Executive Director for Public Affairs of the National Association of Arab-Americans
• 1980–1982 — Teacher of Arabic at the University of Chicago Extension and at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.