John Akouri Leads Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce Delegation Evening Conference With Albion College Officials

(ALBION, MI/USA) - Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce President John Akouri tonight led a delegation to meet with Albion College academic officials. In addition to Akouri, the group was comprised of Chairman of the Board Louis J. Peters, Jr., General Counsel Jeffrey Lance Abood and Charter Member & Pillar of Baalbek Honoree Abe Karam. The evening was organized by philanthropist and humanitarian Dr. Tarik S. Daoud and began with a dinner hosted by the President of the College, Dr. Donna Randall. Attendees included College Provost Susan Conner, Religious Studies Department Chairman & Professor Dr. Ronney Mourad, New York Times Journalist Steven Solomon, Wayne State University Associate Vice President Ahmad Ezzeddine, and Plymouth Township Trustee Abe Munfakh, among others.

Following the dinner, the delegation was then led to Towsley Hall in the Science Complex for a lecture and presentation by Solomon entitled: "Water, Wealth & War in the Middle East." The Middle East's most valuable resource – water – and its impact on the past, present and future and its complicated and compelling story was the subject of Solomon’s presentation sponsored by the Albion College 2011 Daoud Lectureship in Middle Eastern Studies. Solomon's work appears regularly in national publications, including the New York Times, Business Week, the Economist, Forbes and Esquire. Solomon also appears as a guest commentator on network news television, National Public Radio and BBC Radio. He is the author of "Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power and Civilzation."

The Daoud Family Lectureship in Middle Eastern Studies was created by Detroit businessman Dr. Tarik S. Daoud and his family to promote a better understanding of Middle Eastern history, peoples, and cultures, and of the crucial role the Middle East plays in today’s world. The series brings to campus speakers with expertise on different aspects of this diverse and fascinating region. A native of Iraq, Daoud has long been an active leader in the Detroit business community, a leading member of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce and is a previous recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Detroit News’s Michiganian of the Year award. The 2010 Daoud Family Lecture in Middle Eastern Studies is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Albion College Communications at 517/629-0445 or rmourad@albion.edu.