Zaher Wahab

Expert In: Afghanistan/Education/Nation-Building

Contact:
Zaher Wahab
Phones: 503-768-6121, 503-768-6100

Afghan education crucial in building a healthy society

“Quality, equal and universal education is the key to establishing peace, security, democracy, harmony, and a healthy, stable economy in Afghanistan,” says Zaher Wahab, professor of education of the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College.

When the Afghan Minister of Higher Education Sharif Fayez needed someone to help with rebuilding the infrastructure of their system, he called on Zaher Wahab. Wahab, an Afghan-American, has served for years as senior advisor to the minister. He returned to the United States in June of 2004.

While in Afghanistan, Wahab’s primary role was to be the liaison between the Ministry of Higher Education and all international, aid agencies, academics, and non-governmental organizations. Other responsibilities included the preparation of higher education faculty; curricular reform; the credit system; pedagody; the re-establishment of libraries; and program development in health care, agriculture, engineering, and teacher education.

Now back in Portland, Oregon, Wahab is teaching classes at the Lewis & Clark College's Graduate School of Education. He is currently engaged in a Middle East, South and Central Asia conversation series sponsored by the Oregon Center for Inquiry & Social Innovation. He plans to return to the ministry in Afghanistan by the end of 2004 for another six-month commitment.

Wahab’s unique insights and voice provide context from which to comment on developments regarding the effort to rebuild Afghanistan. In particular he is positioned to give context to stories about the Afghan people’s struggle to shape their destiny through the country’s education system. Wahab is dedicated to help Afghanistan become a normal country.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the American University of Beirut, his master’s degrees from Columbia Teacher’s College and Stanford University, and his doctorate from Stanford University.

Media Coverage

A race against despair (Oregonian, 11/8/04)

If You Believe in Faith: An Interview with Afghanistan's Minister of Higher Education (Academe, Sept./Oct. 2004)

Education and Afghanistan: an interview with Dr. Zaher Wahab (Open Spaces Magazine, 2002)

Revisiting Afghanistan (PDF) (Open Spaces Magazine, 2004)

Report from Afghanistan (The Portland Alliance, Oct./Nov. 2004)

Afghanistan: A progress report. (Hour long interview on KBOO Radio, Aug. 17, 2004)

Portland Cable TV appearance, Aug. 23, 2004

Upcoming Appearances

The War on Terror and Beyond
Thursday, December 2, 7:00 p.m.
Flavia Hall Salon, Marylhurst University
Free and open to the public
For more information, call 503.699.6313.

Middle East, South & Central Asian Conversation Series
Tuesday, December 7, 3:00 p.m.
Rogers Hall 105, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education
Free and open to the public
For more information, visit the Oregon Center's website or call 503.768.6099.