Donor Spotlight

Hazem and Salma Chehabi are making a difference through their charitable support in the School of Social Ecology. Hazem (M.D., Director, Newport Diagnostic Clinic) and Salma (Bio Sci ’99) have provided significant financial support and both the Center for Unconventional Security Affairs and the Urban Water Research Center have been the beneficiaries of their generosity.

To advance the Center for Unconventional Security Affairs’ micro-finance project agenda, their gift enabled the project to produce a state of the art review of literature, reports, and expert views on the historical performance of microfinance, trends in services, demand, and what needs to be done to meet the demand in both stable and fragile states. The project also looked at how to coordinate sustainable development, conflict resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction initiatives. Their gift enabled CUSA to support two Ph.D. students, develop a global network of senior researchers, and hold a workshop in Washington, D.C.

The Chehabis’ most recent gift was designated for the Urban Water Research Center to support the “Olive Oil Treatment Collaborative Project.” This project involves reusing water residue from olives when pressed for their oil. That water then is reused for agricultural purposes, resulting in water savings for water scarce areas in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries.

Dr. and Mrs. Chehabi graciously agreed to serve as the 2008/09 UCI Medal co-chairs and Dr. Chehabi serves as a trustee on the UCI Foundation Board. Mrs. Chehabi is currently an undergraduate student in the School of Social Ecology and majoring in Psychology and Social Behavior.

The School of Social Ecology is one among many charitable interests of the Chehabis on campus and in the greater community. They are truly loyal friends of the School, and we are most grateful for their continuing support.