AMBASSADOR MARWAN MUASHER is vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment, where he oversees the Endowment's research in Washington and Beirut on the Middle East. Muasher served as foreign minister (2002-2004) and deputy prime minister (2004-2005) of Jordan, and his career has spanned the areas of diplomacy, development, civil society, and communications. He is also a senior fellow at Yale University.

Muasher began his career as a journalist for the Jordan Times. He then served at the Ministry of Planning, at the prime minister's office as press adviser, and as director of the Jordan Information Bureau in Washington.

In 1995, Muasher opened Jordan's first embassy in Israel, and in 1996 became minister of information and the government spokesperson. From 1997 to 2002, he served in Washington again as ambassador, negotiating the first free trade agreement between the United States and an Arab nation. He then returned to Jordan to serve as foreign minister, where he played a central role in developing the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East Road Map.

In 2004 he became deputy prime minister responsible for reform and government performance, and led the effort to produce a ten-year plan for political, economic, and social reform. From 2006 to 2007, he was a member of the Jordanian Senate.

Most recently, he was senior vice president of external affairs at the World Bank from 2007 to 2010. He is the author of The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation (Yale University Press, 2008).

PROFESSOR GERALD R. BUBIS was the Founding Director and Professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the School of Jewish Communal Service (now Jewish Non-Profit Management), at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.

Jerry has published many books and articles, and has been the recipient of numerous awards from local, national and international organizations. He has been an active member of Valley Beth Shalom Congregation since 1973, and has taken on countless leadership positions within the Jewish community and on behalf of Israel, including serving as National Co-Chair of Americans for Peace Now (APN).

The "Gerald R. Bubis Lecture" was established in honor of his retirement from the APN Board of Directors.

Go HERE for more information on the event being held in Southern California on Monday, November 7, 2011.