Yousif Ghafari

Yousif Boutrous Ghafari (sometimes Youssef B. Ghafari, born September 27, 1952 [ [http://slovenia.usembassy.gov/ambassador_bio.html Ambassador's biography] , U. S. Embassy in Slovenia website] ), American businessman of Lebanese birth, owner of Ghafari Associates, and currently the US Ambassador to Slovenia. [Kathleen Gray, " [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/NEWS06/804150346/1008/news06 Businessman in line to be U.S. ambassador] " "Detroit Free Press" April 15, 2008] During the Senate confirmation hearings, Barack Obama called Ghafari "an immigrant who has truly lived the American dream." [Clive Leviev-Sawyer, " [http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/barack-obama-warns-on-crime-and-corruption-in-bulgaria/id_28670/catid_66 Barack Obama warns on crime and corruption in Bulgaria] " SofiaEcho.com, April 9, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008.]

Born in Alma El-Chaab, Lebanon, "in a home with no electricity, phone or running water," Ghafari moved to the United States in 1972. [Alex P. Kellogg, " [http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080527/NEWS03/805270317/1005/news Bloomfield Hills man becomes Slovenia ambassador] " "Detroit Free Press" May 27, 2008.] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1974, a Master of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Computer Applications in 1975, and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1977, from Wayne State University. [ [http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/ffsb/bios/ghafari.htm] '" exchanges.state.gov. Accessed August 6, 2008.]

In 2004 and 2005, Ghafari was a public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. [Kellogg, ibid.]

His alma mater named one of its residence halls in his honor after he donated $19 million to the school. [Tom Sakely, " [http://www.media.wayne.edu/2005/10/25/wayne-state-names-residence-hall-for-benefactor-yousif-b-ghafari Wayne State names residence hall for benefactor Yousif B. Ghafari] ", Wayne State University press release, October 25, 2005. Accessed May 3, 2008.] The school gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on May 3, 2008. [Tom Sakely, " [http://www.media.wayne.edu/2008/04/28/wayne-state-university-commencement-ceremonies-set-for Wayne State University commencement ceremonies set for Saturday, May 3, at Tom Adams Field on campus] " Wayne State University press release, April 28, 2008.] He was notified of the degree the same week the Senate confirmed his ambassadorship. [Shawn Wright, "Harwell, Ghafari awarded Doctor of Laws degrees," "The South End" May 7 - 13, 2008, p. 3]

A significant donor to the Republican party, [Gray (2008), ibid. "Ghafari has been a loyal Republican donor, giving nearly $340,000 almost exclusively to GOP candidates and causes during the last 10 years."] Ghafari is considered one of "the active, vocal and successful Republican leaders of the Michigan Arab-American community." [Ismael Ahmed, "Michigan Arab Americans: A Case Study of Electoral and Non-Electoral Empowerment" in " [http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/DUSS_Arab_America.pdf American Arabs and Political Participation] ", Proceedings of a Conference sponsored by the Division of United States Studies,Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, May 5, 2006, ed. Phillipa Strum. Accessed May 5, 2008. (2006): 48]

On May 25, 2008, Ghafari presented his diplomatic credentials to Dimitrij Rupel in Ljubljana. He was received by Slovenian President Danilo Türk on May 29.

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