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Ahmed Abdelal Obituary

ABDELAL, Ahmed T. H.

Ahmed Tawfik Hassanein Abdelal died peacefully and with family, at the age of 83, at his home near Atlanta, Georgia, on April 11, 2024. Ahmed was born in Cairo, Egypt, on January 4, 1941. After graduating from Cairo University in 1960, he immigrated to the United States to continue his education at the University of California, Davis, from which he earned a PhD in Microbiology in 1967. After concluding postdoctoral studies at the Institute for Microbiology at the University of Gottingen, Germany, Ahmed joined the faculty of Georgia State University in the Department of Biology. At Georgia State, Ahmed flourished. He loved his research, his lab, and teaching.

Ahmed was passionate about leadership in the academy. At Georgia State Ahmed served as Chair of the Biology Department. From 1992 to 2002, Ahmed led the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Dean. During that time, Ahmed pursued the work of the university with a particular focus on internationalization. He believed deeply in cross-cultural and cross-national connection as a potential source of peace and understanding. Ahmed served as the founding director of the university's Middle East Center for Peace, Culture, and Development.

Ahmed served as Provost for Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts from 2002 to 2008. While there, he honed his distinctive approach to collaborative academic leadership. This approach was the subject of a case study by Harvard Institutes of Higher Education. Ahmed moved from Northeastern to become Provost at University of Massachusetts, Lowell in 2008. At both Northeastern and UMass Lowell, he embraced the possibility that internationalization would ensure that students, faculty, and staff embraced a common humanity. Ahmed built countless partnerships and exchanges with universities around the world. His deeply held belief in building global educational partnerships as a method for addressing larger problems was a model for many educational institutions.

Ahmed was predeceased by his wife, Mary Trahan; and is survived by his son, Rawi Abdelal, Rawi's wife, Traci Battle, and their two children, Alexander and Annabel; his daughter, Laila Abdelal McClay, and her son, Max, his son, Anthony Wilson, Anthony's wife, Marie Wilson, their children, Caleb, Kassidy and her husband, Jeremy; and Blake and his wife, Courtney, and their daughter, Addy; and Mary's sister, Caroline Abbey and her husband, John Abbey. Ahmed is also survived by family in Egypt, including his brother, Ayman; and sisters, Laila, Daad, and Noor.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Apr. 15, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
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Lisa Beyer

April 17, 2024

Our family remembers Ahmed as a congenial and wise man who was a devoted husband to our beloved cousin Mary. Our father in particular enjoyed conversing with him on many topics. Rest in peace.

MaryAnn Romski

April 17, 2024

I had the privilege of being a faculty member when Ahmed was Dean of Arts & Sciences at GSU. He was a wonderful person who taught us about leadership. He valued collegiality and believed strongly in a scholar-administrator model for college administration. I remember fondly the college parties he and Mary hosted bringing faculty from diverse disciplines together. He supported international faculty development including mine. Much of my work in South Africa grew from Ahmed's initial support. He will be missed but his memory and what he taught us will live on. Rest in Peace Ahmed!

Bill Miles

April 16, 2024

Ahmed brought a breath of fresh international air to Northeastern University. Always personable and approachable, it was hard to see him leave Boston and now hard to see that he has left us all.

Gayle Nelson

April 16, 2024

A memory? So many of them. As a new assistant professor, Ahmed called me on the phone (I had never met him) and said that a visitor from Egypt was visiting and he knew me. Legs and voice shaking, I invited them for dinner. The guest from Egypt was also an Ahmed and they had studied together in California. My husband and I had lived and worked in Cairo at the American University in Cairo, knew Ahmed from Cairo and his family, and were amazed at the good fortunate of this encounter. Ahmed Abdelal was my Dean and friend. He engaged GSU faculty and students in the world and his dynamic energy was passed on to others. It was a sad day when he left GSU and another sad day when I read his obituary.

Lori Gaffney Gandy

April 15, 2024

Our condolences as We have very fond memories of Mary and Ahmed. My parents, Peter and Joan (both deceased) adored them. May they all rest in peace. Lori, Catherine and Peter E. Gaffney, Jr.

david ekola labra

April 15, 2024

Ahmed is a real legend. carbontime goes crazy.
-david ekola labra

Hugh Hudson

April 15, 2024

Worked with Ahmed at Georgia State. He was a friend, colleague, and mentor. He was never a man to suffer fools gladly. He will be missed.

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