MEOC occasionally presents a lifetime achievement award to members who have shown distinction and effort in the field of Middle East outreach and public education about the region.
Past award recipients are:
Lisa Adeli (University of Arizona), 2020
Awarded (posthumously) for her years of service to MEOC, her exemplary outreach activities in Arizona and nationwide, and her tireless energy and enthusiasm on behalf of educators and the teaching profession.
Barbara Petzen (Center for Strategic and International Studies), 2018
Awarded for her years of service to MEOC, including reinvigorating the membership structure and seeking increased visibility for the organization through collaboration with external conferences and organizations.
John Parcels (Georgia Southern University), 2016
Awarded for decades of service to MEOC and the South East Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Society (SERMEISS).
Jean Campbell (Portland State University), 2010
Awarded for exemplary outreach activities in the Portland area, and for her lengthy service to MEOC.
Jonathan Friedlander (UCLA), 2008
Jon was a founding member of MEOC; this award was presented in recognition of his decades of service to the organization as well as to his lifelong passion for developing projects and resources on Arab Americans.
Larry Michalak (UC Berkeley), 2008
In addition to his decades of service to MEOC, Larry also founded the Middle East Book Awards.
Ellen-Fairbanks Diggs ("Taffy") Bodman (UNC Chapel Hill), 2007
A life-long member of MEOC, Taffy Bodman acquired what is arguably the most complete collection of Middle Eastern film in the United States, and curated the Middle East Filmfest at the annual MESA conference.
Elizabeth (Betsey) Barlow (University of Michigan), 2004
Awarded for her tireless efforts to acquire, review, and critique K-12 textbook content on the Middle East.
Catherine Jones (Harvard), 2003
Awarded for exemplary outreach activities in Boston and the northeast, and for her lengthy service to MEOC.
Audrey Shabbas (Arab World and Islamic Resources), 2002
Audrey was doing outreach before outreach was a thing, taking a small workshop that she created ad hoc and taking it around the country.
Past award recipients are:
Lisa Adeli (University of Arizona), 2020
Awarded (posthumously) for her years of service to MEOC, her exemplary outreach activities in Arizona and nationwide, and her tireless energy and enthusiasm on behalf of educators and the teaching profession.
Barbara Petzen (Center for Strategic and International Studies), 2018
Awarded for her years of service to MEOC, including reinvigorating the membership structure and seeking increased visibility for the organization through collaboration with external conferences and organizations.
John Parcels (Georgia Southern University), 2016
Awarded for decades of service to MEOC and the South East Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Society (SERMEISS).
Jean Campbell (Portland State University), 2010
Awarded for exemplary outreach activities in the Portland area, and for her lengthy service to MEOC.
Jonathan Friedlander (UCLA), 2008
Jon was a founding member of MEOC; this award was presented in recognition of his decades of service to the organization as well as to his lifelong passion for developing projects and resources on Arab Americans.
Larry Michalak (UC Berkeley), 2008
In addition to his decades of service to MEOC, Larry also founded the Middle East Book Awards.
Ellen-Fairbanks Diggs ("Taffy") Bodman (UNC Chapel Hill), 2007
A life-long member of MEOC, Taffy Bodman acquired what is arguably the most complete collection of Middle Eastern film in the United States, and curated the Middle East Filmfest at the annual MESA conference.
Elizabeth (Betsey) Barlow (University of Michigan), 2004
Awarded for her tireless efforts to acquire, review, and critique K-12 textbook content on the Middle East.
Catherine Jones (Harvard), 2003
Awarded for exemplary outreach activities in Boston and the northeast, and for her lengthy service to MEOC.
Audrey Shabbas (Arab World and Islamic Resources), 2002
Audrey was doing outreach before outreach was a thing, taking a small workshop that she created ad hoc and taking it around the country.
