Leon Charney Awarded Honorary Doctorate from FAU
Florida Atlantic University has awarded Leon Charney an honorary doctorate in humane letters in recognition of his lifelong commitment to peace through diplomacy.
From left to right, FAU Board of Trustees Chair Anthony Barbar; FAU President John Kelly; Leon Charney; Tzili Charney; and FAU Provost Gary Perry
Florida Atlantic University has awarded Leon Charney an honorary doctorate in humane letters in recognition of his lifelong commitment to peace through diplomacy.
Charney is a prominent lawyer, author and broadcaster, as well as a former advisor to notable statesmen including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli President Ezer Weizman.
“Leon Charney shows unequivocally that one person can make a huge difference in the world,” said FAU President John Kelly. “Florida Atlantic University is privileged to shine a light on this unsung champion of peace.”
Kelly praised Charney’s work with Carter and Weizman, which ultimately led to the Camp David Peace Agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978. At that time, President Carter called Charney “the unsung hero” of that turning point in history, for it was the first time that peace was made between a Jewish nation and an Arab country because of Charney’s diplomatic efforts.
“Leon Charney’s dedication to peace among nations not only merits our sincere appreciation, but also serves as a source of inspiration for the aspiring diplomats that are trained through the FAU Diplomacy Program,” said Jeffery Morton, Ph.D., professor of diplomacy within FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. “We are forever indebted to Leon Charney.”
Distinguished guests also included the Honorable Revital Malca, deputy counsel general of Israel’s consulate to Florida and Puerto Rico; Samantha Lerman, director of academic and Jewish affairs at Israel’s consulate to Florida and Puerto Rico and FAU alumna; State Sen. Maria Sachs; FAU Provost Gary Perry; Dr. Malcolm Dorman, member of FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine advisory board; and Heather Coltman, DMA, dean of FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
For more than 25 years, Charney has moderated “The Leon Charney Report,” an award winning nationally televised program. He is also the author of five books, including “Backdoor Channels – The Price of Peace,”which was made into an Emmy Award-winning documentary video.
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