Zelda Bas, Bard College

Zelda Bas considers herself a global citizen, with French, American, German and Albanian roots. Ms. Bas has developed an academic and personal interest in culture, belief and diversity. As the leader of a student-led initiative dedicated to an American/Palestinian cultural exchange in Mas’Ha, a small Palestinian village in the West Bank, Ms. Bas is responsible for volunteer recruitment, fundraising and programmatic planning for the annual, six-week program, which includes twenty Bard students who run ESL courses, participate in home stays and organize cross-cultural projects. Working within the cultural norms of a traditional Muslim community, Ms. Bas must develop relationships, understanding and support with town elders, college administrators, participating families and student volunteers.