Cal State receives financial support for cultural understanding lecture series

A gift of $200,000 was recently donated to Cal State San Bernardino by local philanthropist and retired business owner Mustafa Milbis to establish the Edward Said Endowed Lecture Series.

Milbis and his wife, Beatriz, donated the gift to provide support for an annual lecture series on the contemporary Palestinian experience, allowing CSUSB to continue its commitment to promoting cultural understanding into tomorrow’s leaders. The lectures will feature internationally recognized intellectuals who will contribute to a deeper understanding of Palestinian history and culture over the past century.

The lecture series will be housed in CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for the Study of Arab and Muslim Worlds.

The series was named in honor of Dr. Edward Said, who was a professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, and the author of more than 20 books. A leading literary critic, public intellectual and passionate advocate for the Palestinian cause, he was born in Jerusalem in 1935 and died in New York in 2003.

Milbis serves on the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation Board and also serves on the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Development Council. His dedication to CSUSB is recognized by his selfless collaboration and unyielding determination – all of these qualities exhibit Milbis as a helpful community member whose willpower adds to CSUSB’s commitment to students. His donation is a promise characterizing the CSUSB community as a place where we are dedicated to helping students achieve success.