Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish has been chosen as the keynote speaker for our inaugural TISA commencement on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center, University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX. Dr. Abuelaish is a University of Toronto professor, medical doctor, and infertility specialist who is devoted to advancing health and education for Middle Eastern women and girls.

He founded the Daughters For Life Foundation (https://daughtersforlife.com) primarily for this purpose. The foundation was founded in memory of three daughters and a niece who were killed by IDF forces in Gaza in 2009. Since this tragic incident, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of peace through his prize-winning book, I Shall Not Hate (now made into a film) and the foundation. Dr. Abuelaish received his early education in Gaza’s Jabalia Refugee Camp, an MD from the University of Cairo, a diploma in obstetrics and gynecology with the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the University of London, and an MPH from Harvard University. He has also received several honorary doctorates from various universities.