At a presentation on Arab American Genealogical Research in 2022, our founder, Reem Awad-Rashmawi, was approached by several audience members with a strong interest in having a group that would focus on the needs of those researching their Arab ancestors. After reaching out to several organizations to understand the need for such an organization, the seeds of the National Society for Arab and Arab American Genealogy (NSAB) were planted.  

NSAB Organizational Goals

  • To foster education and disseminate knowledge about genealogy and related fields;
  • To encourage Arab and Arab American genealogy research and inclusion of Arab and Arab American research in the genealogy discipline and related fields; 
  • To encourage and promote the preservation of and access to the translation and indexing of genealogy related documentation and related sources; 
  • To support and foster genealogical research and archival entities which engage in Arab and Arab American genealogical research and related fields; and
  • To increase the public’s understanding of the culture and history of ancestors who lived in Arabic speaking countries of the MENA/SWANA region. 

NSAB Board of Directors

Reem Awad-Rashmawi

President

Reem Awad-Rashmawi, JD is a Palestinian American immigration attorney and professional genealogist. She has practiced immigration law in Northern California for over 25 years. Recording and researching her family history for over 3 decades, Reem became a professional genealogist in 2019 and gives presentations on genealogy and oral history related topics at societies and conferences across the U.S. Reem’s prior volunteer and nonprofit work includes programming and communications for her local genealogy society, contributing to various educational initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing the learning experience and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for students, and addressing issues related to Arabs and Arab Americans. Reem holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a law degree (JD) with a focus on international law. Reem has a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and has completed several genealogy & oral history institute programs. She is a ProGen49 alum, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and several other related organizations.

Olivia Basha

Director at Large

Olivia Basha is a genealogist and former archives professional who has been researching her family history for over twenty years and assisting clients off and on over the last decade. After marrying her Palestinian husband, her genealogical interests expanded to include Arab and Arab-American research. Olivia has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History (Bryan College), a Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies (East Tennessee State University), a Master of Library Science degree (North Carolina Central University), and a Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University). She is also a member of the National Genealogical Society. Being passionate about the intersection of history, genealogy, libraries, and archives, she enjoys sharing educational content through her page Time Tracing: How to Engage with History on Instagram/Facebook. Through her posts, client work, and lectures, she uses her education and experience in these four fields to help others discover and preserve their family’s stories and learn more about their world and themselves in the process.

Stephanie Arage Bennett

Secretary

Stephanie Arage Bennett is a 2nd generation Arab American of Palestinian and Lebanese descent. Stephanie has a Master of Library & Information Science degree from Texas Woman’s University and has been a librarian specializing in genealogy and family history research for ten years. Currently, she is the Genealogy & History Division Manager for the Dallas Public Library, whose genealogy division is recognized by Family Tree Magazine as one of the top 10 genealogy libraries in the United States. In this position, Stephanie has opened a free digitization lab and developed, coordinated and presented the library’s first online and hybrid genealogy programs. Stephanie serves as library liaison to the Dallas Genealogical Society board and presents about library resources and genealogy to local societies and interest groups. Stephanie is a member of the Texas Library Association and the American Library Association.

Sabreen Rashmawi

Treasurer

Sabreen Rashmawi is a Palestinian American PhD student in Comparative Literature at New York University. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Middle East & North African (MENA) Studies from Scripps College. Sabreen’s academic and research interests draw from an interdisciplinary background of Middle East & North African Studies, English, Comparative Literature, History, and Public Humanities. Sabreen’s interest in family history stems from the desire to document and tell a family’s story – to put a family in the time, place and circumstances of their history and share a full picture of the life they lived. Sabreen’s passion for teaching also extends beyond the classroom and encourages family history education from the youngest generation to the oldest.

Dr. Mahasin Saleh

Director at Large

Dr. Mahasin Saleh, Ph.D., MSW, FHEA, Associate Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, is an international scholar who has worked in full-time academic posts 4 countries, including the USA, Palestine, England, and currently in Qatar. Some of her research focuses on Arab Intergenerational Family Storytelling and Arab Family History. Dr. Saleh served as a US Fulbright Scholar at Bethlehem University in Palestine, where she taught and worked on establishing their Master of Social Work program. She also served as a US Fulbright Specialist and has cooperated on other projects at Bethlehem University. Dr. Saleh also received a research fellowship from the Palestinian American Research Center. Currently, she is the Lead Principal Investigator of the research study “Rooted in Social Justice and Identity Exploring and Preserving Palestinian Family History,” which is funded by the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. Dr. Saleh also serves on a voluntary basis to help individuals and families trace their family history.