Jordan’s Queen talks leadership

Queen Noor of Jordan visited NYU’s Skirball Center for Performing Arts last night and advocated for people around the world striving to better understand each other.

“In the developing world, it’s a luxury for anyone to dream about anything other than surviving and getting through the day,” said Noor, the widow of the country’s former King Hussein bin Tabal.

Noor, who is in town for this week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting, was part of a panel discussion about the capabilities and culpabilities of leadership in today’s world.

Queen Noor cited the ubiquitous outpouring of sympathy from the nations of the world after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 as an example of the power for people to come together.

“The outpouring of compassion was felt everywhere. It was felt in the Arab world, Asia, Africa — on every continent,” she said. “There was opportunity there, as there are in the worst moments when the world is falling apart.”

The dialogue, sponsored by the Aspen Institute, was the first of a series featuring notable figures from around the world who have distinguished themselves in both secular and non-secular fields. It also featured Rabbi Irwin Kula, president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, as well as the Sakyong Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s leading Buddhist lamas and head of the Shambhala Buddhist community.

NYU President John Sexton introduced last night’s speakers by noting the importance of responsible leadership in light of the threats we face in today’s world.

“Our visitors offer a different message — not only of hope, but of a path forward,” he told the audience.

Kula began the discussion with an insight into individual perception of the problems we face.

“Is the world falling apart or is your world?” he asked. “The world is always falling apart and coming together at the same time. The only question is: Where you are in the drama?”

The panelists encouraged everyone to strive to understand those with whom they disagree and to seek an understanding of all sides of an issue.

Queen Noor was born and raised in the United States, attended Princeton University and received a Bachelor of Arts in architecture and urban planning in 1974. She proceeded to work in Australia, Iran and Jordan, where she met King Hussein. In 1978 she converted to Islam and married the king, changing her name to Noor from her real name, Lisa Halaby.

Queen Noor now works with various international organizations that promote global peace-building and justice and has published two books, “Hussein of Jordan” in 2000 and a New York Times bestseller entitled “Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life” in 2003.

Many students in attendance found the speakers’ ideas hopeful, despite the gravity of the issues brought up in the discussion.

“A lot of what they said was encouraging, particularly on how our students should lead the next generation,” Tisch senior Andrew Zakim said.


Randy Kreider and Matthew Krimski are contributing writers. E-mail them at university@nyunews.com.

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