USD Magazine, Summer 2004

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propelled grenades and mortars, but we have come co live with it. Thank God, so far none of us have been hurt inside the compound." But Ghougassian has liccle time co dwell on the dangers. He's a man on a mission. Appointed in 2003 as a deputy senior adviser for the Coalition Provisional Authority - the U.S.-led organization charged with run– ning Iraq until power shifted to an Iraqi-led transitional government - Ghougassian's job is co consult with the country's Higher Education Ministry and figure out how to normalize higher education in the region. Ir's a prospect many would find daunting. Noc Ghougassian. of chose rare souls who lives co serve. After 15 months in Iraq, you'd expect him to be at least a liccle burnt out, but ac the end of every cough day he remains passionate, articulate and excited co make a real impact in the future of Iraqi higher education. Ac the end of chis particular day, he's still gomg strong. "Mose of the e-mails I deal with have to do with the faculty development program chat I'm the director of," he says. "Some have co do with the Fulbright Scholarship; ochers are He's accustomed co negotiating in cough circumstances, and he's one

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U.S. Forces accompany Ambassador Ghougassian (above) as he walks the grounds of Baghdad University.

of cement blocks, we're barricaded by the U.S. Marines, the Army, you name ic." Bue it seems chat security is only one rea– son the palace makes such an attractive home base; equally important in such extreme heat is the face chat it's air-conditioned. 'This whole area used co be one of the pri– mary sites where Saddam Hussein, his family

from any number of inscicu– cions asking, 'In what way can I help the Iraqi higher (educa– tion) institutions?' " Rest assured, Ghougassian will find a way to enlist all of them into his quest co rebuild the Iraqi educational system. ·_--,, He's already completed_much_.-.F

"'My Christian re(iaionyut the yeoyfe at ease, because Christians in 'lraq are viewed as fair-minded and honestyeoy(e."

of the work toward Oltll; of his major go·~ ~ -'i~st~rihg .,: Iraq's Fuiq-i-rg&1:"·~r6gr~hit t? a:~1 ycholars -fr6.Q:,i;._ - abroad to study in.the CJ:t1iced Scates. ; ·.r Two dozen Iraqi scholarS:selecced by cw~ . . .. • ,~.;· . . which brings students

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and his friends lived a very good life," Ghougassian says with characteristic i,mder– scacement. Now, of course, things are very dif– ferent. "Every day we see a couple of rocket-

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