Early life and education

Born in Jerusalem,^[1] Firyal Irshaid is the daughter of the late Sayyid Farid Mahmoud Irshaid, a political leader who served as a minister in the government and a parliamentarian in the Jordan Senate. Her mother Farida was chairwoman of the Red Crescent Society in the West Bank.^[8]

Irshaid attended Berzeit College. She studied for two years at the American College for Women in Beirut before her marriage; she resumed her studies and earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University School of General Studies in 1999.^[9]

Career

Irshaid was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992.^[10] Three years later, in 1995, she was appointed Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO. She works primarily on programs for protection of world heritage and education.^[11]

In Jordan, Irshaid became active in relief work in refugee camps. She worked for the literacy programs with the nomadic Bedouin tribes. She also established the family planning program.^[12]

Irshaid launched the International Hope Foundation under the UNESCO umbrella in 1994 for the benefit of homeless and street children.^[13]

Irshaid's philanthropic positions and credentials include:

• Board of Directors of the United Nations Association in March, 2003.^[14]
• Board of Trustees of the International Rescue Committee based in New York.^[5]
• International Council at Columbia University^[15]
• Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library^[16]
• Trustee of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris^[17]
• International Council of the Tate Modern in London^[18]
• Minister Plenipotentiary by the government of Jordan in May 2007 at the Jordanian Embassy as U.S. Ambassador^[19]
• Museum of Modern Art Board of Chairman Council of MOMA.^[20]
• Guggenheim Museum Member of the Middle Eastern Circle^[21]