NUSACC’s David Hamod Receives International Impact Award

posted on: Oct 9, 2025

University of Iowa: David Hamod’s “exemplary dedication to diplomacy, peace, prosperity, and cultural understanding throughout the world makes him the ideal recipient of this award.” 

David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), was recently awarded the University of Iowa’s International Impact Award. In an award ceremony in Iowa City, Hamod thanked the University of Iowa – an alma mater – for recognizing his service as an advocate and bridge-builder throughout his professional career.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award from the University of Iowa,” Hamod said. “It has been my great privilege to connect peoples and cultures over the years from all around the globe. This includes Americans living overseas, who play an instrumental role in promoting American culture and values worldwide.” (A video of Hamod’s remarks may be found here, and his written acceptance speech may be found here.)

“It is wonderful that the University of Iowa has chosen to recognize David Hamod for his tireless work as a citizen diplomat and an advocate for international commerce and economic cooperation,” noted Barbara Wilson, President of the University of Iowa. “David is a most fitting recipient of Iowa’s International Impact Award, and we are grateful for his enduring commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding.”

The International Impact Award was established by University of Iowa (UI) International Programs in 2010 to honor exceptional individuals in any field who have made sustained and deep contributions internationally or in the United States to promote global understanding.

“David Hamod embodies the global spirit of the State of Iowa and UI International Programs,” noted Russell Ganim, Associate Provost and Dean of International Programs. “His exemplary dedication to diplomacy, peace, prosperity, and cultural understanding throughout the world makes him the ideal recipient of this award.” (Ganim’s full remarks may be found here.)

The Middle East and Beyond

Hamod is best known for his work in support of relations between the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Under his leadership as head of the National U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce, NUSACC has grown from a few hundred stakeholders to more than 50,000 stakeholders. In recent years, NUSACC has won the E-Award (2016) and the E-Star Award (2024) – conferred by the President of the United States – America’s top honor for export excellence. NUSACC is the only chamber of its kind to ever win this award . . . not once, but twice.

Commenting on the International Impact Award, the Hon. James B. Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and a member of NUSACC’s Board of Directors, noted, “We are indeed proud of David’s recognition as we are honored to work with him on trade issues. More importantly, we treasure the ability to collaborate in the process of bringing people together, seeking solutions to the problems of people in need, and assisting him as he works tirelessly to create a better world.”

But Hamod’s work in the Arab world was only part of the reason why he received the UI’s International Impact Award. Susan Neely, a Board member of the UI Center for Advancement, highlighted four themes in Hamod’s career that led her to nominate him for the International Impact Award: 1) Advocating for U.S. business overseas; 2) Supporting American citizens around the world; 3) Promoting humanitarian causes through international community service; 4) Serving the University of Iowa.

“David is a consummate global citizen,” Neely noted. She commended Hamod on his “amazing career and the myriad ways that he made – and continues to make – our world a better place.” (Neely’s testimonial may be found here.)

State Government Officials: Connecting Mideast and Midwest

Friends and family from around the United States participated in the award ceremony at the University of Iowa. This included high-level participation from Iowa and Nebraska, to which NUSACC has brought multiple Arab leaders in recent years to explore opportunities in food security and sustainability.

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Iowa and Nebraska are central pillars of the U.S. agricultural and renewable energy economy. In 2024, these two states produced $60 billion in agricultural cash receipts, second only to California in the United States.

“Throughout my time as Secretary of State, I’ve been fortunate to meet many impressive individuals dedicated to supporting our business community and strengthening Iowa’s foreign partnerships, but David stands out in a class of his own,” noted the Honorable Paul Pate, Iowa’s Secretary of State. “In an increasingly divided world, David represents something very essential – the power of finding common ground. His respect for diverse cultures and perspectives has guided him as he advocates for global business, strengthens U.S. – Arab relations, champions humanitarian causes, and supports his home state of Iowa.”

Pate concluded, “Today, we are not just celebrating one man’s achievement; we are celebrating the very best of what it means to be both a proud Iowan and a citizen of the world. We’re honoring someone who has demonstrated that when we reach across borders with genuine respect and understanding, we can build up more than just global commerce. We can build strong global partnerships and friendships.” (Pate’s full remarks may be found here.)

“There is nothing ordinary about David Hamod,” noted the Honorable Robert Evnen, Secretary of State of Nebraska. “His service as President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce has resulted in unparalleled success in promoting trade, and in fostering educational and cultural interchange, between the United States and the Middle East – North Africa (MENA) region.”

Evnen went on to say, “In all of his work at the highest reaches of government and business in the Middle East, David has never forgotten his deep roots in Iowa – and in Nebraska, too. Our partnership with NUSACC here in Nebraska has been enormously beneficial for our people and, we hope as well, for the people of the MENA nations we have visited.”

Evnen concluded, “None of this would have been possible without David’s unflagging dedication and tireless hard work.” (Evnen’s full remarks may be found here.)

Food Security and Sustainability

The $500,000 World Food Prize, based in Iowa, is widely regarded as the preeminent global award for sustainability. The prize was created in honor of Norman Borlaug, a Midwesterner, who is credited with saving more than a billion lives by launching the Green Revolution.

Hamod has worked extensively over the years with Mashal Husain, President of the World Food Prize. She noted: David Hamod’s “life and work embody the best of Iowa’s values: a steadfast commitment to hard work, unwavering integrity, and a spirit of service that transcends borders.” She went on to say, “David sees commerce as diplomacy, as dialogue, as a force for peace. He has worked tirelessly to dismantle barriers — economic, political, and cultural — and in doing so, has created platforms for cooperation where others saw only division.”

She concluded, “Today, we celebrate not only David’s extraordinary achievements, but also his enduring legacy and impact — one that touches lives, shapes industries, and redefines diplomacy through the lens of commerce and cooperation.” (Husain’s full remarks may be found here.)

Americans Abroad

A significant part of Hamod’s professional life has been dedicated to working with overseas Americans, often on a pro bono basis. This began with his experience as a student in Oxford, England.

“It has been my great privilege to work with communities of Americans all over the globe,” Hamod noted. “As American citizen diplomats, we are all serving as ambassadors for the United States.”

He went on to say, “Americans living abroad interact with other cultures on a continual basis. In my experience – and contrary to some negative stereotypes – overseas Americans are among the most patriotic, hard-working people I’ve ever met.”

In October 2023, at a celebration in Paris commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), AARO presented Hamod with its Outstanding Service Award. (Click here to see the report, and click here to watch Hamod’s acceptance speech.)

Doris Speer, President of AARO, said, “David Hamod, who is only the sixth person to ever receive this award, has dedicated much of his professional life to serving Americans around the globe. He has been crucial to AARO in its advocacy efforts for over 30 years, and overseas Americans are most grateful to him for his unfailing support.”

For example, Hamod has tackled such topics as: Citizenship (transmitting U.S. nationality to Americans born abroad); voting rights (counting the votes of overseas Americans); U.S. embassy employment (enabling private U.S. citizens overseas to work in U.S. embassies and consulates); extending full medical coverage to American veterans resident overseas; education (including expansion of the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools [DoDDS] in emerging communities worldwide).

In recent months, Hamod has spoken out about the importance of Americans studying overseas and international students in the United States. Susan Neely noted, “In a recent guest editorial published in The Des Moines Register, for example, David provided thoughtful and powerful arguments on why abductions of foreign students on U.S. campuses are ‘counterproductive theatrics and not in the interest of the United States’.”

Giving Back

In his acceptance speech at the University of Iowa, Hamod stated, “Whatever success I have achieved, I have done so in partnership with others. I am proud to accept this award, but it would not have been possible without you – friends, family, professional colleagues, mentors, partners. All of you have helped me to become the man that I am today.”

An integral part of Hamod’s professional life has revolved around giving back to people and institutions that lifted him up along the way.

For example, Hamod studied abroad – twice – as a Rotary scholar. He lauds these experiences overseas and the importance of giving back to organizations like Rotary International.

A former “Rotarian of the Year,” Hamod continues to promote humanitarian causes through international community service. In the Washington Rotary Club, where he served as President, Hamod was the driving force behind two dozen humanitarian projects that brought together Rotary Clubs from around the world in such nations as Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Philippines, Thailand, and many more.

In the same spirit of community service, Hamod led the effort to provide a 40-foot Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) to Children’s National Medical Center to offer free health care to over 3,500 families per year in Washington DC. Dr. Gloria WilderBrathwaite, then-Medical Director of the project, described the impact this way: “The MMU really does serve as a lifeline for children in these communities. For so many of these families, it is a matter of life or death.”

When Oprah Winfrey heard about this project – made possible through international partnerships with Rotarians – she donated a MMU of her own to Children’s National Medical Center and presented Dr. Gloria with Oprah’s $100,000 Use Your Life Award. This is an example of what Hamod has done so many times over the years: Leveraging modest resources to serve community needs.

Hamod has also given back to the University of Iowa in a variety of ways. Lynette Marshall, President & CEO of the UI Center for Advancement, highlighted the scholarships that Hamod established in the names of his mother (Dr. Kay Keeshan Hamod) and his father (Dr. Sam Hamod), a revered poet and an Iowa Writers Workshop graduate. By donating his father’s papers and books to the UI Libraries Special Collections and Archives, Marshall noted, Hamod and his family are “ensuring that future generations of scholars can explore these documents.”

Marshall noted, “David has said he believes that only by seeing the world can one understand how much cultures have in common, and that it is important to celebrate what we share instead of what divides us.” She concluded, “Thank you for embodying this work, David, and thank you for your tireless efforts to use your expertise and worldview to bring people together in a positive way.” (Marshall’s full remarks may be found here.)

Support for Honors Students

In 2010, David Hamod was named the first “Outstanding Alumnus” of the UI Honors Program. Dr. Art Spisak, former Director of that program, who worked closely with Hamod over the years, commended David for his decades-long commitment to honors students.

From the outset, Spisak said, Hamod was a bridge-builder. “David’s special gift, the way that he brings people together in such positive ways, was clear from his early days as an undergraduate honors student,” Spisak noted.

Hamod was an Honors proctor, and he was later appointed to serve as liaison between honors students and the UI administration. In that capacity, on behalf of the students, he was responsible for making recommendations to strengthen and expand the Honors Program.

Later, Hamod was tapped to serve as a charter member of the Honors Program Advisory Board, founded by Spisak, from 2014 to 2021. Spisak noted, “I discovered very soon that David had an intellect, an awareness, and an intensity that gave him a strong presence. He understood very well the challenges that the Honors Program faced.”

In service to the Honors Advisory Board, Spisak said, Hamod exhibited great sensitivity in speaking before diverse groups. “Within minutes, and in a charming manner, David helped this group to realize the importance of what the Honors program sought to do for students. He was both affirming and inspiring, and he left us all feeling that we were part of something of real value.” (Spisak’s full remarks may be found here.)

Quiet Diplomacy

For years, Hamod has often worked quietly, behind the scenes, to promote commercial and cultural relations between the United States and nations around the world, especially in the MENA region.

Watching this firsthand has been H.E. Shaikh Abdulla Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United States and a leader of the Arab diplomatic corps in the USA.

In his testimonial, His Excellency noted, “During my tenure in this post, I have come to know David as a man of many distinguished roles. He possesses a rare ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes with the ease of a seasoned strategist, yet carries himself with a humility and warmth more often associated with monastic life. Through his work, David has built enduring relationships with leaders in government, business, and academia – relationships that have tangibly impacted lives across the globe.”

The Ambassador went on to say, “David’s vision for U.S.-Arab relations has been nothing short of transformative. His understanding of where these relations stood – and more importantly, where they needed to go – has had an immeasurable influence on diplomacy, investment, and cross-cultural exchange.” He continued, “Far beyond the conventional efforts of brokering introductions between government officials, David has served as an architect of lasting connections – bridges woven between communities, from heads of state to everyday citizens.”

Ambassador Al Khalifa concluded, “It is with great appreciation, therefore, that I commend the University of Iowa for recognizing Mr. Hamod’s exceptional contributions. I count myself among the many who have been touched by his wisdom, generosity, and guidance. David Hamod is a man of many noble roles – statesman, guide, guardian, navigator and, above all, friend.” (Ambassador Al Khalifa’s full remarks may be found here.)

NUSACC’s David Hamod Receives International Impact Award
David Hamod de la NUSACC reçoit le Prix de l’Impact International
حصول ديفيد حمود على جائزة الأثر الدولي من جامعة أيوا

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