Maliha Zulfacar '70 has been named Afghanistan's Ambassador to Germany -- the first woman appointed as an ambassador from Afghanistan. Born and raised in the capital city of Kabul, Maliha came to the U.S. to pursue her college education and graduated from Western with a B.A. in sociology and anthropology. She earned two master's degrees from the University of Cincinnati, taught at Kabul University, lived and studied in Germany during the Russian occupation of her home country, and in the mid-'80s settled in California and joined the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. After returning to Germany on sabbatical, she received her Ph.D. from Paderborn University there and in 1998 published a book based on her dissertation, Afghan Immigrants in the USA and Germany. Since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001, Maliha has been leading a double life: spending the academic year teaching at Cal Poly and organizing fund-raising projects to benefit Afghanistan's educational system and infrastructure, spending summers teaching at Kabul University. She plans to return to Cal Poly after her term as ambassador. Commenting for the Cal Poly e-newsletter, Maliha acknowledged both the honor and responsibility that comes with her appointment, but also recognized "the opportunity to serve my country of birth and also to demonstrate that when Afghan women are given the chance for education, they too will be able to participate effectively in the reconstruction of the country." In addition to her academic commitments, Maliha has found time to produce two documentaries about average citizens in Afghanistan. The latest, "Kabul Transit" -- which follows city residents through their daily lives and records their stories and hopes for the future -- was screened at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival.

E. Jewelle Johnson '94 received three honors this year, adding to an impressive resume of professional and personal recognitions. She was included as one of Atlanta Woman magazine's "Top 25 Power Women to Watch in 2006," named to Law & Politics magazine's "2006 Georgia Super Lawyers -- Rising Stars," and featured in the Fulton County Daily Report's "On the Rise" list of young attorneys for 2006. In addition, she takes office January 1, 2007, as president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. A senior associate with the Atlanta office of national law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP, Jewelle graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1997 and has been a practicing attorney for eight years. Her litigation practice has included defending management against employment discrimination claims and unfair labor practice charges at both the state and federal level. She also advises clients on preventative measures aimed at reducing employment-related claims and affirmative action law, saying, "I don't think most employers ... set out to discriminate or will tolerate harassment of discrimination. I really believe [they] want to do the right thing, but sometimes they don't know how and need a little help." Among her numerous board memberships are West End Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Georgia State Bar Women and Minorities, and the Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium. She is a member and speaker for the Atlanta Business League.