AFS APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

[American Fisheries Society]

AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bethesda, Md.--Ghassan ("Gus") Rassam, a recognized leader in the online
publishing and nonprofit association communities, has been appointed the
fifth executive director of the American Fisheries Society (AFS). As such,
Rassam will head the world's largest and oldest organization of fisheries
professionals at a time when the Society is launching a five-year strategic
plan that focuses on fisheries and aquatic stewardship, professional
development, and a greatly expanded communications program.
	"Gus is skilled and experienced in working with diverse audiences, which
will be a great asset as he represents AFS with professional organizations,
public agencies, and citizen conservation groups," said Society President
Robert Carline.
	Rassam comes to the Society via the Optical Society of America, a
professional society devoted to the fields of fiber optics and laser
technology. There, in addition to functioning as a chief executive for a
period, he served as director of publications as well as program and
international development. His development of the organization's electronic
journal publication, book publishing and marketing programs brought him wide
recognition in the science publishing community.
        Rassam trained in the geosciences, earning a master's degree at
Miami University (Ohio) and a Ph.D at the University of Minnesota. He has
been a Fulbright scholar and did graduate study at the Sorbonne University
in Paris. In addition to his tenure at the Optical Society, his professional
experience includes several decades of work as a petroleum geologist,
database developer, teacher, director of marketing and information services,
and assistant director of publications. Rassam also has shared his expertise
with numerous government and professional entities. He chaired the
Commission on Geological Documentation of the International Union of
Geological Sciences and served on the executive board of the International
Council for Scientific and Technical Information. He also was president of
the Association of Earth Science Editors and served as a member of the
governing board and executive committee of the American Institute of
Physics. ###
Formed in 1870, the American Fisheries Society has more than 9,000 members
in 73 countries.