GREENVILLE, S.C. - Anthony Barash, a lawyer and former Bowater, Inc., executive who has spent the past few years helping develop judicial systems for nations in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, will be on the Furman University campus this spring as the first Riley Institute Scholar-in-Residence.

      Barash will teach a seminar for Furman students that will explore the role of the Rule of Law in the democratization of developing nations.

      "The Scholar-in-Residence Seminar Series provides us with a unique opportunity to connect Furman students with practitioners in fascinating fields," said John Simpkins, associate director of the Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership.  "Through his work with the American Bar Association, Tony Barash has been on the front lines of democratization efforts in Eastern Europe.  His insights and perspective will be invaluable for our students."

      Barash has had a distinguished legal career, serving as Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and General Counsel of Bowater, Inc., in Greenville from 1996 to 2002.  In May of 2003, he became the American Bar Association/Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI) Officer in Uzbekistan.  For a year and a half, he worked to develop the Uzbeki legal and judicial systems in addition to those of other Central Asian States.

      Barash spent a week on the Furman campus last fall as the Riley Institute's first Fellow-in-Residence.  He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and of the Urban League of the Upstate.  He received his A.B. degree from Harvard College and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Chicago Law School.

      The Riley Institute is a non-partisan institute affiliated with the Furman's Department of Political Science.  For more information, contact the Institute at 864-294-3280 or visit Furman's website at www.furman.edu/riley.

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2-28-05