Beong-Soo Kim and Dafer Dakhil, executive director of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation, address the reception. (USC Photo/Brian van der Brug)
Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation celebrates its strong ties with USC
The foundation also presented USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim with its Distinguished Pathfinder’s Award.
The Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation honored its deep and strong ties to USC last week at a reception that highlighted special relationships within the Exposition Park community.
USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim emphasized the long-standing connections USC and the foundation have had in the community, which he called “a remarkable neighborhood that brings together art, science, culture and learning.” The foundation’s masjid, with its distinctive green minaret, is on Exposition Boulevard across Vermont Avenue from the USC University Park Campus.
The foundation, Kim said, was a leader in bringing the community together over many local projects, including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the California Science Center’s Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, both of which are under construction in Exposition Park, and USC Village. Kim said that when the community comes together, “there’s absolutely nothing that we can’t do together.”
Relationship between two institutions
The foundation’s Sophia Momand said the relationship between the two institutions “is sincere, natural, complementary and built on solid foundations. It is a positive relationship whose impact and benefits transcend our two institutions, this neighborhood, our community and our city.”
At a reception attended by 80-plus local and international civic, faith and community leaders, the foundation also presented Kim with the group’s Distinguished Pathfinder’s Award. Steven B. Sample received the same award during his USC presidency.
Kim, Momand said, “embodies the spirit of this award, courage and leadership, excellence and vision, and dedication to the community.”
“Since joining USC in 2020 he has strengthened governance, championed equity and accountability, and advanced initiatives in research, ethics and academic freedom,” Momand said.
Dafer Dakhil, executive director of the foundation, said the evening celebrated leadership grounded in “service, compassion and shared purpose.”
USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni, who introduced Kim, also highlighted the deep ties between the university and the foundation. Soni, who oversees more student religious groups than anyone in the United States, said those connections are vital to USC students, who are more engaged than ever.
