2024 Womxn’s History Month web graphic

Ahlam Muhtaseb, Cal State San Bernardino professor of media studies, will be honored with the 2024 Distinguished Woman of the Year award from Women Support Organization (WSO) on Saturday, March 2, when the organization holds its International Women's Day celebration.

The award recognizes Muhtaseb’s outstanding contributions and leadership in the field of women’s diversity, the WSO said in announcing the award. In addition, she will serve as the keynote speaker at the WSO’s Saturday event in Norco.

In addition to teaching, Muhtaseb is the co-producer and co-director, with Andy Trimlett, of the award-winning documentary “1948: Creation & Catastrophe.” Muhtaseb won the 2019 Rebuilding Alliance “Story Teller” Award, and the film won the Jerusalem International Film Festival’s 2019 Special Jury Award in the Feature Documentary category. She is the recipient of the 2020 CSUSB Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creative Activities Award and was one of the 2019-20 Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Faculty Mentor Awardees.

Most recently, she was the co-producer and lead researcher for the 2023 documentary “36 Seconds: Portrait of a Hate Crime,” which has been screened and honored at several international film festivals:

  • DOC NYC 2023, U.S. Competition, Subject Matter Award
  • Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2024, West Coast Premiere
  • Dubai International Cine Carnival, 2024 Award Winner
  • Swedish Academy Award for Best Documentary Film 2024
  • Sarasota Film Festival, 2024 Official Selection
  • CAAMFest, 2024 Official Selection

Its next scheduled screening will be March 5 at Sacramento State.

The WSO is a non-profit, California-based organization that assists women to start their own businesses, providing guidance, support  and training with the legal, education and financial aspects of running a business.