Producer: Ken Dorph

Ken Dorph is a consultant who strengthens banks and financial systems worldwide. Ken is fluent in French, Spanish, Arabic, and other languages, and has a special connection to the Middle East. Since studying as a teen in Morocco in 1972, Ken has lived or worked in every Arab country. He has become the World Bank's "go-to guy" for strengthening financial systems in Arab economies. Since the Arab spring he has worked in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine,Yemen, Iraq, and Syria as well as Saudi and the Gulf. Ken has also worked in several non-Arab Muslim countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and has special expertise in Islamic finance. When not consulting, Ken speaks often on the Middle East. He has been invited to lecture or has led panels at UC Berkeley, the Wharton School, the University of Michigan, the New School, Georgetown University, the World Bank, the C3 Summit, and at Harvard's Arab Weekend. Since September 11th, Ken has been introducing the Arab world at high schools, colleges, and to the public. In April 2014, Ken presented "An Evening with My Friends the Arabs" at Bay Street Theater.

Ken has a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan, including a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Damascus, and an MBA in International Finance from the Wharton School. Ken lives in Sag Harbor where he is known as "the Bike Guy" for his advocacy or as "Leyla's and Darius's' dad."

As someone who travels often between Sag Harbor and the Middle East, Ken bestrides two cultures that increasingly distrust each another. He will share his thoughts on how this crisis evolved, where the greatest misperceptions lie, and how we might heal some of the fear and anger that poison our relations with the Middle East.