Kuwaiti alumnus returns to Muncie for visit

Dr. Saad Al-Muhanna (L) presents a gift to former Ball State foreign student advisor, Miss Thelma Hiatt.

A distinguished Ball State alumnus and Kuwaiti business executive, Dr. Saad Al-Muhanna, renewed acquaintances at Ball State during campus visit in May 2007.

First on the list of people to meet was Miss Thelma Haitt, director emeritus of Foreign Student Programs at the university. These two had not met since Al-Muhanna, a 1976 master's degree graduate in accounting, had returned to campus in 1983 for a reunion of foreign students. Al-Muhanna and Hiatt, now 94 years old, enjoyed reminiscing about that reunion and other students they both knew.

Al-Muhanna paid a courtesy visit on Miller College of Business administrators, discussing issues related to his work as managing partner of Horwath Al-Muhanna & Co., a prominent Kuwaiti accounting firm. He also met with administrators of Teachers College with respect to possible collaboration with several private schools he owns in Kuwait.

In a private breakfast meeting at the home of international advancement director Dr. Martin Limbird, Al-Muhanna met with Dr. George Hanks, emeritus professor of accounting and university advancement vice president Dr. Ben Hancock. Hancock thanked Al-Muhanna for his past support financing the Kuwaiti alumni conference room in the Alumni Center on campus.

"Dr. Al-Muhanna was a marvelous host to me during my recent visit to Kuwait, and we are delighted he accepted my invitation to come back to Ball State" said Limbird

Dr. Ben Hancock, Ball State's vice president of advancement welcomes Dr. Saad Al-Muhanna to campus.

Dr. Saad Al-Muhanna (2nd from right) his son Abdullah (L) and daughter (R) Mrs. Alia'a Saad Al-Muhanna welcome Dr. Martin Limbird to his home in Kuwait.