Barbara Aswad was a former professor emeritus of anthropology at Wayne State University. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of Michigan and conducted research in Arab villages and Turkish cities of the Middle East, as well as in the Arab community in Dearborn, Mich.
She published three books: one on a village she studied; one entitled, "Arabic Speaking Communities in American Cities"; and her most recent, "Family and Gender Among American Muslims." She had also published 35 articles and chapters in books. Her research interests included the areas of gender, Arab American studies, urban anthropology and peasant social organization.
Barbara was a past president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America, the major professional organization for professors who teach on the Middle East. Throughout her teaching career, she received numerous honors. She was a Fulbright Scholar, and received the Graduate Mentor, Women of Wayne and Alumni Service awards from Wayne State University.
She retired from Wayne State University in 2000, and she and her husband Adnan spent their time between Michigan and California.