Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars Program Launches at AUC

This fall, 12 AUC students joined the new Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars (TLS) program, forming its first cohort.

TLS, which is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and AUC, grants scholarships to current AUC students who wish to study gender and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to work in policy reform. TLS recipients are covered for one year at full tuition. 

"I applied to TLS because I want to take part in making the world a better, more just place for everyone regardless of their gender," said Tamer Osman, a TLS computer engineering major.

In addition to the scholarship, TLS recipients are given training in gender, leadership and soft skills, as well as being required to take part in cocurricular activities to further engage as agents of change in their own communities.

During the inauguration of the new program in early October at AUC New Cairo, Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Department of State Nathaniel Turner addressed the new cohorts, expressing the embassy's pride in the program. "It's very inspiring to us at the embassy to see where this program is taking people," he said. Commenting on Tomorrow's Leaders students, he added, "They've got integrity, compassion and service. They're going to change things in big ways."

"I hope this program will have ripple effects throughout the University through supporting faculty who want to develop new gender courses and/or be more gender sensitive in their teaching," said Helen Rizzo, associate professor of sociology and TLS program director. "I am eager to participate in discussion and activities across campus to make AUC a more gender sensitive and responsive institution."

The Tomorrow's Leaders Program at AUC also has undergraduate and graduate programs.