Light brown box and black text at the top left hand side: “95 Years of Women at AUC.” On the right, a photo of Eva Habib El Masri ‘31, with the date 1928. Next, a black and white photo of two AUC women wearing black caps and gowns with the date 1953. Next, a black and white photo of a female student receiving an award, with the date 1978. Next, a color photo of a woman graduating and wearing a cap and gown receiving her degree on stage with the date 2003. Last, a color photo of three women grads in 2023

Women at AUC: Celebrating 95 Years

Abigail Flynn

March 2, 2023

AUC's first female student, Eva Habib El Masri '31, joined the University in 1928. 95 years later, AUC women have continued to raise the bar of excellence, from innovations in science and technology to shining successes in business and entrepreneurship. See the history of women at AUC, read about how women have #MadeAUCProud and learn more about the way AUC continues to encourage women's success.

Infographic with a light brown box and black text at the top right hand side: “95 Years of Women at AUC.” On the top left, a photo of Eva Habib El Masri ‘31, with a light brown text box below it and the words “1 Female Student, 0 Female Faculty, 2 Female Staff.” Below on the right, a black and white photo of two AUC women wearing black caps and gowns, graduating in 1953, with a light brown text box below it and the words, “147 Female Students, 1 Female Faculty, 11 Female Staff.” Below on the left, a black and white photo of a female student in 1978 receiving an award, with a light brown text box below it and the words “2,608 Female Students, 139 Female Faculty, 375 Female Staff.” Below it on the right, a color photo of a woman graduating and wearing a cap and gown receiving her degree on stage in 2003, with a light brown text box below it and the words “1,057 Female Students, 71 Female Faculty, 204 Female Staff.” Below it on the right, a color photo of three young women sitting at a graduation ceremony wearing caps and gowns in 2023, with a light brown text box below it and the words “4,254 Female Students, 228 Female Faculty.”

#MakingAUCProud

STEM

Sara Sabry ‘16 became the first Egyptian Astronaut after flying to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket in August 2022.

Sara Sabry '16 pictured smiling at the camera

Zainab Mahmoud ‘22, Fatma Elnefaly ‘22, Mayar Khairy ‘22 and Menna Soliman ‘22 were awarded the ministry shield by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for their work on developing self-luminous concrete for their graduation theses.

Four AUC students stand with the Minister of Higher Education, holding ministry of shield awards and smiling at the camera

Business

Multiple AUC alumnae were honored on Forbes Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen for 2023, inlduing Elham Mahfouz '84, Nadia Al Saeed (MBA '92), Abir Leheta '94, Dalia El Baz '95, Abeer Saleh '96, Omnia Kelig '99, Yasmine Khamis '99 and Farida Khamis '00.

Eight AUC alumnae are pictured smiling at the camera, with the Forbes Middle East logo in the bottom right corner

Two alumnae, Dina Aly '04 and Fatma El Shenawy ‘14, were honored for their innovation, risk-taking and business savvy at the 2022 Egypt Entrepreneur Awards.

On the left, a picture of Dina Aly '04 crossing her legs while sitting on a chair and smiling at the camera; on the right, Fatma El Shenawy ‘14 stands on a stage and looks away from the camera while smiling and holding an award — Dina Aly '04 (left) and Fatma El Shenawy ‘14 (right)

Athletics

Student athlete Aya Abbas '23 set a new African record and won a bronze medal at the 100m freestyle event at the World Para Swimming Championship in Portugal.

Aya Abbas '23 sits in a wheel chair wearing a swimsuit, swim cap and goggles in front of the AUC pool with her arms crossed, looking determined

Student athlete and squash player, Hania El Hammamy, won the CIB Egyptian Open and won the Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open title in 2022.

Hania El Hammamy stands smiling on a court while holding a squash trophy

Government

Anne Aly ‘90 became Australia’s first Muslim Woman minister.

Photo of Anne Aly smiling at the camera

Humanities

Noor Naga’s dark romance novel about the gaps in American identity politics, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English, was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize shortlist.

Noor Naga smiles at the camera Cover of the novel "If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English," a shirtless man holding a shield and dagger on the front cover

May El-Ibrashy, Egyptian architectural historian and adjunct professor in the Department of Architecture, won the Prince Claus Fund’s Impact Award.

May El-Ibrashy smiles at the camera

Media and the Arts

Marianne Khoury ‘80, producer, director, writer and mentor, was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French head of state for her position as a bridge between artists and industry in Egypt and Europe.

Marianne Khoury '80 smiles at the camera

Eight AUC women took home 13 awards at the 2022 Broadcast Education Association (BEA)’s Festival of Media Arts.

BEA Award Winners, eight photos of AUCian women

Women at AUC: Celebrating 95 Years

#MakingAUCProud

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