After a successful launch last year, the Tomorrow’s Leaders Gender Scholars (TLS) program has more than doubled in size this fall, with 28 students joining the program’s second cohort.

Coming from a variety of majors, the new recruits are excited to expand their knowledge and understanding of gender as it relates to their areas of study, to society and to their future leadership, civic engagement and professional potential.

Having always wanted to join Tomorrow’s Leaders at AUC, Omar Basyouny, mechanical engineering sophomore, was thrilled to learn of his acceptance into this year’s cohort. 

“As someone who is very interested in learning about gender and promoting gender equality, I found the TLS Program an ideal fit for me,” he said.. “I am proud and honored to be a part of this extraordinary and exceptional community.”

TLS, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and AUC, grants a one-year scholarship to current AUC students who have leadership potential and are interested in studying and incorporating gender across academia and the public and private sectors.  

This year, the cohort will undertake projects in civic engagement and mentored research, attend a series of specialized workshops covering various aspects related to gender, leadership and wellness, and organize TLS and Tomorrow’s Leaders events on campus.  

For the new cohort, gender equality is more than a goal in itself.

“To me, gender equality is equal opportunity, equal pay and equal respect,” reflected Zeina Lasheen, Integrated Marketing Communication junior. “It’s not having to fight for women to be trusted to make their own decisions. It’s normalizing that men cry and struggle. It’s accepting that we’re all human and we’re all essentially the same.”

Moustafa Sherif, a junior studying biology, is eager to explore how he can integrate gender equality into his career as a biologist with TLS.

“I dream about making a community that is self-reliant and transformative, a community resembling a spring of knowledge, and, in parallel, a community of peace and tranquility. Therefore, it is easy to see how I, a scientist in the making, would put such value on gender equality; it is, in my opinion, laced within the fabric of my dream about my community ... there is simply no dream without the ideals of gender equality,” he said.

In addition to exploring gender themes, the program  also connects students to different networking opportunities, such as attending international and national conferences, where they can  engage with a wider community of specialists. It also gives them the chance to learn about and interact with civil society organizations working in the field of social development with a gendered lens. On campus, the program links students with offices and departments (such as the Title IX Office) that can assist their engagement and impact within AUC.

The program is also hosting Gender Wednesdays, a public lecture series open to the AUC community that features experts, activists and public figures discussing current issues and their relation to gender. The first talk of the series, which took place in September, explored online sexual harassment in Arabic and the impact of gender on social media trends. Moving forward, the lectures will take place every third Wednesday of each month.

Basyouny is confident that his involvement in TLS this year will pave the way for opportunities for him to make the world a better place. “I believe this program will prepare me to be a capable leader of tomorrow and enable me to make a strong positive impact in my community and the world in large,” he said.

Since early in his childhood, Fadi Abdel Dawoud ‘21 had always been interested in pursuing a STEM career – a lifelong dream made possible by the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education via its STEM Scholars Program. Today, he is a software engineer at Microsoft, after previously being employed as a consultant for MasterCard.

“The most important thing about the program is that it enables ambitious students who most likely would not have been able to attend AUC to actually go there, experience an impact and change their lives,” says Abdel Dawoud.

Part of the program’s first cohort at AUC, Abdel Dawoud majored in computer engineering with a minor in mathematics. During his years at the University, he was able to secure an internship as a software engineer with the UAE-based start-up Nabta Health –– an experience he describes as foundational for his career. 

For several years, the foundation has helped high-achieving, underserved Arab youth access higher education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields through a partnership with some of the region’s best universities, including AUC. Through this work, the foundation aims to support 200,000 Emirati and Arab Youth with pathways to sustainable, elevated livelihoods by 2025.

Since its inception in 2016, the program has financed the studies of more than 600 students from the region, impacting an entire generation of future STEM field leaders. At AUC, nearly 100 students have benefitted from the scholarship, with 75% of Al Ghurair alumni moving on to pursue further studies or work for major companies such as Dell Technologies, Siemens and Nestle.
AUC’s Al Ghurair Scholars hail from all parts of Egypt and the region, representing 18 of Egypt’s 27 governorates and five nearby countries, from Sudan in the West to Bahrain in the East.

For Yousif Adam (MSc ’20), who graduated with a master’s in environmental engineering and was a recipient of the Medhat Haroun Award for Scholarly Excellence, the program helped him shine in the development sector. 

Adam is the co-founder of The Youth for Development and Leadership Foundation to address social justice and human development in Cairo and Khartoum. Right after graduation, he began working as a research assistant with his master’s supervisor, tackling issues pertaining to the sustainable management of water resources. He also works at AUC’s Center of Excellence for Water.

“One thing that’s really amazing about the scholarship is that it gave me the opportunity to gain a lot of insights regarding sustainable development and how it can make positive social change,” says Adam. “In the past, I didn’t know a lot about sustainability; a lot of the knowledge I use in my work now comes from my experience at AUC.”

Adam also lauds his time at AUC for offering him the opportunity to conduct research in English, his second language, for the very first time, as well as the extraordinary support he received from supervisors and the opportunity to mingle with other students from around the world. 

“When you meet other students from different backgrounds, you are going to engage with them in critical discussions or debates about different issues, how they see the world and how you see the world, and this also plays an important role in intellectual stimulation,” Adam affirms. 

More than 50 Al Ghurair Scholars remain at AUC and are slated to graduate within the next two years. Though they may leave the University and program behind, their experience, network and impacts will forever remain, as Abdel Dawoud explains: “I carried that with me; even after graduation, I’m always looking for ways to improve and develop myself. My network from AUC still stands and is often a great source of support.”

From the arts to sciences — and the special places where they meet in between — AUC is offering two restructured majors and four new minors this fall. 

Multimedia Communication and Journalism

Formerly offering the separate majors of a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism (MMJ) and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Arts (CMA), AUC’s Department of Journalism and Multimedia Communication is now offering a combined Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Communication and Journalism (MMCJ).

“We decided to absorb some elements of the CMA discipline into MMJ, forming MMCJ, thereby increasing the credit hours from 48 to 72,” said Firas Al-Atraqchi, professor of practice in AUC’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and program director.

Students who declare MMCJ will have the option of choosing one of two specializations — communication or journalism. They will also have the choice of one of two capstone pursuits in tandem with their specialization.

Bachelor of Architecture

Similarly, the Department of Architecture is now offering a Bachelor of Architecture in lieu of the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. The new program is a candidate for accreditation with the National Architectural Accrediting Board — an endorsement that will open even more opportunities for program graduates.

“Architecture is at a crossroads between human/cultural values and the technical capabilities of construction,” the catalog description reads. “Moreover, digital technology is rapidly growing, changing our ways of communication, expression, perception, thought and interaction.”

Students majoring in architecture will choose from the following three tracks: Human and Environmental Studies, Tectonics and Computational Design or Architecture and Urban Heritage Design.

Bioinformatics Minor

Paving the way into the future, AUC has launched the first bioinformatics academic degree in Egypt. Ahmed Moustafa, professor and chair of the Department of Biology, explained that recent developments in DNA sequencing technologies have resulted in an enormous amount of genetic data.

“To be able to process, analyze and interpret these data, a need for researchers with combined expertise in biological and computational sciences arose — resulting in the birth of the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics,” Moustafa said. 

Many organizations in Egypt have begun adopting genomics-based approaches across a number of fields, including medicine, agriculture, energy and food. Students who study under this program will be well-equipped to meet the growing demand for bioinformaticians.

“The minor will prepare students to apply data analytics in genomic sciences,” he explained. “Moreover, the students will gain practical skills and experience that allows them to answer questions such as which genetic mutation and/or microbe is associated with a certain disease, which coronavirus variant is dominant in a specific area at a certain point in time or what genetic modification can be applied to improve the production of a certain crop.”

Game Design Minor

Also created as a response to changing job market demands, the  new minor in Game Design is overseen by Ahmad Saqfalhait, associate professor of practice and associate chair of the Department of Arts. A collaboration between the Graphic Design Program and the Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, the program is a response to an industry that has surpassed “three of the biggest entertainment-related industries: music, film and sports, combined,” Saqfalhait said.

He added: “In addition to its economical value, game applications have expanded and evolved to cover various needs, from educational and social to medical and psychological — all playing on our need to have fun and engage.”

With the region lacking representation in this field, according to Saqfalhait, training students in this field will allow them to harness gaming to share their own narratives.

The multidisciplinary minor is open to all AUC students. After finishing the minor, some students will have the opportunity to intern at local game development studios or join an AUC team working on self-initiated game projects in collaboration with external organizations.

Visual Arts Minor

For those wishing to unlock their artistic side, the Department of the Arts is now offering a Visual Arts Minor. Also open to all students, the program will touch on art foundations, painting, ceramics, photography and animation, among others, allowing students to create works of art with a variety of tools.

“Students joining from scientific disciplines, for example, will be able to produce their science-based projects as creative art productions,” said Shady Elnoshokaty, visual arts program director and associate professor of practice in the Department of the Arts. “This is the contemporary concept of arts and art education today.”

Those minoring in Visual Arts can pursue careers as painters, sculptures or illustrators, as well as find work in art galleries and cultural institutions. Moreover, others can find their way as fashion designers, creative directors in cinema, art decorators or exhibition designers.

Islamic History Minor

Finally, the Islamic History minor is the result of a comprehensive rework of a previous minor in Classical/Medieval Middle East History. 

“The courses in this program will prepare students to consider the Islamic past with more nuance and with a variety of analytical skills,” said Amina Elbendary, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations, stressing the program’s importance for anyone interested in the Middle East and Islam today.

She continued: “In order to understand the two, we need to develop more sophisticated ideas about how Islam came to be the way it is,” she said. “This minor is a program that helps students develop the skills necessary to do that." 

Revised to include a broader selection of courses that span multiple levels, “the idea is that a student could begin with an introductory course, such as Survey of Arab History, in their freshman or sophomore year and then proceed to take more intermediate and advanced-level courses," Elbendary explained. 

Students who choose this path will gain a firm foundation in the evolution of Islamic history across time. The course examines history through the prisms of politics, society, and culture while emphasizing current scholarship in each of those three fields.

Explore all of AUC’s course offerings here.

In hopes of strengthening the love of literature in Egypt, AUC students are collaborating with iRead Middle East to establish AUC’s newest student-led organization: iRead AUC.

“iRead AUC will be a platform for students to spread their wings,” says Nouran Reda, a public administration graduate student at AUC and a leader of the iRead initiative, which launched in 2019 as a massive campaign seeking to encourage reading among youth in the Middle East.

Through large events and celebrity testimonials that highlight the impact of reading, iRead is hoping to reinspire millions to pick up a book.

Previously partnering with student events at the University, iRead captured the imagination and visionary outlook of graduate students, which sparked the idea to launch the club.

“This is a dynamic and long-awaited initiative by graduate students aimed at providing projects and programs that support the reading and writing culture at AUC, Egypt and the region,” said Mervat Abou Oaf ‘88, ‘02, professor of practice at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and iRead AUC faculty advisor. “Students will hold events, contests and seminars among our diverse national, regional and international student body.”

Author Ahmed Mourad and Sherine Rashed, co-founders of iRead Middle East, expressed their excitement at bringing the iRead initiative to AUC students.

“The club will promote reading and an appreciation for texts, revamp passion for reading and writing and create an exciting safe haven for readers and writers to be able to indulge and grow their passions for literature, fashion, film, music and cultural arts,” Rashed said.

Reda was inspired by Rashed’s vision to join the iRead initiative. “[Rashed] wanted to allow a space for young and creative minds who are eager to make a difference,” said Reda. “I believe this club will transcend to more than an extracurricular or cocurricular activity — it will become a space for opportunities.”

Mostafa Sobhy, president of the Graduate Student Association, described how iRead AUC will stand out, particularly in its collaboration with a regional entity such as iRead Middle East. “What’s unique is that iRead AUC will give the opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to work together and also to be ambassadors for the larger iRead Middle East,” he said.

Shortly following the club’s launch, Reda helped organize the first iRead Club Summit at AUC, under the theme of “Fairy Tales Reimagined.”

She was excited for the event, as she herself could not relate to many of the damsels in distress described in the fairy tales she read while growing up. “I could not fathom why Cinderella couldn’t try and save herself,” she said. “I grew up realizing that this entrenched within me some toxic norms.”

Doing its part to “rewrite the story,” the event encouraged the role and agency of women in society, affirming women's empowerment through the intellectual initiatives of literary, artistic and cultural projects in the Arab region.

“It was about time for us to revisit the stories we tell our children and forthcoming generations,” Reda said. “Do we really have to tell a little girl that her safety is subject to the presence of a male figure in her life? Or do we want to reflect our reality in beautiful, positive and aesthetic ways? Maybe then we can actually notice change when it comes to gender roles in society.”

As tighter event restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted on campus, the club is now eager to engage with the community, reigniting a passion for reading, self-exploration and vigorous discussions within AUC and beyond.

“The club will host several events in the coming period. It will be operating at full capacity starting fall 2022,” said Nouran Hassan, senior specialist of student organizations, who has worked closely in launching the club.

Reda adds, “I believe that iRead AUC will boost the cocurricular activities and role of cultural student organizations at AUC. The summit was only the beginning of many more activities that are guided by the same student-led creative spirit.”

Connect with iRead AUC on Facebook or Instagram.

The first Campus Conversation of Fall 2022 took place last Thursday, September 22. Here are the main takeaways:

• President Ahmad Dallal highlighted five main priority areas for AUC:
  • Launching a University-wide initiative, "Programs of the Future," to rethink academic programs, with the introduction of new interdisciplinary programs that address emerging trends
  • Enhancing the level of service for students not only on an academic level, but also in terms of student life 
  • Reintegrating AUC Tahrir Square into the campus culture of the University 
  • Building connections with Egypt through partnering with national institutions and spearheading academic programs that cater to community needs
  • Fine-tuning operations to model integrity and efficiency
• As of Tuesday, September 27, the self-check tool will no longer be required to access campus. It will only be used to report symptoms. 
• Masking is now optional on AUC campuses and buses. 

• Visitors must still provide proof of vaccination, and athletic facilities will be open to all AUC community members. 

• It has been officially confirmed that an AUC delegation will attend COP27 this November to showcase the University’s climate change research and initiatives. 

• The Mental Health and Well-Being Initiative task force will be working this fall to collect community ideas, evaluate current support mechanisms and recommend measures.

• The Office of Human Resources has introduced a new competency-based performance management system for staff members modeled on best practices at American universities. Training sessions for the new system will be held in English and Arabic this week.

• In response to questions:
  • Visitors are now allowed in the dorms. 
  • AUC will not lose any student due to an inability to pay tuition.
  • Rewarding employee performance will be through a merit system, not promotions and restructuring, to avoid unnecessary expansion of the workforce. This is in line with best practices of academic institutions.
  • The University is undertaking an initiative to assess salary scales.

Coming from abroad or returning to their alma mater, AUC welcomed a new cohort of around 40 faculty members this fall.

While some members are experiencing Egypt for the first time, having moved from their homes in Germany, South Korea and more, other members are turning to their alma mater. News@AUC interviewed five members of this diverse cohort on their research, their decision to join AUC, and what they are looking forward to this year.

Shaimaa El Sherif

Instilling moral values such as acceptance and respect into her students is a key part of Shaimaa El Sherif’s, instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Compositions, goals at AUC and her research in global citizenship education. She is currently working on two research projects, one on transformative learning and teaching and another on enhancing students’ 21st century skills. 

“I found out that there is no better educational institution in Egypt other than AUC to practice teaching and researching,” El Sherif states. “Honestly, I also owe AUC much of what I've learned academically and professionally throughout the past 10 years… I felt like it’s time to give back through teaching.”

El Sherif is excited to spend the year connecting with her students and helping them to become more well rounded through different teaching strategies in addition to working on her two research projects. 

Rodrigo Gratacós Brum

Guided by his academic background in philosophy and film, Rodrigo Gratacós Brum, associate professor of practice in the Department of the Arts, is a talented filmmaker and teacher who joined AUC because of its growing film program. 

“I saw it as an opportunity to have an impact in the area, helping to develop a program that is already very strong,” Brum explains. 

Brum is looking forward to getting to know his students better and learning how he can help them develop projects based on their own experiences and interests. 

Sanghyeok Lee

After studying in Australia and teaching in South Korea, Sanghyeok Lee, assistant professor in the Department of Economics, is ready for new academic adventures in Cairo. Lee studies micro-econometric theory, which includes event history and duration analysis, machine learning and treatment effect analysis.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills in a new place, and hopefully to be able to contribute to the local community as well,” Lee states. 

For the next year, Lee is most excited about the learning opportunities. After teaching in Korea and studying in Australia, New Cairo presents a novel experience for him to explore as an instructor and an academic.

Mariam Abdelazim

As an architecture alumna from AUC, Mariam Abdelazim, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture, is looking forward to the opportunity to give back to her alma mater. In her research she utilizes behavioral science to explore how people interact with public spaces. As a professor, she is excited to bring innovative teaching methods to her classroom. 

 “The attention span of students is different than before, so I always rely on interactive methods of teaching,” she explains. “I ask them to make TikTok videos on a building, or Instagram posts, or we play Jeopardy and do competitions, to get them interested through the type of media they are familiar with.”

Through the next year, Abdelazim looks forward to cultivating a learning community where students can learn from each other and she can learn from them.

Noah Farhadi

With over 27 years of experience in business administration, Noah Farhadi, professor of practice in finance in the Management Department and CIB Endowed Chair, is excited to continue his academic research on strategic finance, mergers and acquisitions and business ecosystems while teaching at the AUC. 

“I think to be a good professor, you need good students,” Farhadi explained. “The students at AUC are motivated, focused and engaged. So I made my choice to move here because it's a great platform for growth.”

In the next year, Farhadi is excited to experience Egyptian culture, connect with his students and contribute to the community. 

Launching for the first time in early 2023, AUC’s Piece of Mind festival aims to normalize conversations about mental health by featuring scripts written by members of the AUC community on mental health and well-being. 

The festival will be accepting English and Arabic submissions from students, alumni, faculty and staff until October 15. 

“Despite global efforts to raise more awareness about the importance of mental health and to destigmatize it, Egyptian society still has a way to go,” says Nadine Abdel Razek ‘20, festival artistic director. “We wanted to use theatre, as the powerful tool that it is, in creating change and starting conversations about this vital topic.”

Piece of Mind will showcase realistic,10-minute plays about mental health and community. Ahead of the festival, Abdel Razek and their team will select seven to nine scripts from the AUC community’s submissions to develop, after which three to five will be offered a place in the festival. Each script will be assigned a director, and a casting call for actors will follow. AUC community members are encouraged to audition.

The festival was created and is overseen by Jillian Campana, professor and associate dean for Undergraduate Studies and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “When I initiated this community project I wanted to promote the idea that mental health is an issue for all of us,” she said. “Needing to talk about it, or wanting help is nothing to be ashamed of; rather seeking help when we need it is part of our total wellness."

The production will take place at AUC early February 2023 and will provide an opportunity for its creators and the audience to start conversations, connect with one another and see the ability of theatre to guide social change and acceptance. 

“We want these plays to show people that they are never alone in whatever they’re going through, that whatever they may be experiencing and/or struggling with is valid,” Abdel Razek explains. “We hope that this festival can help normalize this often taboo topic and help destigmatize it, allowing people to talk more openly about mental health struggles.”

Submit your original play to Piece of Mind here.

Enthusiastically returning to her roots, Noha El-Mikawy ‘82 has become the new dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. With extensive experience in academia, development and policy — as well as a passion for social justice — she brings with her a well-rounded vision to boost the school’s relevance, recognition and impact.

News@AUC caught up with El-Mikawy to learn more.

Why did you decide to join AUC?

I first joined AUC in 1977 to study political science on a full presidential scholarship. I graduated with highest honors and an outstanding graduating senior certificate.

What I got from AUC was more than learning the habits of hard work. The University added to me an invaluable set of principles: honesty, following through on my commitments and taking responsibility for my actions. My professors during my freshman and sophomore years — whether in world history, Greek philosophy, literature or biology — taught me how to craft inquisitive research questions, reflect on multiple streams of inquiry and strive toward findings that advance a field. 

My political science professors at the time (Tim Sullivan, Enid Hill, Gail Gerhart and Malcolm Kerr) gave me something for which I am forever grateful: appreciation for equity and social justice. AUC’s liberal arts education has made me attentive to rigorous inquiry, diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity, hence preparing me for my future research on institutional reform and my work with the United Nations. 

With such a fond memory of AUC, the offer to return to lead the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy was a genuine honor. The deanship at GAPP is an opportunity to work with an inquisitive and ambitious team of faculty, staff and students who want to contribute to a more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable world.

Tell us about your career experience.

After I finished my MA and PhD in comparative politics at the University of California, Los Angeles, I became a full-time assistant professor of political science at AUC. Then I followed my heart and went to Germany with my husband, where I became professionally proficient in German within a year of my arrival and started to teach at the Free University of Berlin and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

Thereafter, I led research projects on the Arab Region at the Center for Development Research at the University of Bonn. Generously funded by the German Ministry for International Cooperation, these projects focused on educational and institutional economic reform in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Yemen.

I was then offered to lead the governance advisory function of the United Nations Development Program's regional office, where I provided advice on governance programs in a wide range of Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. After, I joined UNDP’s global Governance Center in Oslo (Norway) where I led the team working on the development of global governance indicators and deepening UNDP’s global agenda for the legal empowerment of the underprivileged. 

I then served as the director of the Ford Foundation’s regional office in the Middle East and North Africa for 10 years, where I was responsible for strategy, grants and partnerships worth over $100 million. I am convinced that universities and civil society organizations — when they work together — form a vital ecosystem to advance research for policy impact and to drive alternative thought and paradigm shifts in times of transition.

How will you build on your professional expertise during your time at AUC?

My academic training, professional record in policy advice at the United Nations and leadership role at the Ford Foundation help me bring to this job a good mix of skills: (a) rigor and collegiality; (b) an understanding of the intricate balance between harnessing and harvesting rigorous evidence and producing well-crafted and timely messages to policymakers, while nurturing respect and trust; and (c) deep appreciation for a wide range of policy issues and disciplines.

Whether in academia, the United Nations or with the Ford Foundation, the ability to develop meaningful strategies and recognize rigorous thought and dynamic thought partners has proven crucial. Observing how national and multilateral institutions struggled to realize the lofty goals and principles of sustainable development helped me appreciate the political economy of public policymaking and the role of corporate and civic actors in ensuring equity. All of this is important for the collaborative scaling up and scaling sidewise that I envision GAPP to do in the next phase of its growth.

What is your vision for GAPP?

We live in a time of intense uncertainty. This is a huge opportunity for GAPP to carve out a leadership role. The volatile multi-polarity we live in presents an opportune moment for GAPP’s teaching, research and training on global governance. The current transformation in climate and global supply chains (whether of entrepreneurial ideas or people, goods and services) offers GAPP a leadership role in public policy and migration studies. The digitization of economies, information and governance present GAPP with an exciting space to expand its work in public administration, law and journalism. All those changes and more are revolutionizing gender relations and law for social impact. I want to ensure that GAPP harnesses the opportunities that are unleashed and brings the voice of our region to global conversations that level the debating field. 

My goal is to maximize GAPP’s relevance, recognition and impact through:

• Providing strategic focus and branding clarity to our programs and centers.

• Expanding partnerships on campus to enrich teaching methods and research agendas and consolidate influence in regional/global conversations.

• Partnering with schools of global affairs and public policy in leading universities and with leading think tanks around the world.

• Mobilizing resources while paying special attention to integrated research agendas in partnership with the AUC community so that funders find working with GAPP and AUC is the smart thing to do.

What are your priorities for the coming year?

I want to consolidate an organizational culture at GAPP that combines an incisive grasp of global and regional affairs, with a strategic vision that is compassionate, collaborative and efficient in its management of resources and partnerships. I want to help expand GAPP’s leadership through its flagship platforms such as the Arab Media and Society iournal, Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Tahrir Dialogue and the Executive Education program. We will not forget that our primary goal is to make the learning experience at GAPP — whether in classrooms orresearch groups — dynamic, forward-looking and focused on preparing our students, researchers and professionals to become responsible team players and leaders intent on making the future more inclusive and sustainable.

Favorite book genre: Historical fiction

Favorite music: Novel musical interpretations of classical Arab and international evergreens, the kind of music the Ayoub Sisters make.

Favorite activity: Sharing a long ride with a good storyteller.

Favorite food: Molokheya

Role model: She who goes through a crisis with grace and comes out of it a better person with a more resilient empowered team. A leader who reaches for the stars without losing her sense of the ground.

Inspiration: Trees that have an exceptionally interesting shape. They got there because they weathered the forces of nature and refused to break.

What others do not know about you: I was studying music and then stopped; I wanted to study theatre arts, but then did not. So I adopt a management style that celebrates the harmony of different tunes, sounds and sources of light.

Achievement: At a time when the Arab region is searching for a purpose and framework of cooperation, I had the honor of working with and supporting a number of regional civil society networks that believed in having an Arab civic space of engagement –– one that is inclusive, respectful of diversity and daring to dream.

Problem: Reducing inequality and giving everyone a fair chance to be the best they can and want to be.

AUC New Cairo was a sea of smiles from Bassily Auditorium to the Center for the Arts on Sunday as the fall semester kicked off.

Laughter, excitement and surprise were palpable as old friends met again and new acquaintances joined forces to navigate campus.

Life on campus began its revival last week, with new faculty members and students attending orientation, where they got to know each other and their new locale.

This year’s incoming class includes 1,161 undergraduate and 315 graduate students—82 of which are international students hailing from 35 countries, including the U.S., China, Australia, Cuba and Nigeria. The remaining Egyptian students represent 21 of Egypt’s governorates.

Also new to AUC this semester are more than 200 study abroad students. Arriving in Cairo from the United States in mid-August, Lucas Yantis, a senior studying aerospace engineering, and Andrzej Buniowski, an operations research senior, immediately dove into a two-week intensive Egyptian Arabic course at AUC Tahrir Square.  

They also visited the city’s numerous attractions such as the Cairo Tower, Egyptian Museum, Hanging Church, Citadel, Al-Azhar Mosque, Khan el-Khalili, and of course, the pyramids.

“It was my first time visiting the pyramids and I was shocked at how large the stones were,” Buniowski said. “I am about 2 meters tall, and some of the stones were half my size.” 

“Immersing myself in more authentic environments—such as the backstreets of Khan el-Khalili and Zamalek—have been my highlights so far,” Yantis said.

Buniowski shared the same outlook: “I enjoy the busyness and vintage feeling of Khan el-Khalili.”

As for most on their first visit to Egypt, the two friends noticed a few stark differences between life in their home country and life in Cairo. “One of the biggest shocks for me was the Egyptian relationship with the sun,” Yantis said. “In my hometown, people flock outside when the sun is shining, but here, people run for the shade!”

Buniowski was equally surprised the first time he rode in a car. “It was a big culture shock to see people not using lanes,” he said.

Nevertheless, the duo is looking forward to exploring more of the city and meeting more new people from different cultures. So far, they have appreciated AUC’s help in getting situated. “Orientation was very helpful to get us acquainted with life in Cairo,” Buniowski said. Yantis added: "At AUC, we're excited to form relationships with the Egyptian students, as this is where we're going to learn the most about the language and the culture."

A Syrian, an Algerian and an Egyptian sit together on a sofa. This isn’t the opener to a joke—this is move-in week at AUC’s Student Residences, during which just under 700 AUC students from 38 countries will settle into their apartments and start the next chapter of their lives.

Mohamed Abd Alhaseb, Hadj Chikh Dahmane and Andrew Aziz are three friends who, after getting to know each other last year while living at the dorms, are catching up after spending the summer apart.

“My favorite thing about the dorms is the time we get to chill,” Abd Alhaseb said. The computer science freshman from Syria spent the majority of his summer living at the dorms alone. “I was the only one in the entire unit,” he recalled.

The units may have been relatively quiet in terms of students, but they were indeed buzzing all summer with the sound of renovation. The Office of Residential Life upgraded all apartments and common spaces ahead of the semester in order to stay current with student needs.

"This is only the first step in a major renovation that we have been planning for a few years now," said Mohamed Al Alem, associate director of residential life planning and operations. "The needs of our current students are definitely different from the needs of the students living here back in 2009 when the dorms first opened.”

The dorms now boast updated study spaces, better lighting in units and common areas, and well-equipped kitchens that enable students to seamlessly cook meals in their apartments.

‘Lasting memories’

The trio is looking forward to getting back to spending quality time with friends at the dorms and joining more activities on campus.

“Last year, we often gathered together in the lounge to watch football matches,” said Chikh Dahmane.

Abdelaaty Rehab, a computer engineering and mathematics junior who has lived at the dorms since his freshman year, also touched on bonding with fellow students through sports.

“I’ve made a lot of new friends throughout the years by playing football at the AUC Sports Center each week,” he said.

Wanting to experience life at AUC from all angles, he and his roommate Ahmed Badr, a philosophy and computer science junior, are moving across the street this year to the off-campus dorms.

“The thing that amazed me the most when I first moved to the dorms was the diversity—I found no two people alike,” Badr said. “Having that experience has changed me permanently.”

Badr’s favorite memory, so far, has been a Christmas party held last year in his unit. “The atmosphere was so cozy, and we wrote down and shared our visions for the new year,” he said. “I’m looking forward to making more lasting memories like that.”

A fresh start

Having arrived in Egypt just over the weekend, Sophie Horvath, a transfer student from Belgium majoring in Egyptology, appeared somewhere between excitement and overwhelm. 

“I’ve always wanted to come to the Middle East since I was a child,” she said. So, her decision to join AUC was a no-brainer. 

She is among 730 other undergraduate students who are joining AUC for the first time, under a third of which will be living at the University Residences.

Already having a strong command of Turkish and Persian, Horvath is looking forward to learning Arabic and exploring Egypt. Like all other students on move-in day reported, she is also excited to meet the diverse group of students at the dorms and beyond.

She should have no problem there. 

"The University Residences is the center of diversity at AUC,” Al Alem said. “During any given semester, we have students from at least 25 different nationalities living together. This fall, we have 38."

With diversity abound, next fall, this story could very well open with ‘A Lebanese, an American and a Belgian sit together on a sofa.’