AUC Advisory Trustee Peter Giblin died on April 11 in England at 80 years old.
A New Jersey native, Giblin graduated from Yale University and Columbia Law School. After practicing law in New York at one of the city’s most prestigious firms and in several European countries, he moved to London to start in the international executive search business. He headed several large firms, later serving as an independent business consultant.
In the early 1990s, Giblin was entrusted by Advisory Trustee Paul Hannon with helping to strategically select a fresh cohort for the AUC Board of Trustees. Soon after in 1993, during the early days of former President Donald McDonald’s administration, he joined the board itself.
He is remembered as a bright, hardworking and good-natured colleague, and as a friend:
"Peter Giblin's longstanding commitment to AUC was seen in everything he did for the University, applying his intelligence, skill and diligence to projects both large and small,” said Mark Turnage (ALU ‘82), chair of the Board of Trustees. “His humor and kindness made him a pleasure to work with and to know, and my deepest condolences go to his wife, Maritza, and their children.”
"Peter and I were very close friends for many years,” recalled Hannon. “Even before we met, I knew of him through a number of friends in common. He and I had each benefitted from US government scholarships at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, which is where he met Maritza. After brief practice as a lawyer, he became a pioneer and a legend in the European executive search business. He bore setbacks in later years, principally in health matters, with admirable courage. I will miss him greatly."
Giblin’s areas of expertise include international law, merchant banking and executive search. He specialized in working with senior level decision makers to support them as they grow their businesses by identifying, attracting, managing, developing and evaluating talented personnel, with a focus on the practical aspects of corporate governance for private and public entities.
Among many other positions, Giblin served as President of K-Cloud Ltd., a provider of out-sourced IT services in the Cloud to the legal services community in the UK, as well as President of Nicholson International Ltd., a search firm with 30 offices in 24 countries.
He was a visiting professor at the Faculty of Management, Cass Business School, London, where he served as a founding member of the Centre for Research in Corporate Governance. Additionally, was a member of Court, the Audit and Risk Management Committee at the University of Essex and the British Psychological Society. His other roles included being a corporate governance commentator on BBC World, a contributor to The Centre for Legal Leadership and a lecturer on international business law at the Practicing Law Institute in New York.
He held a B.A. in History, Latin American Studies from Yale University and a J.D. in International Law from Columbia Law School, Columbia University. He was a Fulbright Scholar at Universidad Central de Venezuela, and a Hague Fellow in the Netherlands.
Giblin is survived by his wife, Maritza, and by his children, Peter Jr, Kevin and Samanta.
Students in AUC's Geology for the Engineer course, co-taught by Yasser Elshayeb, professor of Engineering, left the classroom and headed outside this spring to visit two of Egypt's major geological sites: Wadi Degla Protectorate and Wadi Al-Hitan heritage site.
Shayeb, along with co-instructor Heba Zaki, a PhD student in construction engineering at AUC, and TA Mostafa Mohamed, planned the trips with the goal of exposing students to real-life instances of concepts covered in the course.
“Geological field trips have a major impact on learning experience, as students are able to see in reality what they study in classrooms in terms of geological features and structures," Shayeb said.
At Wadi Degla, students were able to identify features such as layers, weathering, erosion, outcrops and normal and reversed faults in the protectorate's Eocene Limestone Valley, which extends over an area of about 10 square kilometers.
The field trip to Wadi Degla lasted around 8 hours, starting from the entrance of the protectorate and ending by the first dam located 3 kilometers from the entrance.
The second trip to Wadi El-Hitan took place on the eve of Ramadan. Amid high temperatures, students were able to observe the area's sandstone hills, which are full of fossils and traces of marine species. They also saw the valley's namesake: A 40-million-year-old fossil of a whale named Basilosaurus, which dates back to the late Eocene, when the area was submerged under the waters of the Tethys Sea.
Maya Ghataty, a construction engineering senior, enjoyed the two excursions. “Both field trips were eye openers to the hidden beauty our country and nature hold,” she said.
Seif Eldin Nazir, another senior in the same discipline, also expressed his appreciation for the trips. "New experiences stretch one's mind to new dimensions that will never shrink back," he said.
In addition to fossil observation, students visited the site's museum and hiked around the tracks.
Martha Cooley is the new secretary to AUC’s Board of Trustees and director of the North America office, bringing more than a decade of experience in effecting top-level priorities and collaborating with senior executives.
Before joining the University, Cooley was manager of board operations at Barnard College and director of administration and assistant to the CEO at YMCA of Silicon Valley. During this time, she also consulted with the educational nonprofit, Let’s Get Ready.
Cooley lives in New York City and holds a BA in English literature from Barnard College. She has a background in trade and academic publishing as an acquisitions editor. A fiction author, Cooley has published three mystery novels with William Morrow/HarperCollins: Ice Shear, Flame Out and Faint Trace.
News@AUC caught up with Cooley to learn more about her new role at the University.
Why did you decide to join AUC?
Earlier in my career, I worked as a book editor. I was very aware of AUCs excellent reputation in producing high-level scholarship, and there is no better publisher when it comes to Middle East and Egyptian studies. When I saw the job, I got excited. I really liked AUC and thought I could take the experience I had in project planning, communication, governance and administration –– and make a difference. The job was one of the few that could bring together both sides of my experience, including my board work as well as my office administration background, which I hope will be helpful in the New York Office.
What is your main role as secretary to AUC’s Board of Trustees?
There are a few different facets to the secretary’s role. First, I ensure that the board meetings follow the high standards set by the University in its bylaws as well as all other legal regulations. Second, I want to be sure that the trustees have all the information they need to engage with the strategic questions important to the University. Finally, I act as a liaison between the trustees and the University. Most of the trustees have a deep connection to AUC and its mission, and I work to enrich that connection, particularly for trustees who are in different parts of the world.
When do you plan on visiting Egypt and AUC?
I will be attending the board meeting in June and plan to come to Cairo early so I have the opportunity to see the campus and meet my colleagues, who have all given me a very warm welcome over Zoom. It will be my first time visiting the country.
You have higher education experience as manager of board operations at Barnard College. What do you like about working in the higher education field?
My work takes place in the background — both in board operations as well as the workings of the New York Office — but it is wonderful to hear about the scholarship, teaching and learning that take place at AUC, and the excitement that comes from students as they explore new areas. I’ve been able to attend some of AUC’s Zoom seminars on different topics — all excellent — and the sessions provide a connection I appreciate as I work in New York.
You’ve worked in project planning and with senior executives, including company boards and CEOs. What did you enjoy the most about your previous jobs?
I have been lucky to work with several presidents and boards, and I'm continually impressed by their sense of purpose and commitment to the missions of the organizations. They all bring such wonderful experience and knowledge to the table — knowledge and experience that they generously share. At every single organization I’ve worked at, they are always looking to answer important questions, such as: “How can we make our institution stronger?” “How can we improve the lives of our students and support our faculty?” And “How can the good work of the University advance the larger community?” It is always so inspiring.
Tell us your favorite…
Movie: Kurosawa’s Ikiru
Book: It’s hard to choose one. I have a whole shelf of favorite books. If forced to pick, I would say Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
Music Genre: As a child of the 1980s, I have to say the music of that decade is my favorite. New wave, power ballads, alternative — I love it all. Duran Duran and Prince have been in heavy rotation lately.
Activity. Boxing
Cuisine: Thai
Who is your hero?
Harriet Tubman. She lived most of her life after the American Civil War in a town I grew up in, and I appreciate her bravery, the lives she saved, her fight for the dignity of all people, her sense of justice, and how she constantly met new challenges with all her strength and intelligence –– long past the point where most people would have given up.
What are you most proud of?
I’ve published two novels and a novella under the pen name M.P. Cooley. All are crime fiction. I like solving mysteries.
What is something that people may not know about you?
I’ve been in The Oprah Magazine, a publication here in the United States.
What world problem do you wish to solve?
Improving literacy. Being able to read opens up opportunities, encourages critical thinking and connects us with others.
Since the beginning of March, AUC student clubs and organizations have been working tirelessly in preparation for Ramadan, a month known not only for fasting, but also for giving. From creating packs full of essential food staples to hosting charity iftars and leading workshops for underprivileged children, AUCians within these clubs are showing their dedication to creating positive impact in the local community during the holy month.
The Gift of Food
Most common among AUC’s community service clubs during the holy month is the assembly and distribution of Ramdan food packs, which consist of basic cooking necessities to last one family an entire month. A standard pack includes pasta, cooking oil, legumes and tomato sauce, among other staples.
Volunteers in Action (VIA), led by President Dareen Hussein, a computer engineering senior and Vice President Lames Osama, a biology senior, have compiled around 3,000 handmade and ready-made packs this year. In assembling the handmade packs, the organization rallied 60 volunteers, who put together 1,200 packs over a period of five days.
“Around half of the packs will go to families in the urban area of Kafr Hakeem, while the second half is split between orphanages and other organizations we work with, as well as people in Giza’s Mit Okba,” said Hussein.
Volunteers in Action members smile next to dozens of handmade Ramadan food packs
Planning for such a large quantity takes time and precision, explained Osama. “We create a massive excel sheet that includes our target areas and donor information.”
VIA also oversees the handout of 30 fresh meals to different orphanages around Cairo each day during the holy month.
The Gift of Choice
In addition to giving out Ramadan packs, prepping fresh meals and spreading awareness through a booth in Bartlett Plaza, student club Mashroo3 Kheir (The Goodness Project) is also continuing an almost decade-long initiative modeled after the tradition of buying new clothes to celebrate Eid.
The club organizes a shopping day for children from orphanages and other institutions, during which they get to pick out a brand-new outfit for themselves. Club President Amina Khedr, a senior majoring in business marketing and minoring in psychology, notes the importance of this program.
“Usually, these children do not get to choose what is given to them,” she explained. “We want to give them the experience of choice.”
Giving and Sustaining
The University’s Hand in Hand club, which is dedicated to helping orphaned children, the elderly and women in prison due to debt, are planning a major improvement project in Giza’s Zawiyat Abu Musallam for the month of Ramadan. According to President Ahmed Seif, a business finance senior, the club is giving the gift of water to the community—that is, adding a water system to the small community.
“This year, we wanted to give something to the community that would live on for a long time,” Seif said.
Additionally, the club is making and distributing Ramadan packs, but with the help of local high school students. “When I was a child, I did not enjoy charity work when it was forced,” Seif admitted. “That’s what gave me the idea to teach high school students the value of service, while stressing that it is not an obligation. This in turn changes students’ perceptions around the work.”
A Hand in Hand member works at a local high school in assembling Ramadan food packs
Mashroo3 Kheir is doing something similar, Khedr added. “We are integrating the orphaned children we work with into everything we do. Right now, we are empowering them to give back to their communities through teaching them to pack meals.”
Getting Back
People donate money, time and other resources to charitable causes for a number of reasons—feelings of social responsibility, religious obligation or because they see others doing the same—but the most common reason among AUC’s club presidents was simply, “It feels good.”
And they’re not wrong. Studies show that giving to charity stimulates dopamine in the regions of our brains connected with feeling reward and pleasure.
Hussein and Osama have felt this feeling a number of times throughout their service with VIA.
“Helping people makes me happy and gives me the feeling that I’m doing something good,” said Osama. “That is what I love about this work—the impact.”
Hussein added: “This is my fifth year with VIA, and since day one, I have loved the feeling of seeing happiness on someone’s face. Doing this work has made me aware of the positive impact I can have on others, whether big or small.”
On a similar note, Khedr’s favorite part of Mashroo3 Kheir’s Ramadan activities is the distribution.
“It’s very touching,” she said. “We always strive to do our best to supply [our beneficiaries] with everything they need, and seeing the happiness on their faces makes me very happy.”
Promoting Unity
“We want the campus to be alive throughout Ramadan,” said Asmaa Tantawy, a business administration senior minoring in psychology and member of AUC’s Student Union (SU) responsible for outreach, noting that promoting civic engagement and inclusion are top priorities for the union this month under a larger SU initiative called Student Social Responsibility.
This initiative includes on-campus engagement activities for students, security guards, maintenance and housekeeping staff, an iftar for those working on campus and the distribution of Ramadan packs for some of AUC’s employees.
“Ramadan is a time for us all together, which is what our social responsibility campaign is working toward,” Tantawy said. “It is our duty to provide services for AUC students and workers alike, and there’s no better time to do so than in Ramadan.”
Another major goal for the SU this Ramadan is spreading happiness through a program called Re7let el Sa3ada (Trips of Happiness), according to Tantawy. Under this, the SU is organizing a number of trips for AUC students throughout the month to disadvantaged communities in Egypt, where they will engage with locals through activities such as house painting, lantern-making workshops and other activities for children.
AUC Students engage with a local community in Fayoum on the Student Union-led trip
On top of givingRamadan food packs to 2,500 families in Masr El-Adima (Old Cairo) and Upper Egypt, AUC’s Help Club is also focusing on spreading “Ramdan vibes” throughout the AUC campus, according to Salma Hany, a psychology junior minoring in education studies and the club’s multimedia director.
To get people excited about the holy month and spread awareness for their cause, the Help Club set up a giveaway booth in Bartlett Plaza in late March.
Help Club's Booth in Bartlett Plaza and one of the club's distribution truck full of Ramadan packs
“We want to promote good deeds and Ramadan vibes,” Hany stated. “Throughout this process, the community bonds together, and we all feel that we’re doing something good for others.”
AUC has published its biennial sustainability report and brochure. Compiled by the Office of Sustainability, this report highlights the University’s commitment to sustainability throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite numerous challenges brought by the pandemic, AUC community members continued implementing sustainable practices within the University and raising awareness of how the communitycan help the environment.
Released every other year, this report alternates with AUC’s Carbon Footprint Report.
The sustainability report provides information about AUC’s economic, environmental and social performance in terms of sustainability. Following AUC’s inaugural report in 2020, the second edition isorganized around the University’s different forms of engagement with sustainability, including education,research, campus operations, campus community and public engagement. Each chapter of the report presents a spotlight of specific achievements and projects that occurred from between January 2020and December 2021.
It also highlights AUC’s engagement with the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All of the goals are linked to at least one of the chapters of the report to showcase AUC’s commitment to global sustainability efforts and highlight the critical role of higher education in achieving and implementing the SDGs.
Finally, the report recognizes AUC’s commitment to sustainable practices and identifies areas in which the University can improve to become an international leader in sustainability and continue to guide other higher education institutions within the region.
Almost one year ago, 44 of AUC’s security guards began their journey in a sponsored, personalized training program aimed at advancing their skill sets across multiple areas — including IT, English language and personal development.
This collaborative program, initiated by AUC’s Security Office, will help the University to upskill 100 members of its security personnel through nonacademic scholarships, with classes delivered by AUC’s School of Continuing Education.
“This program is important because it will further equip the guards to perform professionally and impactfully in their positions,” said Doaa Salem, director of SCE’s Programs and Partnerships Department.
"SCE is honored to implement this program in partnership with our colleagues at AUC Security,” said SCE Dean James Ketterer. “We are one university, one community and every day we all benefit from the safety and services provided by this extraordinary team.”
Participants undergo four modules throughout the program — Technical Development, Foundational English Language, Information and Communication Technology and Personal Development.
“The program design was challenging yet unique,” reported Rafik Habib, director of Applied Studies at SCE, explaining that it involved “integrating the soft and personal skills from one side and the advanced technical skills from the other into one comprehensive program.”
“SCE is pleased to offer valuable professional development and skills training opportunities for security personnel across the University,” Ketterer said, adding, “We look forward to exploring additional ways in which SCE can support all members of the AUC community."
Hear what program participants have to say so far:
When she is not in class, AUC junior Nala Kamel uses her talent for presenting and social media savvy to connect with and inspire her peers.
A communication and media arts major, Kamel is the personality behind Purple Talks, an online series in which she interviews young actors, celebrities and influencers to find out how they achieved their success.
“The main aim of the program is to encourage youth and encourage younger generations to take steps to achieve their dreams”, Kamel explained. “By showing them how different public figures have made it, the program encourages people to start taking the initiative in pursuing what they love”.
Kamel publishes Purple Talks on YouTube and also shares the interviews across social media - including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok under the name “Nala Says.” To date, she has mostly interviewed leaders and success stories within the entertainment industry.
Kamel started her project in 2019 during her first year at AUC. “When I was in high school, I was always passionate about presenting on different class projects. At the beginning of university, I decided to take a big step and start the program,” she recalled.
She began by pitching the project to production agencies, explaining the concept for Purple Talks. Her first interview was with actor Ahmed Dash, an integrated marketing communication senior at AUC, who she connected with via a mutual friend.
Purple Talks’ success has made it easier to find guests over time. Recently, Kamel enjoyed interviewing comedy star Bayoumi Fouad. “He’s a very fun person to get to know. If you watch him on TV, he is always fun and genuine,” she described. “In person, he's very mature and down to earth. He gave me a lot of advice about the field.”
Nala Says has also brought major changes to Kamel’s life. “It has helped me to develop a lot. I have become more responsible and more practical”, she explained.
Working on Nala Says while also pursuing school full-time has forced Kamel to learn about work-life balance and how to prioritize her mental health while still pursuing her goals.
“I have gained a lot, but at the same time, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices, such as time with family and friends. I came to the realization that I need to have a balanced lifestyle,” she explained.
Kamel noted that her professors at AUC have been very understanding and supportive of her work. “They encourage me all the time,” she said.
Oftentimes, Kamel’s pursuits both inside and outside the classroom reinforce one another, helping her to manage her time efficiently and enhance her learning experience.
She explained: “Almost all my assignments connect to what I do in my work, and my work complements my studies. For example, in my Multi Multimedia Writing, Production course last semester, we had to interview someone for a podcast and write up a feature. I was able to do this on my platform and use the same brainstorming and research process I use in my work.”
Kamel’s platform has led to opportunities to attend, host and speak at events. Last year, she moderated a panel at the ninth annual RiseUp Summit on how artists can use their platforms to raise awareness. She was also on the red carpet in 2021 conducting interviews at the ElGouna Film Festival and Cairo International Film Festival.
As her profile has grown, Kamel has also been called on to share her own experiences as a young person successfully pursuing her own dreams. In November, she gave a speech at the Tedxyouth@TheNile titled “Risk It All and Trust the Process”.
“I felt wonderful to have this opportunity. I am always trying to develop my own skills in order to help others who are trying to achieve similar goals or have other dreams they want to work toward,” Kamel recalled.
In January this year, Kamel had the opportunity to attend the fourth World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, which connects promising young people from around the world, empowering them to share ideas and experiences in the areas of peace, development and creativity.
Of the experience, Kamel said, “I was very happy seeing so many young people coming together in one place to explore ideas and expand their creativity. I believe that the WYF has a great impact on Egypt’s economy, and it is very eye opening for the youth who attend.”
During the conference, she interviewed guests such as actor Amir El-Masry, Mervat Abou Oaf ‘88, ‘02, professor of practice at AUC’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and wellness entrepreneur Farah Nofal, asking them what advice they would give to today’s young people.
Asked if she had any advice for her peers at AUC, Kamel reflected, “I don't really believe in advice, but I will say that it’s important to always take the initiative. Once you start working toward your goal, everything else will all unfold naturally.”
Collaborating with the Design Studio by Azza Fahmy, AUC’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) is launching a new 14-week course that will empower jewelry artists with the skills and business knowledge they need to launch a successful and sustainable business.
Fashion Jewelry Business Management, which begins on January 22, will cover the ins and outs of both jewelry design and business management — providing learners with both skills and knowledge that will take their designs and entrepreneurship to the next level.
Taking business management with SCE instructors at AUC Tahrir Square and jewelry design classes at Design Studio by Azza Fahmy, “participants will learn how to create a collection from scratch and how to incorporate it into the market,” a statement from the Design Studio by Azza Fahmy read.
“The course will give participants the tools they need to harness their creative spirit, turn it into something tangible and transform that product into a business effort,” explained James Ketterer, SCE's dean.
He continued: “There’s no one better to work on this with than Azza Fahmy, because of what she and her team are doing and have demonstrated as success.”
Azza Fahmy is widely known as the first woman to train in Egypt’s jewelry quarter in 1969. It was there that Fahmy developed her unique designs that later became an integral part of her world-renowned jewelry business. Established in 2013, Design Studio by Azza Fahmy is Egypt and the Middle East’s first contemporary jewelry design and jewelry making school.
“A collaboration between two iconic names in their fields — Design Studio by Azza Fahmy and AUC’s SCE — will work to honor our rich heritage and diverse design history through a collaborative program that will bring the best of what each has to offer,” read the statement from Design Studio by Azza Fahmy. “They’ll be creating new experiences for those who want to push the boundaries of fashion and business, to create something new and inspiring.
The collaboration comes as SCE is branching out and creating more programs for lifelong learners, including more liberal arts courses, as well as reviving its face-to-face courses at AUC Tahrir Square and expanding courses at the New Cairo campus.
“SCE has spent the last few years not only working hard to put many of our courses online, but also thinking hard about which programs really serve our mission and Egyptians,” Ketterer said, adding that with the addition of online courses, the school extended its global reach.
“This challenging time [amid the coronavirus pandemic] has given us an opportunity to do more across Egypt and beyond its borders while still helping people to transform their lives here in Cairo,” he said.
The course is a perfect match with the school’s mission to support both individual interests in society and to play a key role in Egypt’s overall development, according to Ketterer.
“This program puts reality to the idea that AUC is a private university in support of the public interest,” he said.
With the start of the new year, the University is welcoming University Counselor Mohamed Hamza, who began his role on January 1, bringing with him a wealth of experience and ideas.
As counselor, Hamza will be maintaining relations between the University and the Egyptian government and fostering collaboration with other academic institutions. News@AUC caught up with Hamza to learn more about him and his goals as counselor.
Why did you decide to join AUC?
Its history and future. For a century, AUC has built an exquisite culture of leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates. AUC continues its legacy, and I joined to have the privilege of contributing to this significant legacy and mission, which serves both Egypt and the international community. With my experience in both the American and Egyptian educational systems, I hope to be able to expand this legacy.
What is your main goal as AUC counselor?
As the University enters its second century, my goal is to support it in maximizing its educational impact, expand its outreach and foster engagement within the community, while strengthening our collaborative partnerships with the Egyptian government and other educational institutions.
What are your priorities for the upcoming year?
I am exceedingly enthusiastic about this coming year, and I aim to work with President Ahmad Dallal and all stakeholders to support AUC’s future initiatives, including, but not limited to, campus expansion and development. My priority is to create a culture of collaboration both within the University and with other institutions, as well as increase campus-wide engagement.
What’s your plan to strengthen AUC’s strategic role in the community and in Egypt?
My plan is to build on AUC’s excellence, innovation and community service to further develop our remarkable relationship with the Egyptian government and to explore even more opportunities for engagement and academic collaboration with peer educational institutions, both in Egypt and globally. I am particularly planning to focus on opportunities where AUC can further contribute to Egypt’s development through research and innovation.
You have extensive expertise in education, including working with the Ministry of Higher Education, Supreme Council of Universities and other entities. How will you build on your experience during your time at AUC?
I am planning to support all AUC projects and collaborations in the fields of education and research along with arts and cultural activities in Egypt and across the region. My experience as chairman of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector in the Ministry of Higher Education helped me facilitate faculty affairs and student engagement, which I intend to build on during my time at AUC. I have also worked to develop international cultural affairs and assisted Egyptian scholarship recipients during their study and research time in the United States while I served as the Egyptian cultural and educational counselor in Washington, D.C. These experiences enable me to seek more collaborative opportunities in education based on the long-standing relationship between the United States and Egypt and the great efforts that AUC is doing in the Internationalization of higher education.
What other short-term and long-term goals do you have for the University?
During this critical time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to continue providing a safe academic and working environment for all students, faculty and staff. My long-term goal is to contribute toward AUC’s already long standing academic success and further foster its representation and partnerships with the Egyptian government and the higher education sector. My overall long-term goal is to contribute to Egypt’s development through its educational sector development focusing on the internationalization of higher education.
Tell us your favorite…
Movie: Dolphin Tail
Book: Influence of Islamic Civilization on European Renaissance
Music Genre: Classical Arabic
Activity: Walking and watching soccer, especially Mohamed Salah’s games
Cuisine: Oriental
Who is your hero?
Professor Rudi van Eldik, professor Inorganic Chemistry, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany, who was my host professor during my postdoctoral studies in Germany.
Greatest inspiration?
The Paralympics
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the strong community I have established consisting of Egyptian-American professors in the United States who are very keen on establishing academic partnerships between Egyptian and American universities. Enabling them to give back to their community and contribute to Egypt’s development is not only an achievement, but gives me a sense of fulfillment.
What is something that people may not know about you?
Prior to my work in education policy, I used to conduct research in inorganic chemistry, and during my postdoctoral studies in Germany, our research group would conduct a magic show to showcase the fun of chemistry to kids.
What world problem do you wish to solve?
I really wish we could solve the issue of cultural misconceptions and promote a world full of global citizens who live peacefully among each other.
The past year was full of achievements and new discoveries at AUC. Here are our top ten favorite memories and moments from 2021.
1. For the first time in 18 months, AUC resumes full-time face-to-face instruction, welcoming back faculty, students and staff for Fall 2021 and boasting strict anti-COVID-19 measures and a 93% vaccination rate.
The University holds “My Safe Uni Day” to raise awareness and combat sexual harassment in universities.
AUC students, faculty and alumni produce and performMsh Zanbek, a collection of plays exploring the topic of sexual harassment from different perspectives.
6. A team including Salima Ikram (YAB ‘86) announces that the mummy of an ancient nobleman, which was discovered by the group, may date back 1,000 years earlier than previously assumed, a fact that could alter mummification history.
