The sound of pens scribbling on paper fills the wood-latticed windows of AUC Tahrir Square. Nina Ellis, assistant professor of English and comparative literature, gestures to the ceiling: a gold-trimmed mosaic of red, green and blue. “Notice the light in the room,” she tells her class. “What colors do you see? What textures do you feel? If it's gold, does it shine? Does it reflect the light?” 

_{Students from the Creative Writing class observe and draw inspiration from Oriental Hall in AUC's historic palace.}

AUC Tahrir Square was once a palace overlooking Cairo’s downtown area for almost 150 years. Now it is a historical hub for the arts in Cairo, where a Creative Writing class taught by Ellis conducts a field study on characters and setting. The field trip is structured for students to explore the University’s oldest building through the perspectives of characters developed over the course of the semester.

"What colors do you see? What textures do you feel? If it's gold, does it shine? Does it reflect the light?” 

Students explored the history-laden rooms of Oriental Hall and Ewart Memorial Hall and drew inspiration from the campus. AUC psychology sophomore Mazen Massen watched microbuses and motorcycles zip around downtown Cairo through the eyes of his character, a spirit of stasis who believes things change in patterns. “I felt my character would gravitate to that, looking at the big picture of all the people,” Massen says.

AUC integrated marketing communications senior Layla Khaleb wrote in Oriental Hall, where her character focused on the room’s smallest details, “like the smell of the wooden chairs, the mosaics and the glass all over the walls,” Khaleb says. 

_{The Khairy Pasha Palace was constructed in the 1870s by Khedive Ismail to house his confidant and Minister of Education Ahmed Khiary Pasha.}

Ellis was inspired and struck by the beauty of the Tahrir Square campus during the new faculty orientation. “Dazzled is the word, which I think must be the intention,” Ellis says. “I thought, ‘I'm teaching creative writing, and I want to sit down and write, and usually I find that to be a good indication of something students will enjoy.”

“Dazzled is the word, which I think must be the intention."

AUC Tahrir Square was first erected in the 1870s by Khedive Ismail, then sold to Greek businessman Naestor Gianaclis in 1899 and used as a cigarette factory, then bought in 1919 to serve as the University’s first campus. 

Students and dignitaries alike have graced its halls— 800 people crowded Oriental Hall to hear Helen Keller speak in 1952. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Tahrir Campus in 1959 to reconvene with his former college friend AUC professor of psychology, Jimmy Beshai.  Edward Said delivered a commencement address in Ewart Memorial Hall in 1999.

_{The American University in Cairo bought the palace in 1919 to house the University's first campus.}

After the University moved to the New Cairo campus in 2008, the Tahrir campus transformed into the center of the University’s public engagement, hosting community events, performances and guest lectures.

“It continues to serve Cairo and to serve the community,” Ellis says of AUC Tahrir Square. “And I think it’s really important that these students return to this campus. I say return because it is part of the history of their identity as AUC students.”

While integrated marketing communication senior Marian Elammawy has visited the Tahrir campus many times during her four years at AUC, she looks forward to these field trips as a shake-up from her normal AUC routine. “I was really happy when I was standing with my friends during assembly hour. I was excited and told them, ‘I have to go to Tahrir today!’”

_{The Creative Writing class walks outside of AUC's historic palace.}

This month’s opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the largest archaeological museum complex worldwide and the world’s largest museum dedicated to a single civilization, marks the beginning of a new era in Egyptology. 

“It is exciting, as it is an enormous museum that contains a vast number of objects from the dawn of Egyptian history to the start of Christianity in Egypt,” said Salima Ikram (YAB ’86), distinguished University professor of Egyptology and the Amelia Peabody Chair in Egyptology at AUC. 

The museum was first announced by the Ministry of Culture in 1992, and construction began in 2005. For over 20 years, the government, researchers, Egyptologists and the Egyptian community have been working together to turn the GEM dream into a reality. GEM will host collections of Egyptian artifacts from the Predynastic period to Coptic Egypt and notably will have the complete King Tutankhamun collection, which has spent the last century touring internationally.

News@AUC spoke with faculty, students and alumni to learn about this major milestone: what GEM means for Egypt, Egyptology and the world.

Bringing Education to Egypt

GEM will host over 100,000 Egyptian artifacts, including many newly restored pieces that have never been shown publicly before. “It is the first time for many of the artifacts to be on display, and the sheer number of objects in one place allows for studying the evolution of an object type or comparison between types.”

With over 12 main halls, as well as a children’s museum, GEM will provide resources for study in every aspect of Egyptology — from daily life to burial traditions to ancient treasures. Students will greatly benefit from having all these resources in one place, including the conservation center, which is the largest center in the Middle East dedicated to the restoration of antiquities.

Sara Abdelaziz ’11, who previously worked in GEM’s Technical Office and is currently head of communications at the American Research Center in Egypt,  explained how important such hands-on learning is to Egyptology students, sharing her experience as an Egyptology student at AUC: “While students elsewhere learned art history through books, our classes were held at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, studying artifacts firsthand. Instead of only translating ancient languages from notebooks, we worked directly on inscriptions from temple walls.”

This experience was incredibly formative for Abdelziz, and she knows GEM will function as a new educational beacon. “The museum can serve as a hub for international researchers to collaborate with Egypt’s egyptological scientific community through conferences, joint publications, and shared exhibitions, fostering growth in the discipline,” she said.

“The museum can serve as a hub for international researchers to collaborate with Egypt’s egyptological scientific community through conferences, joint publications, and shared exhibitions, fostering growth in the discipline."

Bringing the international community into Egypt is sure to have positive benefits not only on tourism, but also on the strength of research and understanding within the Egyptology field. “GEM will certainly attract more visitors, who will then gain a better understanding of ancient Egyptian art, culture and technology by engaging with the grand variety of objects on display,” said Ikram.

A New Research Hub 

While much of the focus on GEM has been its breathtaking exhibits and incredible artifacts, the museum also hosts state-of-the-art restoration and conservation laboratories equipped to handle all the specific needs of Egyptologists, such as research on mummies, wood, stones, wall paintings and metals. 

Ikram explained the significance of GEM’s new research facilities. “Through the labs, many new discoveries can be made. Analysis can reveal the types of pigments used, how they were mixed and whether they were imported,” she said. “Imports shed light on trade relationships and networks, which also provide insights into the Egyptian economy.”

Abdelaziz described that having on-site research facilities can lead to incredible discoveries that can easily be shared with the public. She gave an example of these capabilities: “Some pendants and jewelry displayed inside the thematic galleries arrived into the museum as tangled beads. With time, they were meticulously reconstructed into magnificent broad collars, reflecting how they were originally worn.”

"The numerous laboratories equipped with modern equipment should deepen our understanding of ancient Egyptian technology and material culture."

By providing both a place to store and interact with the artifacts, as well as an on-site conservation lab with advanced research facilities, GEM will become a hub for scholars interested in Egyptology. “The numerous laboratories equipped with modern equipment should deepen our understanding of ancient Egyptian technology and material culture,” Ikram said. 

Never-Seen-Before Collections

The monumental size of GEM — 500,000 square meters, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world — means that it will be able to showcase artifacts that have not been displayed before or not been displayed together in a space big enough to hold the complete collection. Perhaps one of GEM’s biggest draws is that it will host the entirety of King Tutankhamun’s collection for the first time since Howard Carter opened his tomb in 1922. 

Dina Touta, heritage consultant for GEM’s operator, Legacy Development and Management, explained, “Seeing Tutankhamun’s full collection reunited for the first time will be an extraordinary experience. It offers a rare opportunity to understand the artistry, symbolism and humanity behind his treasures in their original cultural context.”

Ikram elaborated on the importance of the collection: “I am looking forward to seeing the entire Tutankhamun collection in one place. It will help us better visualize and understand the ensemble. This can lead to more profound research not only on this particular assemblage, but also as to what other royal burials might or might not have contained. In addition, comparisons between different types of objects, be it in terms of motifs or technologies used to create them, can be made more easily.”

GEM will host a number of other innovative and never-before-seen artifacts, including an exhibit displaying Khufu’s two solar boats—one long displayed at Giza and the second being shown to the public for the first time. The Collection of Queen Hetepheres and the Collection of Yuya and Thuyu have been undergoing restoration, and will also be unveiled at GEM as part of the new displays. 

“For me, some of the material in the Old Kingdom galleries are of particular interest, such as painted fragments from a mastabas in Dahshur, as they are being displayed together in a well-lit context for the first time,” said Ikram. 

“The diverse styles and techniques employed in the decoration of Old Kingdom tombs emphasize the innovations that exemplify the art of this period, and it is a delight to be able to see so many stunning examples of Old Kingdom art in one place.”

By having a space to display all these artifacts, scholars will be better able to compare and contrast different parts of Egyptian history and study the historical evolution. Students will have the opportunity to learn about these artifacts firsthand, and the Egyptians will be able to interact with their history in new and immersive ways. 

Part of GEM’s remodel includes interactive storytelling elements in the exhibits. Abdelaziz confirmed how these elements can improve the experience for museum-goers. “From digital reconstructions of tombs to handpainted videos of ancient voyages, these comprise exciting experiences for everyday visitors to engage with the understanding of ancient history in a new way,” she said. “I personally love the thematic galleries because every time I go back to the museum, I discover new artifacts that I had not noticed before.”
 

Shifting Egyptology’s Focus Back to Egypt

A number of studies have discussed how Egyptology as a discipline has historically been exported out of Egypt, with foreign scholars often taking artifacts out of the country under the justification that better research facilities are available abroad. GEM will serve as a beacon that dissuades these claims, proving definitively that Egypt has the capacity to study its history and share it with its people. 

Touta highlighted the excitement that the Egyptology community feels around this shift in perception and material capabilities. “The Grand Egyptian Museum will elevate Egyptology’s global reputation by placing the country at the forefront of research, preservation and interpretation of its own heritage,” she said. “With its unparalleled collection, advanced conservation facilities and academic collaborations, GEM will serve as a leading center for scholarship and innovation. It will shift the focus of Egyptology back to Egypt, reinforcing its role as both the heart and authority of the discipline.”

“With its unparalleled collection, advanced conservation facilities and academic collaborations, GEM will serve as a leading center for scholarship and innovation. It will shift the focus of Egyptology back to Egypt, reinforcing its role as both the heart and authority of the discipline.”

This shift is a source of national pride, affirming that this museum is a place to honor all Egyptians — ancient and modern. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has been integral in the strategic planning of the museum, and the government has declared November 1, 2025 as a national holiday to celebrate the museum’s opening. The museum will open to the public on November 4. 

“The opening ceremony was symbolic, inaugurating a chapter in which Egyptians celebrate their own national pride and care for their ancient history,” Abdelaziz said. “We’ve struggled far too long to prove that foreign museums are not the only ones worthy of keepsaking Egyptian artifacts. While GEM is not Egypt’s only remarkable collection, it stands as a powerful symbol of scientific dedication, research, planning and curation — ranking among the world’s most prestigious museums.”

The opening of the museum also displays the power of the international community, who have come together to support GEM’s launch. The Japan International Cooperation Agency served as a major investor in the project, and the guest list for the inaugural night of the museum included the royal families of Japan, Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, Monaco and Thailand. Presidents from Djibouti, Somalia, Palestine, Portugal, Armenia, Germany, Croatia, Cyprus, Albania, Bulgaria, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Eritrea and Malta were also all in attendance. 

How Can You Get Involved? 

After the energy of the opening dies down, the best way for students and community members to celebrate GEM is simple: by visiting the museum! In the coming months, there will be ample opportunities for students to explore GEM and learn about the rich history of its artifacts. 

Ikram also believes that those interested in researching Egyptology will have a place at GEM. “It is hopeful that scholars will be able to continue to research objects and collections, with the added enhancement of the technologically advanced GEM conservation laboratories that allow for imaging and materials analyses,” she said. 

Touta noted that the AUC community can plan classes, research opportunities and outings around the museum. She recommends joint courses in Egyptology, heritage management and museum studies. “By uniting research, education and innovation under one roof, the museum bridges the past and present, allowing Egypt’s ancient civilization to speak to modern audiences in new and meaningful ways,” she said. 

AUC Press has grown to be the largest English-language academic book publisher in the Middle East, and books on Egyptology have consistently topped its best seller list. Explore selections from the AUC Press Egyptology catalog to learn how animals lived under the reign of pharaohs, the story of Queen Nefertiti, the kingdom of Ancient Nubia and more.

Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile

Edited by Marjorie M. Fisher, Peter Lacovara, Salima Ikram and Sue D’Auria

A lushly illustrated gazetteer of the archaeological sites of southern Egypt and northern Sudan and named a 2012 American Publishers (PROSE) Awards winner for Best Archaeology & Anthropology Book.

Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt

Robert A. Armour 

The revised edition of a classic text, introducing the lively characters of Egyptian mythology in new photographs and drawings that vibrantly depict the ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt

Distinguished University Professor of Egyptology Salima Ikram (YAB '86)

This book was named a Book Riot 100 Must-Read Book on Ancient History and explores death in ancient Egypt, supported by Ikram's experience with funeral archaeology and mummification.

Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt

Aidan Dodson

Egypt's sun queen is magnificently revealed in a new book by renowned Egyptologist, Aidan Dodson, who explores Nefertiti's cultural fame amid ancient efforts to erase her story from history.

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Nigel Fletcher-Jones

View the artistry and splendor of ancient Egyptian jewelry in 50 masterpieces, each with its own ancient significance of spirituality, wealth and power.

Divine Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt

Edited by Salima Ikram

The ancient Egyptians not only mummified humans, but also animals, bringing them to the afterlife as offerings, pets and sacred animals. Studies of these animal mummies teach Egyptologists about the lives of animals in ancient Egypt and the cultural practices of the world they inhabited.

Animals of Egypt: Then and Now

Richard Hoath and Salima Ikram

The book is a rich guide to 60 species of animals present in modern and ancient Egypt, featuring tomb art and modern descriptions of the animals. 

AUC has established the Amelia Peabody Endowed Professorship and Research Fund in Egyptology — the first such professorship in the Middle East and Africa and one of few in the world.

Thanks to the generosity of a donor who wishes to remain anonymous and with the support of the Fourmi Legacy Foundation, the professorship and research fund will provide expanded opportunities for teaching, research, fieldwork and excavations. “The purpose of this endowment is to advance fieldwork, research and teaching that deepen our understanding of Egypt’s past and strengthen the foundation for future scholarship,” said AUC President Ahmad Dallal.

The inaugural professorship has been awarded to Distinguished University Professor of Egyptology Salima Ikram (YAB ’86), a world-renowned Egyptologist and field archaeologist. 

“I am honored and delighted to be the first incumbent of the Amelia Peabody chair in Egyptology,” said Ikram. “The generosity of the donor ensures that Egyptology will have a secure place at AUC. The professorship has been instituted in order to sustain and develop Egyptology at AUC, and I very much hope to continue fostering Egyptology at the University as well as exposing AUCians to the richness of ancient Egyptian culture and emphasizing its links to the present.”

Ikram first came to AUC as a year-abroad student in 1985, when she “fell in love with Egypt,” and returned as a faculty member in 1995. She has helped shape AUC’s Egyptology department through her field work, partnerships with international stakeholders and commitment to public engagement. Ikram has published numerous articles and books on Egyptology and led field initiatives such as the North Kharga Darb Ain Amur Survey, the Amenmesses Project, the Animal Mummy Project and currently administers the Theban Mapping Project. Her research interests include animal mummification, funeral archeology rock art, the environment, diet and disease, with studies that have led to groundbreaking discoveries that changed scholastic understandings of daily life in ancient Egypt. 

Affirming the importance of Ikram’s work to the AUC community and the Egyptology field at large, Dallal said, “Dr. Ikram’s work exemplifies the purpose of this new endowment: rigorous scholarship that serves knowledge and society.”

Through this professorship, Ikram will be endowed with the financial backing to continue her groundbreaking work and follow the footsteps of its fictional namesake: Amelia Peabody. 

Peabody is the star of a series of historical mystery novels set in the late 19th century that feature an unconventional and daring Egyptologist, fascinated by Egypt and eager to uncover ancient mysteries. Written by the New York Times best-selling novelist and Egyptologist Barbara Mertz (under the pen name Elizabeth Peters) and published between 1975-2010, the series inspired an entire generation to engage with the wonders of Egyptology. Curious and determined, the name of Amelia Peabody is meant to invoke this same passion for Egyptian history and culture in its awardees. 

“It is a matter of joy that the chair is named after a fictional optometrist, Amelia Peabody,” said Ikram. “The creator of the Amelia Peabody character was a very dear friend of mine, Barbara Mertz, one of the first women to earn a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. She popularized Egyptology, and we found that Amelia and I had many things in common, from our love of ancient Egypt to mysteries, and the handy belt meant for archaeology.”

As a field, Egyptology is a cornerstone of the AUC community. Books on the subject remain among AUC Press’s all-time best sellers, including several by Ikram, such as Ancient Egypt: An Introduction, Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt, and Divine Creatures: Animal Mummies (as editor). Other Egyptology best sellers include Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile, Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt, and Ancient Egyptian Jewelry.

Emphasizing the importance of Egyptology as a field, Ikram noted, “Teaching Egyptology at AUC is not only to create new Egyptologists, but also to expose Egyptian students to different aspects of their culture and history, to instill a sense of pride in their heritage and to make them more conscious of its value — not only to them and Egypt, but to the world.”

Music Major

The music program within the Department of Arts has remodeled its music technology and musical arts in performance majors into a singular music major. Students within the major now have the option to choose a concentration in either music technology or music performance. Non-music majors still have the option to minor in either music technology or music performance. 

Restructuring the major is designed to consolidate what both programs originally shared and streamline the majors process to define their concentration.

"Aligning the concentrations and putting them under one roof allows for a much streamlined format so students can plan a four-year degree,” said David Rafferty, associate professor of practice and director of the music program. “With the restructuring, all music students can be in the same prerequisite classes together, such as Arabic and Western Music Theory, before breaking out into specific genres and specializations.” 

By giving all students the same baseline, the program can continue to grow and flourish as a united music community. “It's a fresh start that allows us to focus on our strengths — such as Arabic music, jazz, pop and rock — which many of our students are passionate about,” said Rafferty.

Sustainable Energy Minor

The Department of Petroleum and Energy Engineering’s new sustainable energy minor was created for students who are interested in sustainable energy and environment. The program is open to any students in the School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE), except those already majoring in petroleum engineering. For students curious about sustainable development, energy policy and climate innovation, this program offers a mix of core engineering and economics courses that suit those interests. 

“Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for careers in the renewable energy sector, sustainability consulting, environmental policy and energy systems design,” said Abdelaziz Khlaifat, professor and department chair. “The sustainable energy minor is designed to give students a solid foundation in energy systems, renewable technologies and sustainability practices. It offers a pathway for SSE students to be more environmentally conscious and align with industry standards emphasizing sustainability, innovation and systems integration.”

Genomics and Biotechnology Specialization 

Genomics and biotechnology are now being offered as a specialization for biology majors, alongside ecology and conservation biology. 

In the growing genome-based fields within academia and industry, a concentration in genomics can offer key insight into the fundamentals of biological science. Students will have the opportunity to choose from classes like Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology of the Gene, and Cellular and Molecular Immunology, and Tumor Biology, in addition to the biology core requirements. 

“This specialization isn’t just about preparing students for careers in academia or industry,” said Ahmed Moustafa, professor of bioinformatics and genomics data science. “It also aligns directly with Egypt’s national vision and the global shift toward precision medicine. With the Egypt Genome Project underway, there’s a significant investment in genome-centered healthcare that will open new opportunities in research, diagnostics and therapies. Our goal with this program is to ensure that our students are equipped for these opportunities. They will graduate with the knowledge and skills to participate in these advancements and help shape the future of precision medicine in Egypt, across the region and around the world.”

This fall we are welcoming fourteen new faculty members to the AUC community! The incoming faculty are bringing their diverse backgrounds and varied research interests to AUC, with studies ranging from food assistance programs to climate responsive design to jazz pedagogy and everything in between. We’re happy to welcome them to the University and get to know them through their video introductions.

From a card game mimicking the Egyptian tante (طنط) to a book translating Amazigh tattoos to a jingle that teaches children about dyslexia, the graphic design student projects featured in the Mashrou’ 2025 exhibition creatively navigated Arab culture by focusing on social impact and cultural awareness. The exhibition’s projects were the product of the Senior Thesis and Senior Project courses for graphic design majors.

The senior show featured works by 37 students, and many of the projects were focused on creating progress in Egypt and beyond (e.g. one card game focused on Saudi Arabia and is being considered for adoption by the Saudi Ministry of Culture for mass production).  The students were supervised by graphic design faculty members Jochen Braun, Ghalia Elsrakbi, Ahmad Saqfalhait, Brenda Segone and Nagla Samir. 

News@AUC spoke with the artists behind two of the projects: The Litter Mystery and Zar: The Possessed, The Summoned, & The Sacrificed.

When junior Marwan Shawwara moved to the south of France to study at Sciences Po last fall, he was prepared to step outside of his comfort zone and experience the trials and tribulations of a semester abroad. Most of the time, Shawwara lived as a typical exchange student — he found community, made lifelong friends, played college soccer with weekend tournaments around France, and backpacked through seven countries and 24 cities. “It’s me and my backpack against the world,” he said.

However, what the political science major didn’t expect was that he would reach a new understanding of his own country by meeting Egyptian refugees scattered along European frontiers. 

Egyptian Encounters

Long interested in equality and justice, Shawwara began volunteering with the AUC student organization 3alraseef in his freshman year, educating and spending time with impoverished children in Manshiyat Nasser twice a week. At Sciences Po, Shawwara kept up his commitment to volunteer work, documenting refugees at the Franco-Italian border crossing with Sciences Po Refugee Help, a student club. 

It was through this role that he discovered a new side of Egypt: the country’s politically marginalized. Throughout the semester, Shawwara learned lessons about Egyptian politics from his fellow countrymen that further shaped his identity and future plans. 

“Most of the refugees are unfortunately from our region, North Africa. It was a different experience seeing them firsthand, communicating with them, listening to them,” he said. “These people are not just numbers crossing the Mediterranean; they are humans.”

“I’m looking at life differently now. These people risked their lives to seek asylum just to live like anybody else: to get married and educate their kids. These are basic human rights.”

Traveling in Milan, Shawwara found himself surrounded by his native tongue, the streets filled with Egyptian refugees from areas like Upper Egypt, Fayoum and Beni Suef. Many had come to support their families, working in manual labor jobs. 

One boy in particular left a lasting impression on Shawwara. When they first crossed paths, the now 17-year-old was excited to buy Shawwara lunch and share his story. Mohamed fled to Italy two years ago as a 15 year old, coming alone to provide for his parents. “He did the unimaginable. He crossed the Mediterranean without his family,” said Shawwara. 

As a minor, Mohamed became a registered refugee, eligible for housing and documented part-time labor. “When he becomes an adult, I think he will be given the right to come back to Egypt and return to work in Italy.” The potential visit to Egypt would be Mohamed’s first in three years.

The touching story — one of many that Shawwara encountered — had a profound impact. “I’m looking at life differently now. These people risked their lives to seek asylum just to live like anybody else: to get married and educate their kids. These are basic human rights,” he said.

A New Political Vision

Shawwara’s interest in history and politics was initially sparked by his post-Revolution Cairene upbringing, leading him to pursue his semester abroad at the second-ranked university in the world for political science. However, it was not university courses but interactions with Egyptian refugees that most shaped his vision for his future, and the future of Egypt.

“I want to specialize in political theory now,” Shawwara said. “I want to produce a theory that fits all these people in it rather than excludes them because the current policies of the region are turning a blind eye." 

“At Sciences Po, I found my interest in journalism and speaking up. When I came back, I thought, let’s initiate something here.”

Commenting on the difficult financial circumstances that led many Egyptians astray, Shawwara said, “If you can pay, you can live. These people don’t have the chance to earn money in the first place.” 

Shawwara is particularly interested in post-colonial and decolonization theories. “Until now, I see that countries in the region are still under Western domination while they are supposed to be independent states. I want to understand this,” he said.

Bringing It Home

His exploration of Egypt from this external lens did not stop at his volunteer work: Shawwara wrote for two campus publications, contributing meaningful stories about the Middle East, from stories about Morocco’s football team to Lebanon’s ceasefire to Cairo’s environmental problems.

Upon his return to AUC, Shawwara was inspired to jumpstart a new political science publication, the PSS-Journal, through the Political Science Students’ Association, of which he is now the incoming co-president. “At Sciences Po, I found my interest in journalism and speaking up — we need to be vocal about some topics. When I came back, I thought, let’s initiate something here,” he said. Within two weeks, Shawwara had assembled a team, and the journal published its first issue in one month’s time, with big plans for the year ahead.

Though Shawwara wants to remain in Egypt in the long term, he is considering a master’s degree at Sciences Po in Paris after graduating — just one more way in which his study-abroad experience has shaped his outlook on life and his future career.

As major climate issues continue to affect people across Egypt’s diverse regions, Jillian Campana, theater professor and associate dean for undergraduate studies and research, developed a set of plays that reflect these environmental realities. The plays will be performed across AUC’s garden on February 12, 13, 16 and 17, with free entry each night. 

Da Zanbokom (It Is Our Fault) consists of five short plays, each set in a different location in Egypt and dealing with a distinct environmental issue affecting the country. Topics range from water scarcity in Aswan and flooding in Alexandria to pollution in the Red Sea and gentrification in Port Said. 

Meanwhile, the plays probe the audience to reflect on their role in climate change. “There are small things we can all do every day to help, but most of us don’t take any action because we mistakenly think only major innovations will make a difference,” said Campana.

Campana was inspired to pursue this project because she believes her role as an artist gives her a unique ability to humanize data in a way that regular people can relate to. “While scientists provide crucial data and technological innovations, solving this global challenge requires collaboration across disciplines. Artists, humanists, policymakers, educators, community leaders and activists all play vital roles. Artists, in particular, are able to humanize the data in a way that connects to everyday people,” she said.

“We hope that by watching the performances, audiences will consider their own behaviors and practices and reflect upon ways they can help educate those around them to engage in more sustainable behaviors.”

Over the summer, Campana worked with experts to identify major climate issues that affect people in different regions across Egypt. She then commissioned 10 new plays, five of which will be performed at AUC in the upcoming shows, exploring how these environmental issues impact daily life. The playwrights, including Campana, collaborated with AUC faculty members Anwar ElNaser, Fayrouz Ashour, Ramy Aly and Rania Siam to understand the depth and specificity of these issues and how they impact daily life. 

The play is site-specific, meaning that the locations of the plays mirror the settings of the stories. Audiences will gather in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences plaza between 6:30 and 7:00 pm on the nights of the shows. They will be assigned, in small groups, to a specific guide who will walk them to each location and provide details about the stories along the way. 

“We hope that by watching the performances, audiences will consider their own behaviors and practices and reflect upon ways they can help educate those around them to engage in more sustainable behaviors,” Campana said. “For the 43 students, many faculty and alumni involved in Da Zambokom it certainly has made an impact already!”

The five plays are:

• Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Winter (English)
• Snowball in Heaven (English)
• Very Environmental (Arabic)
• The Nile in Cairo Is Green (Arabic)
• The Graduation (Arabic and English)

At AUC, experiential learning can look a lot like tourism with an educational twist. Through a winter course called Egypt: Ancient to Modern Civilization, 46 students participated in immersive site visits all around the country. 

Over the three-week course, the class engaged in the study of four major periods of Egyptian history: Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Medieval Islamic and Modern. Along the way, students admired historic Egyptian art and architecture.

 “I am amazed by how my students engage with Egyptian civilization — not just as history, but as a living narrative that shapes their identities and perspectives."

“It was an unforgettable journey through time," said student Mohamed Khalil. "The course was a wonderful opportunity to see, feel and understand Egypt’s past. Even as a non-Egyptian, I developed great pride in the grandeur of this civilization and its lasting influence."

The class took students to iconic sites around Egypt, including Saqqara, Giza, Old Cairo, Medieval Islamic Cairo, Luxor, Abdeen Palace and the New Administrative Capital. Michelle Henry, senior instructor II in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition, who teaches the course, said, “It was an amazing journey for the students. The course and students were extremely engaging.”

Integrated marketing communication sophomore Aisha Abd El Hafeez said, “Seeing the sites in person changed everything. It made me realize how deeply spiritual Egyptians have always been. From ancient temples to modern mosques and churches, Egypt’s soul has stayed the same: faithful, resilient and alive.”

Students attended lectures and class discussions, wrote field notes and reflections, took pictures, presented orally and created multimodal projects over the three weeks. “I am amazed by how my students engage with Egyptian civilization — not just as history, but as a living narrative that shapes their identities and perspectives," said Yara Zidan, instructor in the Department of English Language Instruction (ELI). "Through critical thinking, alternative narratives and immersive digital projects, students continually push boundaries, often exceeding my expectations."

"I’ve always believed that learning extends beyond the walls of the classroom, so I was thrilled to see the students connect readings and lectures to actual sites and think critically about the stories being told. It brought Egypt’s history to life."

The course was coordinated by John Swanson, special adviser to the provost, and the three sections were taught by Henry, Zidan and Hana Abouzaied, also an ELI instructor.

“Although it was tiring at times, I was happy to see students experiencing history firsthand,"  Abouzaied said. "I’ve always believed that learning extends beyond the walls of the classroom, so I was thrilled to see the students connect readings and lectures to actual sites and think critically about the stories being told. It brought Egypt’s history to life."

She concluded, “What makes this journey truly special is that I learn as much from them as they do from the course. Their insights and creativity remind me that education is a two-way dialogue, and every class is an opportunity for discovery.”