By Ioanna Moriatis | This story appeared in the July 2017 edition of AUCToday.

"It is my firm belief now that everyone in our region, no matter how little they have or how young they are, needs to be engaged. You, graduates, must lead the charge. We need you. You already have so much to give. What you learned here at this great University, your energy, your optimistic vision of the future -- we need it all," asserted His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreq Group and chairman of the board of trustees of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, addressing graduates at AUC's undergraduate commencement.

Honorary Degrees Awarded

In recognition of his leadership and philanthropic contributions, Al Ghurair was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from AUC at its 94th commencement. Al Ghurair addressed students, urging them to make strides as leaders, engage with their communities and share the knowledge they've built at AUC. He emphasized three pieces of advice based on his personal experience: 1) Always challenge the status quo; 2) Persevere in the face of adversity; and 3) Give back to your country and region.

His Excellency Al Ghurair is a successful businessman and philanthropist who has dedicated himself to promoting accessibility to education for Arab youth through his foundation. He has been recognized with numerous honors for his global leadership and outreach efforts. President Francis J. Ricciardone introduced Al Ghurair as an example for students to seek to emulate as they move forward, remarking, "Your dedication to empowering the youth of this region, your drive to constantly innovate and your push to lead a growing network of like-minded and dedicated philanthropists are truly inspirational."

At this year's graduate commencement ceremony, David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, looked to graduates as future international leaders, calling on them to fight global divisions.

"The world is more interconnected than ever before, but the great danger is that we are consumed by the divisions between us," he said. "That is the danger that I fight every day in my work. That is the threat that I see in this region. ... And that is what I would ask you, using the knowledge and skills you have developed here, to fight against."

Miliband also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from AUC in recognition of his "global leadership and accomplishment in addressing the massive refugee crisis now devastating the lives of tens of millions, and which will afflict our world for generations to come," as President Ricciardone noted.

AUC: Opening Doors, Building Links

President Francis Ricciardone with Doris Jones.

Both speakers pointed to AUC's pivotal role in shaping students' lives and creating windows of opportunity for many. "I want to mention a special thanks to President Ricciardone and all of AUC for opening their doors to Al Ghurair Scholars from Egypt and the Arab world," said His Excellency Al Ghurair. "We share the vision that philanthropic foundations, educational institutions and others can and must come together to open access to education to those who need it the most. This is why I am so pleased that AUC is one of the first to step up to work with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education to offer scholarships to high-achieving refugee youth."

Emphasizing AUC's role in promoting global unity, Miliband said, "This institution embodies the best aspirations of higher learning, the ability to break down barriers between people, to respect different opinions, to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to pass on that knowledge to the next generation. [It is] a University that espouses pluralism, critical inquiry and mutual respect located in the crossroads between North and South, East and West. It is indicative that the word Cairo and American are bound together in your name. We need more institutions like AUC, building the links that are vital in an interdependent world."

Congratulations Class of 2017

Introducing this year's distinguished undergraduate and graduate classes, many of whom were awarded for their talents and successes, President Ricciardone said, "We have so much to celebrate today, many people to honor, not least our graduates."

AUC's undergraduate commencement ceremony saw the graduation of 634 students, of whom 108 graduated cum laude, 114 magna cum laude, and 130 summa cum laude. At the graduate ceremony, 124 master's and seven PhD students graduated from AUC. Of these, 24 were international students.

Student speakers at both commencement ceremonies looked beyond the classroom and their impressive academic feats, reflecting on their experience at AUC as a whole. "I've always believed that education is not confined to classroom walls," remarked Ana Carol Torres Gutierrez, this year's graduate class representative carrying a Master of Arts in Middle East studies. "... The biggest lessons and skills I've acquired during my master's studies were facilitated by the mere opportunity I was granted, through the International Graduate Fellowship offered by AUC, to come to Egypt."

Ali Assem Shaltout, a double major in mechanical engineering and accounting and recipient of the Parents Association Cup, addressed students as the representative of the undergraduate class. He shared, "AUC had us experience how life works because it was all about the small choices. It was all about the laps we raced and the laps we skipped. It was all about the challenges we chose to experience while knowing that we have so little control over the process."

Miliband urged graduating students to tap into their remarkable network of different points of view and become a part of the global conversation. "Our job, together, whatever our field -- public, private or nonprofit sector -- is to stand against division and embrace a world of connections, diversity and compassion," he affirmed. "It is the best of humanity, which we must defend together. I look forward to doing so with you."

Al Ghurair, too, encouraged students to be active and begin contributing to their communities as early as possible. "Class of 2017, you are among the best positioned young people in our region," he affirmed. "I urge you to begin your journey of giving early. Volunteer your time to a great cause, be ambassadors for education, mentor a younger person with potential or invent a tech solution for a challenge that affects someone you love. Just please start early."

 

By Katherine Pollock | This story appeared in the July 2017 edition of AUC Today.

The focus of the sociology class titled Borders, Wars and Refugees: From the Ottoman Empire to the Islamic State is the history of modern borders, yet the class itself takes place in a virtual world devoid of such borders.

Taught by Amy Austin Holmes, associate professor of sociology in AUC's Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology, the class was a joint course between AUC and Oberlin College in the United States. The course utilized video conferencing technology as a tool to bring AUC students from their classroom in Cairo together with their peers in an Ohio classroom to exchange and debate ideas.

"In both the United States and Egypt, a lot of students can no longer afford to go on a study-abroad program, so our class provided an alternate means of exposing students to the experience of sharing the classroom with students from a different university," said Holmes. "Students benefit greatly from this international exchange."

Institutional Collaboration

Holmes co-taught the course with Zeinab Abul-Magd, associate professor of history at Oberlin who was a visiting professor at AUC's history department in 2011-2012 and again in 2014. The idea for this collaboration came more than a year ago when Holmes and Abul-Magd began planning for the course.

In order to get this idea off the ground, Holmes and Abul-Magd submitted a grant proposal to the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, which aims to strengthen education in the liberal arts and sciences globally. The grant allowed Abul-Magd to travel to Ottoman archives in Istanbul and British archives in London, collecting old maps from the archives and hosting a lecture series at Oberlin, in which Holmes presented twice.

The class began with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the formation of new nation states, focusing on different minorities and ethnic groups. "In order to explain recent events in the region, we have to look back in history and ask how it got this way," said Holmes. "This history of displacement was a theme throughout the class, as well as how borders were drawn, who drew the borders, what to do if there are people with the same identity on two sides of the borders."

A joint course between AUC and Oberlin College utilized video conferencing technology as a tool to bring AUC students from their classroom in Cairo together with their peers in an Ohio classroom to exchange and debate ideas.

The syllabi at AUC and Oberlin covered the same readings for a number of weeks throughout the semester so as to facilitate discussion between the two groups. However, Holmes did emphasize certain relevant topics more specifically, such as that of Nubians in Egypt and Kurds and Yazidis in Syria and Iraq. Drawing further inspiration from the idea of the "borderless classroom," Holmes brought in two Nubian guest speakers to the class and a Kurdish guest speaker from the Sinjar region of Iraq, who spoke via an online platform.

Connecting Across Borders

AUC and Oberlin College students video conferenced approximately every other week, reading the same material and engaging in discussions. AUC classrooms are equipped with advanced video conferencing technology, which greatly facilitated this international virtual conversation. The technology allows the camera to zoom in on the person speaking, as well as pan out and capture the whole classroom at once. It is also possible to see both classrooms at once on the same screen, so it feels as though the class were taking place in one room.

"Video conferencing was a new experience and was quite interesting," said Amr Haddad, a political science senior at AUC who is minoring in sociology. "It was different from a normal classroom setting because it encourages you to participate all the time."

Holmes emphasized that this two-way communication gave students a voice.

"To know that there are people in another country, on the other side of the world, listening to them gave an added importance to what the students were saying," said Holmes. "Even just projecting on the big screen gives their words a sense of importance and weight that you wouldn't have in a normal classroom setting."

Similarly, Abul-Magd noted, "A large number of Oberlin College students joined this globally connected course, which took the form of a Middle Eastern history seminar. At enrollment time, my students were very excited about the possibility of connecting with and talking to fellow college students in an important country in the Middle East like Egypt. They tremendously enjoyed the video conferences and looked forward to each one of them."

With U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration and his immigration and border walls proposal in recent news, one of the first class sessions was spent discussing these topics with students across the ocean. "We discussed in general the issue of borders in relation to current affairs, external borders of a sovereign government and even internal domestic borders," said Holmes. "The topics of the wall between the United States and Mexico and the travel ban came up quickly, for example."

From the American perspective, Abul-Magd noted, "The fact that the topic of the course touches not only on Middle Eastern history issues but also current political issues in the United States, especially Trump's new border policies, made the whole experience more enriching and exciting for Oberlin students."

Reflecting on what he learned, Haddad declared, "The students from Oberlin were very good listeners. They didn't criticize anyone's point of view, but were ready to accept any differences in opinion. On both sides, we realized we have a lot in common when it comes to the way of analyzing texts or understanding certain issues.

The fact that we come from different cultures did not cause any problems, but actually made us realize that we could all have the same perspectives on certain issues."

 

These quotes appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

Yasmeen Abdelkader

Undeclared freshman student from the United States

"I was tired of proclaiming that I was Egyptian without experiencing Egypt, so I came to Cairo to reconnect with my roots. Since I came here, I've learned that Egypt is an overlooked gem that offers valuable life lessons. Above all, I've learned the importance of family. One of my favorite memories was AUC's Thanksgiving dinner because it showed how different cultures could blend into one, not to mention the delicious food. Egypt is also a very collectivist culture. If I'm experiencing trouble, whether it be car issues or confusion about an assignment, someone will always go out of their way to help me, with no expectations in return. This has given me the most wonderful, wholesome feeling of joy and belongingness. Now, I aspire to become a mentor to younger students."

 

Mohammed Abdellaoui

Computer science sophomore and Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship Recipient from Algeria

"Egypt has its own legacy, which encouraged me to step into this country and sense the historical dimensions inside its walls. Being in such an environment is priceless because you don't get the chance to walk and learn in a place that was -- hundreds of years ago -- a hub of the most brilliant minds in history, those who changed the path of science forever. Through community service clubs at AUC, I went to rural areas in Egypt to teach children math, Arabic and English using games. I am also working with the Robotix Club to teach basic robotics to impoverished children with disabilities. AUC stands for quality. I see motivation wherever I go: students eager to make a change and enthusiastic about doing something great for their communities."

Hanin Elfandi

Biology sophomore (premedical track), Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship recipient from Libya

"As an AUCian, I feel like a citizen of an important place where the unreachable is right at my fingertips. At AUC conferences and events, we network with amazing leaders who listen to our ideas because they believe we matter. This gives me a sense of empowerment. Another thing I adore about AUC is the welcoming and friendly Office of International Student Life, where I feel at home and valued because of my different background. The office ensures that we as international students see the beauty of Egypt by escorting us to different places in the country and organizing heartwarming gatherings. Egyptians love us here and always offer to accommodate."

Khaddija Jobe

English literature sophomore and study abroad student from Gambia and the United States

"I grew up in West Africa and wanted to come back to the continent, but somewhere completely different from where I grew up. I've always been interested in doing this; I just never had the chance to venture out on my own and explore. It's a nice dual experience to be at AUC as a student and experience how things work academically, as well as be a tourist in Egypt. I'm getting a unique historical perspective. Because we're in Egypt, my professors are using works that relate more to the area, so I'm being introduced to different theorists and authors."

Michel Salzer

Political science study abroad student from Germany

"Egypt is rich in that it has so much to offer. There's an interesting mixture of cultures, and people always communicate different opinions. AUC, more than any other university, is a way of life, not just an educational institution. You can achieve many things and interact with important and interesting individuals. You come across different people on campus, with different ways of living and thinking. The University encourages multidisciplinary thinking, and people exchange a lot of ideas through courses. It's a very interesting melange of Egyptian, American and European academic traditions"

Adam Angus

Business administration junior from the United States

"AUC offers opportunities and a unique learning experience that you would not be able to get in other countries. I'm learning here within an interesting economic situation. My goal is to tackle the class gap to really structure a strong middle class. The University is helping me achieve this goal because it really brings about a new perspective and pushes you to innovate. I've learned so much about myself and where I come from because of the Egyptian society's collective unity. This kind of networking is at the forefront of global business." 

Azza Osman is pursuing a Master of Arts in community psychology under the African Graduate Fellowship at AUC. She was an intern, working as a capacity building coordinator, at Syria Al Gad Relief Foundation, which supports Syrian refugees residing in Egypt. She is also interning with AUC's John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business. She received her bachelor's in psychology from Ain Shams University.

This story appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

I was 7 months old and living in Sudan when my life shifted. My father needed to seek political asylum, so our family moved to Egypt. Because I was so young, I didn't feel the impact of this move right away, but as I grew up, it was impossible to ignore the challenges of living in a culture different from that of my family. Looking back, I can see how much the process of melding with Egyptian culture, dealing with prejudices and misconceptions, and eventually coming to study at AUC would shape my passions and interests over the course of more than 20 years.

During my 24 years of residence in Cairo, my highest priority and most rewarding challenge has been concentrating on my studies while trying to adapt to Egyptian culture. Over time, these two priorities have come together. What I've experienced and noticed about how community and belonging affect us have influenced my desire for change in Sudan, Egypt and Africa.

Being an African migrant and a woman living in Egypt has not always been easy. I face a lot of society's prejudices, misconceptions and discrimination. My dark skin, for example, invites a lot of judgment. This has made me a more resilient person and has pushed me to reach for more, not just in my own life, but for the lives of vulnerable communities everywhere.

I have a bachelor's degree in psychology and am currently pursuing my master's in community psychology because I want to use my academic knowledge and personal experience to support migrant and refugee communities in having equal access to opportunities and resources. I want them to be an empowered and developed community. I also want to help them discover and reach their full potential, regardless of the circumstances.

What I find extremely captivating about community psychology is that it goes beyond the individual and integrates social factors to promote positive change on many levels. Because it is based on scientific research, community psychology can offer tailored support to target populations through prevention, intervention and evaluation strategies that lead to their holistic empowerment, sustainability and development. It connects people to their communities and focuses on important issues that I believe Sudan and the African continent as a whole experience, including poverty, discrimination, inequality and lack of quality education.

AUC is one of the top universities in Africa and the Middle East. It is the only University in the region that offers a master's degree in community psychology. The strength and competitive stature of the University's program resonate with my desire to be part of an institution that actively changes the world for the better. I was fortunate enough to be awarded the African Graduate Fellowship, one of many opportunities at AUC that encourages students from different backgrounds to follow their dreams and further their education.

My entire experience at AUC has been eye-opening and positively challenging in many ways. Academically, the program has been everything I hoped it would be. The facilities and faculty mentors available in AUC's Department of Psychology are unparalleled in Egypt. I get the opportunity to apply my studies through practical experiences and internships parallel to my courses -- all leading to a hands-on experience that is efficient in developing my skills and knowledge. The principles and mission of the African Graduate Fellowship coincide directly with my aspirations and vision for change in Africa. My hope is that studying at AUC will equip me to provide the best possible services upon my return to Sudan. I am a firm believer in social responsibility. One of my ultimate dreams is to start a community-based organization in Sudan that would support and empower vulnerable groups with no regard to race, color or ethnicity.

I want to offer a safe space for members of a community to get together and receive support, skills and education, while sharing their own gifts, talents and knowledge.

When I look back at the ways being a migrant have shaped me -- offering lessons in patience, empathy, resilience and determination -- I am proud that I've navigated my education to reflect this experience. I am a culmination of communities: the larger community of two countries, that of my parents' culture and surroundings, and the life I've discovered and created for myself here in Egypt. This has made me a strong, open-minded, tolerant and, above all, grateful person. I truly believe that I have been lucky to live and experience all of that and to appreciate things like being part of a connected, loving family. These rich experiences led me to where I am today and will continue to guide me to a place where I can give back.

By Elizabeth Lepro | This story appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

As a freelance journalist in Shanghai, China, Shan Yang was faced with a tough task: to write about a region she never visited.

Yang found it especially difficult to play the messenger in China, where Middle East literacy is low, she said. "During the one year I worked in China, from 2015 to 2016, the major things I reported on or analyzed were about refugee issues and terrorism," Yang recalled. "It made it seem like it was a mess in the Middle East. It was not long before I realized that I was at odds with my readers. They criticized my writing when I spoke out for other religions or for refugees."

So Yang came to Cairo. She joined more than 300 international students on campus at AUC, first as a student in the Arabic Language Intensive Program in 2016 and now as a master's student, pursuing a degree in Middle East studies. "I have to be here," Yang said, punctuating the thought with her hands. "To know the facts."

Each international student -- from the United States suburbs to the edges of the African continent -- comes to AUC with a purpose: to learn Arabic, to choose a field of study not offered in universities at home or to explore the beginnings of civilization up close. Many of them get more than what they expected.

Meet four such international students at AUC, who describe in their own words why they're here and what knowledge they're bringing back home. Yang came to Cairo to broaden her understanding of the region. Amir Ben Ameur has discovered a knack for policy and economics. Nour Elhouda Bouzahzah, who studied abroad in Washington, D.C. at a pivotal moment in American history, found her ideas shifted by international exposure. Erick Dokalahy, the only student from Madagascar at AUC, wants to learn how best to preserve fresh food grown in his country.

Shan Yang
Middle East Studies Graduate Student, China

I am from a small village in China, so they didn't understand my decision to come here. Even though my family supports me studying abroad, they still said, "Why not Europe? Why not the United States? Why are you going to Egypt?" They have major misunderstandings. To be honest, even when I was in China, I had almost no Muslim friends. Minorities in Shanghai are relatively few. Shanghai has about seven small mosques, but only when they go there to pray do they wear scarves. They are under huge social pressure not to.

People who live here must think it is ridiculous to have to prove themselves as "normal." But the first thought in my mind was to "normalize" Islam and the Middle East. It's normal to wear a scarf, to pray five times a day and to go to a mosque -- and it's normal to choose not to do any of those things. People here care about family, safety, inflation, graduation and jobs, just like people elsewhere. The deeper I go into society, the more strongly I feel that we belong to one common community. Nationality, ethnicity, language, faith -- these should never be obstacles for us to be united. Now, although I have lived in Shanghai for eight years, I call Cairo home. I feel more relaxed in Cairo and have developed a good sense of humor here. I like drinking tea with sugar or lemon or mint.

I want to bring this knowledge, this sense of shared community -- and maybe even a new way of drinking tea -- back with me to China, where we have many U.S. or European study experts, but lack people who know about this area. We should have more professors who have lived here for some time. InshaaAllah, I will return to China to do this.

Amir Ben Ameur
Economics Senior, Tunisia
Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship Recipient

I used to be part of civil society in Tunisia. I was a blogger before the revolution. Afterward, I noticed a lot of shifts, not only in the country, but in myself.

I got a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to attend AUC, and I came because the School of Business here is one of the best. Honestly, after these years, I have learned so much from AUC.

I've taken courses that have changed the way I see the world. Before my education here, I used to just criticize and complain. Now, I'm giving recommendations. I'm trying to solve problems. I want to offer constructive criticism. I was telling my professor recently that now I can read parliamentary budget line proposals and can do analysis. I understand what they mean. I have different ideas now about politics and the economy as systems that regulate individual lives. It's healthy to be skeptical about these systems, but I believe that we must suggest good alternatives and young people should be engaged and work to become responsible citizens capable of making change.

I believe in the importance of international work. I am currently a post-conflict adviser in the United Nations-Habitat Youth Advisory Board and have been previously involved with the United Nations Development Programme. We Youth, my nonprofit in Tunisia under the National Youth umbrella, is one of the biggest youth NGOs in the Middle East and North Africa region. We work a lot on engagement, involving youth in socioeconomic political uplifting. We work on decentralization, elections, political accountability with Parliament and engaging youth in democracy. Having a liberal arts education here has helped me make a healthy transition from a radical to a practical mindset. I want to tell other young people: You're wise enough. Start engaging and acting instead of agonizing and rejecting. Idleness won't lead to any improvement.

Erick Dokalahy
Food Chemistry Graduate Student, Madagascar
 

My life has always been driven by inspiration, and my decision to come to Cairo was too.

At an early age, my love for manufacturing science was nurtured by a TV documentary series, which triggered my interest in food processing. We produce a lot in Madagascar, but we do not produce raw material for food; we export it. So this is a burden for the country. That triggered my interest in agricultural science and galvanized me to become what I call an "ambitious food technologist." That's why I am here, studying food chemistry at AUC.

I hope to establish my own startup on fortified food one day. I want to participate in the fight against food insecurity by making high-quality, locally produced and affordable food for the Malagasy people. No matter where I end up, I'll use the skills and experiences I've gained at AUC to pass the torch to the next generation.

Here at AUC, everything is different from what I've experienced before. There is an emphasis on the student's well-being and personal development, not just academic achievement. I always keep myself busy volunteering in extracurricular activities, such as being the Graduate Student Association representative in the University Senate, a member of the Chemistry Club and Black Student Association, as well as a teaching assistant in the School of Sciences and Engineering.

Being out of one's comfort zone is always difficult. When I came to Egypt, I had to manage my finances, learn Arabic to be able to deal with the basic things in my everyday life and make new friends -- all while focusing on my studies. They say "life is the best teacher," and I think that's completely true. Since I started my international student life journey here at AUC, I've had a mind shift and new vision of how things should be in my country.

Nour Elhouda Bouzahzah
Business Administration Senior, Algeria
Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship Recipient

 

As a study-abroad student at the American University in Washington, D.C., I met people who have different arguments and thoughts, and heard them explain their points of view. It was really enriching. In my dorm, I got to interact with a lot of Americans, and we talked about politics. They had never traveled to Africa, so they had a different view of the continent. We discussed women's issues and other topics.

What really impacted me was the Women's March in Washington, D.C. It was incredible. Everyone had these pink hats, and they were marching literally throughout all of D.C. The metro was so crowded you could not get on.

All the women were in solidarity with each other. We were all repeating the same words and walking together. I have never experienced this anywhere else. This peaceful march reinforced my ideas of women's empowerment.

The Women's March also reminded me of the startup that I worked for a year ago, ScaleUp Ventures, which was founded by a female CEO. We weren't a lot of people at ScaleUp, only five, but the CEO promoted hiring women. I liked the idea.

My goal is to establish my own startup that would employ more women while also doing something beneficial for my country. I will make sure to transfer all the priceless knowledge that I learned at AUC and in Washington, D.C. to young people in Algeria. My startup will be built for youth, by youth.

 

This gallery appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

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By the News@AUC team | This roundup appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

New Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman

"We have the right people"

This year set in motion with Professor Ehab Abdel-Rahman as AUC's newly appointed provost.

After many years of service at the University, Abdel-Rahman recognizes the distinct qualities that have shaped AUC into the leading global institution it is today and brings a fresh perspective to his new role as provost.

"This is a time for key discussions about the future of the University," Abdel-Rahman said. "I hope to capitalize on the unique opportunity to engage students, faculty, staff and alumni in a deeper dialogue about our structures, policies, processes and, more importantly, our vision for the future of AUC. We have the right people to guide this dialogue."

Abdel-Rahman first joined AUC as assistant professor of physics in 2006. He went on to become chair of the Department of Physics, associate dean of graduate studies and research in the School of Sciences and Engineering, and director of the Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center. As a senior administrator, he held the positions of associate provost for research, vice provost and interim provost. In recognition of his accomplishments, AUC presented him with the Research Innovation Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, Innovative Teaching Award, President's Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Service Award, and the Provost's Distinguished Service Award.

As provost, Abdel-Rahman envisions boundless opportunities for AUC's growth. "All the challenges that AUC has faced in the last few years have been defining moments and presented opportunities to enhance our operations," he affirmed.

Full story here.

First Female Minister of Tourism

Rania Al-Mashat '95 is Egypt's new Minister of Tourism.

Rania Al-Mashat '95 is Egypt's new minister of tourism -- the first woman in Egypt's history to hold this position since the ministry was established more than five decades ago.

Al-Mashat has always emphasized being driven by a sense of responsibility to serve Egypt. "Every international and domestic post or recognition along my career path better equips me to competently serve my country," said Al-Mashat. "That's my lifelong goal."

A leading expert in monetary policy and international economics, Al-Mashat has worked with prominent financial institutions in Egypt and worldwide since graduating from AUC with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. At the International Monetary Fund (IMF), she served as adviser to its chief economist, Professor Maurice Obstfeld, and as senior economist. She played a key role at the Central Bank of Egypt, where she worked for 11 years and served as assistant sub-governor and head of its Monetary Policy Department. She also acted as a liaison between the bank, sovereign rating agencies and the IMF.

Recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award from AUC, Al-Mashat is well-known as a global economist. In 2017, she participated in the World Economic Forum's "Investing in Peace," a panel composed of influential global figures. She was among a list of 10 renowned economics experts whose input was sought for a World Economic Forum article discussing making the world a fairer place. In 2014, the World Economic Forum named her a Young Global Leader for her commitment to bettering Egypt through her impactful work. Al-Mashat's biography is featured in Daughters of the Nile: Egyptian Women Changing Their World (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016).

Al-Mashat noted that her various experiences at AUC exposed her to the international dimension of economics and solidified her decision to pursue her master's and doctorate in the field at the University of Maryland. She also completed executive education certificates in leadership from Harvard and Oxford universities.

During her time at AUC, Al-Mashat was active in numerous extracurricular activities, such as the Cairo International Model Arab League, Cairo International Model United Nations, AIESEC and the Arab Cultural Club. She also participated in the Student Union as the representative for economics majors. In addition, she, along with other AUC students, had the opportunity to represent Egypt at the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue in Austria. "These experiences helped build my confidence, trained me in public participation and interaction with others, as well as broadened the networks to which I still have access to this day," reflected Al-Mashat.

Full profile on Al-Mashat here.

AUC Welcomes New Trustees

William B. Inglee is the senior partner and cofounder of Inglee Sauer Moseley Strategies.

AUC's Board of Trustees has welcomed two new members: William B. Inglee, senior partner and co-founder of Inglee Sauer Moseley Strategies LLC and a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Tarek Masoud, professor of public policy and the Sultan of Oman Professor of International Relations at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Inglee's career has included senior positions in the private sector, executive branch and United States Congress. Previously, he was clerk and staff director of the Committee on Appropriations in the U.S. House of Representatives. "William Inglee's extensive expertise in foreign affairs will serve as a trusted guide to support AUC's outreach and engagement with the international community," said Atef Eltoukhy '74, chairman of AUC's Board of Trustees.

Inglee holds degrees from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and Carleton University's Center for Russian and European Affairs. He has also been awarded the Order of Merit Officer's Cross, First Class, by the president of the Federal Republic of Germany. "It's a great honor to join the Board of Trustees of The American University in Cairo," said Inglee. "I am very much looking forward to working with the other members of the board in supporting and growing the critical educational and leadership position of this incredible academic institution. Egypt is a land and people with a rich history and unlimited opportunity, and The American University in Cairo plays an exceptional role in shaping Egypt's future."

Tarek Masoud is a professor of public policy and the Sultan of Oman professor of international relations at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

With his research focusing on the role of religion in the political development of Muslim-majority countries, Masoud is author of Counting Islam: Religion, Class, and Elections in Egypt (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and co-author of The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform (Oxford University Press, 2015). A former Carnegie Scholar, Masoud is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Democracy. "As the University embarks on another centennial of excellence, Tarek Masoud's years of dedication to studying the Middle East will enrich AUC's regional and global involvement and standing," said Eltoukhy.

Masoud holds an AB from Brown University and a PhD from Yale University. "As an Egyptian-American," said Masoud, "AUC has always been one of my intellectual lodestars. I have long been in awe of its distinguished faculty, particularly in the social sciences, and I cannot exaggerate the magnitude of what I have learned -- and continue to learn -- from scholarship produced at AUC. It should be no surprise that such a superior faculty produces superior graduates; some of my most distinguished students at the Harvard Kennedy School have been products of AUC. I am humbled and honored to now be part of that institution, and to have the opportunity to do what I can to support its academic mission."

Meet AUC's New Counselor

Dr. Hatem has had an extensive career in the field of medicine and nonprofit medical administration.

Dr. Ashraf Hatem, the University's new counselor, has joined AUC after an extensive career in the field of medicine and public and nonprofit medical administration. He was secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Universities and served as minister of health for a five-month term in the months following the 2011 revolution.

Though he earned his medical degree from the renowned Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University, AUC was always a subject of admiration for him. "For me, AUC has a long history and has always been a dream," Hatem said. "I decided to change my career from the public sector to the international nonprofit sector after 30 years, which is something I am excited about."

The role of the counselor is typically liaising between Egyptian authorities and the University. This includes working on continuing to develop good relations between AUC, Egyptian institutions and the Supreme Council for Higher Education, as well as helping to implement the accreditation process for all academic degrees.

Read an interview with Dr. Hatem here.

Palestinian Writer Wins Naguib Mahfouz Medal

Author Huzama Habayeb's novel Mukhmal, or Velvet, won the 2017 prestigious award.

 

Palestinian author Huzama Habayeb was awarded the 2017 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for her novel Mukhmal, or Velvet. The prize is presented annually by AUC Press since 1996.

Set against the backdrop of al-Baq'a refugee camp in Amman, Jordan in the 1970s, Habayeb's novel centers around the lives of Palestinian women and presents a unique narrative of the Palestinian struggle in the post-Naqba generation.

Habayeb sees the novel as a way to reflect on her own identity as the daughter of a Palestinian refugee. "My story rises up on a lofty tower of losses and derives its legitimacy from a staggering legacy of loss, and more loss," she said, upon accepting her award from President Francis Ricciardone. "The women of Velvet are able to capture joy in the midst of oppression, and they desire food and sumptuous fabrics, and wait for only one man, even within a wide space of misery, violation and repression called the 'camp.'"

Full story here.

AUC to establish 20 career centers at 12 public universities

AUC launched the University Centers for Career Development project at a formal breakfast with the stakeholders.

Due to the success of AUC's Career Center and its three pilot Employability and Career Development Centers at Ain Shams and Suez Canal universities, AUC has launched the University Centers for Career Development (UCCD) project. Over the course of four years, the project will establish 20 UCCDs at 12 public universities in Upper Egypt, the Delta and the greater Cairo area, impacting roughly 1 million students -- more than 70 percent -- with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The UCCD project will partner with the International Labour Organization to analyze the needs of the current labor market and help the universities equip students with the required knowledge and skills for the job market. "This is part of the mandate to expand our expertise to build capacities within the community to serve more Egyptian youth and help them prepare for their future careers," said Maha Guindi, executive director of AUC's Career Center.

Some of the universities that will be home to their own sustainable career centers include Ain Shams, Alexandria, Aswan and Mansoura universities. AUC is hiring a team to establish the centers, which will eventually be staffed by career development facilitators and will offer career advising; employment services; workshops on resume writing, the job search and interviewing techniques; employability skills training; and resources from training partners, including AUC's Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment. Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said that he's looking forward to another beneficial aspect of these centers: establishing entrepreneurial skills.

According to USAID, 3.5 million Egyptians under the age of 30 are unemployed. "If each student who will have access to these 20 centers finds a job through these centers, then this project has the potential to cut Egypt's youth unemployment rate by at least a third and will ensure University graduates are a driving force behind Egypt's economic growth," said Sherry Carlin, director of USAID Mission.

Full story here.

Tech Ties: AUC, Udacity partner on blended learning

President Francis Ricciardone with Udacity COO Clarissa Shen at the project's launch event.

AUC and online educational platform Udacity are partnering to bring tech curriculum onto campus next year.

President Francis Ricciardone and Chief Operating Officer of Udacity Clarissa Shen announced their partnership at the RiseUp Summit, which saw the active participation of distinguished AUC students, faculty and alumni and where AUC was a "strategic partner" and "first believer."

Connect @ AUC is Udacity's first partnership with an educational institution in Egypt and the Middle East and North Africa region. "We have a certain global brand, and so does Udacity," said President Francis Ricciardone. "Putting us together will be the essence of any great partnership. It's not simply additive ... it's transformative."

Udacity aims to offer AUC students in-person access to events and programs that mirror the company's connect sessions, which are hybrid, blended-learning model courses that connect students with tech companies. The program
will combine online curricula with physical classrooms, with an initial focus on data science and mobile development. These courses allow students to learn skills in demand in the tech industry, according to Shen.

"We want to bring the power of Udacity together with AUC so that we can bring many more amazing industry-relevant training and skills to the AUC community," she said.

Full story here.

Fintech at AUC among first worldwide

President Francis Ricciardone with representatives from Luqman Weise Capital shortly after signing the memorandum.

AUC signed a memorandum of agreement with Luqman Weise Capital to establish the Luqman Weise FinTech Fellowships Fund. The program will begin admitting students in Spring 2018, offering 14 fellowships for Egyptian students to attend AUC in pursuit of a Master of Science in finance. Additionally, Luqman Weise Capital will be supporting the development of a FinTech concentration at AUC under the Master of Science in finance program -- the first in Egypt and among the first worldwide.

"We will now be able to put a greater emphasis on FinTech and establish the first concentration in degree studies in the region, in Egypt -- thanks to [Luqman Weise Capital] and [its] vision ... to expand [its] industry and grow it in Egypt, and through Egypt, to the entire region," said President Francis Ricciardone.

FinTech, or financial technology, is a growing field garnering interest across the globe. "FinTech is going to change the way finance works," said Mohamed Khater, Luqman Weise Capital's chief investment adviser. "The way we trade, the way we handle money, the way we handle transactions are going to change in the future incredibly."

In addition to helping establish the FinTech concentration at AUC, Luqman Weise Capital has agreed to provide support as the University develops courses and will be bringing in distinguished visiting professors to work with students, as well as train faculty members, in order to build a solid foundation for the program moving forward.

Full story here.

Top Accreditations

AUC's School of Business has been reaccredited by the three most prestigious international business and management education associations: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs and the European Foundation for Management Development Quality Improvement System. Only 77 business schools -- representing 1 percent of leading business institutions worldwide -- received the three distinguished accreditations, known as the triple crown. Since initially acquiring the triple crown accreditation three years ago, AUC's School of Business became the first in the Middle East and third in Africa to obtain all three renowned recognitions.
Full story here.

AUC's Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy are the first worldwide to receive triple crown accreditation in public affairs education by the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation. AUC is the first University to earn this honor outside of the Council of Europe.
Full story here.

For the fourth consecutive time, AUC's computer science and engineering program has been reaccredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). The program was praised for the quality of its curriculum, student creativity and completion of projects, flourishing teaching environments, equipped labs and competent faculty. AUC's computer science and engineering program is the first outside of the United States to receive this recognition since 1999.
Full story here.

The Department of Accounting is now fully accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom and received the maximum exemption of nine out of 14 modules. AUC's undergraduate accounting program is the first in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East to obtain the maximum exemption that ACCA may grant to any accounting program.
Full story here.

 

By Elizabeth Lepro | This story appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

Between law school, a marriage and a few major relocations, Kai Schneider (SAB '97) has ostensibly lived a whole life since leaving AUC in the late 1990s.

Yet, on a return visit to Cairo with his brother, Schneider cruised down the street where he lived when he studied abroad at AUC. He found his old bawab [doorman] and friend still sitting right where he remembered him. "He recognized me, ran down the street and hugged me, and just fell apart crying," Schneider said.

Schneider (middle) with his friends in Cairo in the '90s.

Now in his early 40s, Schneider spent most of his adolescence moving back and forth between Sweden and the United States, and knows what it's like to leave a place behind. Yet, listening to him talk about Cairo makes it clear he has reserved a special spot in his heart for the ancient city, the connections he made and the memories -- many involving public transportation mishaps -- he still laughs at today.

"I have friends from AUC who are back in the United States," Schneider recalled. "We still talk about Tahrir and Cairo."

Over 13,000 of AUC's more than 38,000 alumni live internationally in more than 120 countries. Preparing students to become global citizens is built into the design of the University. Like dots on a map all connected back to the same starting point, students over the years have taken what they learned from Egypt, from AUC and from each other into careers where adapting to new cultures and environments is often part of the job description.

Schneider in Singapore

"From a management perspective, I still use the lessons I learned being at AUC and in Cairo," said Schneider, who studied international relations at AUC on a study-abroad program from the American University in Washington, D.C. and went on to law school. Schneider now lives in Singapore, is the managing partner of the Singapore office of Clifford Chance international law firm, and heads the office's Funds and Investment Management group.

Alumni utilize Cairo-learned lessons -- including the ability to adapt, laugh in any situation and empathize with those around them -- in their offices thousands of miles away from Egypt. Take Mahmoud Mouaz '00, who came to AUC to study engineering, but realized his heart was in connecting with people.

Mouaz, sales director for Iskraemeco smart energy company in Slovenia, credits his active involvement in the Student Union's activities committee with the realization that he was made for leadership positions in sales and marketing. As an undergraduate, Mouaz helped plan trips and concerts, like the carnival on campus, and worked closely with people from a range of backgrounds and experiences. He developed "a broad way of thinking and an ability to understand different people and characters, and create business opportunities. "I am able to adapt," he said. "I lived in Dubai and Slovenia, and traveled for a period of time between Cairo and New York."

Reflecting on how AUC helps develop leadership and interpersonal skills, he noted, "AUC builds that self-drive. Its education system and activities help students find what they are good at and give them the motive to fight to succeed."

Moving to a new country, be it Egypt or Slovenia or Singapore, does come with the risk of drowning. Svanhildur Thorvaldsdottir (SAB '05), who is Icelandic but educated in the United States, remembers how daunting it was to study abroad in Cairo when she was an undergraduate. "Being completely unable to communicate -- although I was able to roughly get by at the end of the semester -- was an interesting experience and one that I think everyone should try out sometime, even though it's super hard and frustrating," Thorvaldsdottir said. "The first time I successfully directed a cab driver to my house in Arabic was a very proud moment."

Thorvaldsdottir, a postdoctoral researcher at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Germany, remembers being inundated with safety warnings before making the move to Egypt. "I had heard from various people I knew that 'you can't take a cab there. You can't eat the vegetables. You can't buy the juice from the juice guys. You can't do this; you can't do that' and to basically eat nothing and do nothing because it isn't safe," she said.

Yet, another benefit of having a global network of alumni is that Thorvaldsdottir and others go on to be ambassadors for the realities of Cairo. "My favorite juice is still half pomegranate, half guava from the juice guy. The veggies are lovely, and I had some of my most interesting conversations with cab drivers," Thorvaldsdottir continued.

"For me, being able to step out of the tourist bubble and just get to know the country a bit more was a really valuable experience."

Thorvaldsdottir with her daughters in Iceland.

Mouaz, too, finds Cairo's friendly atmosphere and the compassion of Egyptians an easy message to promote in Slovenia. "Egyptians in general care about the welfare of society; they are decent and good-natured. They're not really big on capitalism or individualistic behaviors," said Mouaz "This is in harmony here. At one point, Slovenia was the economic capital of Yugoslavia, and Yugoslavia was big on socialism. You can still see traces of socialism here with the behavior of the people. It's more collective, which means that the society cares for the welfare of all people -- like Egyptians do."

Adapting to the snowfall and chilly climate during Slovenian winters is a different story. Mouaz admits he's more of a sunny-weather guy. Egypt is, after all, his homeland. "I've traveled a lot and lived in different places, but Egypt is where I belong," he said. Offering words of advice, he added, "Always be proud of who you are and where you come from. Invest in your future."

Connect with alumni through the Facebook page!

 

By Aliah Salih | This story appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday.

The more you learn about the world, the more you learn about yourself -- a philosophy shared by faculty members Mohamed Menza, affiliate assistant professor of the Core Curriculum and director of the Dialogue Program, and Hakim Meshreki, assistant professor of marketing.

Building on this philosophy, students from the School of Business went to South Africa on a weeklong study trip with Meshreki, while Menza's students connected with the United States and pockets of the Global South -- Nigeria, South Africa and India --
via videoconferencing.

Videoconferencing allows learning from afar.

Core Dialogue

South-South Dialogue: Perceptions and Reflections from the Global South is a capstone-level course under the Core Curriculum, where -- every other week -- students are taken out of the realm of textbooks and readings and connected to universities from different places. "We have diverse partners across the Global South," explained Menza. "The point is that they are diverse, which serves the multidisciplinary nature of the course."

AUC students and their overseas peers conduct readings on a specific subject, ranging from economics and politics to gender and sociology, and then discuss concepts together the following week. "The opportunity to have videoconferencing sessions with people from around the world and discuss matters with them was very compelling," said Suliema Benhalim, economics senior and entrepreneur. "It allowed me to implement a lot of what I learned in economics to a more cultural side of each topic."

This is the value that liberal arts education adds to each student, Menza noted. "Departments have their own limitations, but this is the benefit of the Core Curriculum. You're not confined to academic contours or certain angles," Menza explained. "We try to merge the gap between academia and the real world."

The course -- which combines internationalization, blended learning and cross-cultural dialogue -- included videoconferencing sessions with the American University of Nigeria, Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, University of the Western Cape in South Africa and Amrita School of Business in India.

The multilateral Dialogue Program course series was first introduced in 2001, not too long after September 11, when there was a dire need for challenging emerging stereotypes and promoting an East-West exchange of ideas. The course's impact on students is not confined to dialoguing or written skills, but also changing perceptions and preconceived notions. "I honestly saw another side of each country," said Benhalim. "I found the conversation with Nigeria very interesting because we discussed many topics under gender, from cultural implementations of gender differences to political instability and the lack of gender equality in politics. I learned more about the problems they face and about our cultural similarities and differences."

Global Outlook

An AUC study trip, organized by the School of Business, to the University of Stellenbosch Business School last spring enhanced the business and economic outlook of students. "If you are a business person," explained Meshreki, "you may launch a new idea based on a perception you have that may not be right. How different cultures will perceive your idea cannot be based on your own perceptions; it has to be based on reality. During the trip, students learned that perceptions might not be real. They were shocked to view reality against their own perceptions, but if we want to build international leaders, we should make sure they're getting this global encounter."

The students were able to see three major sides of business in South Africa: academic institutions, entrepreneurial ventures and corporations. They attended lectures at the University of Stellenbosch Business School and visited two extremes of the business world in South Africa: multinational corporations and entrepreneurs from impoverished districts, including one who created a coffee stand similar to Starbucks in his neighborhood. "When we met the entrepreneurs and heard their stories, the idea of 'getting good grades to feel like I learned' changed inside me," said Reem Yakout, a junior majoring in management of information and communication. "Being an entrepreneur is hard, but that's the point. This trip made me realize it's not all about work as much as it is about what I want to do and how to do it."

The comparative perspective with South Africa was also eye-opening. "My favorite lecture was the Economics of South Africa; it made me think of Egypt's economy," said Yakout. "I remember thinking, 'Why doesn't Egypt have something like this? It surprised and inspired me."

The study trip was distinctive in the international exposure it provided. "Exploring the history and culture of South Africa gave me insights about the country and how I can deal with people in business, in different countries and in the future," said Yasmine El Tayeb '17, a business marketing graduate who attended the course as a graduating senior. "We explored different teaching methods employed by professors and gained great international exposure, as well as the pleasure of knowing and understanding other cultures. Internationalization in the curriculum builds your character and enhances your career prospects."

 

These quotes appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday, as part of our feature story on CASA.

"CASA's formidable and excellent curriculum and faculty not only cemented my mastery of Arabic, but also motivated me to pursue a career path in Arabic language instruction. A year after graduating from CASA, I was launching an Arabic program at Friends Seminary in New York City. Eight years later, I launched another at Kalamazoo College. Also, the fascinating and diverse projects being undertaken all over the world by my cohort (2006-2007) provide a constant source of inspiration."

-- Anna Swank (CASA '07)
Kalamazoo College's First Arabic-Language Professor

Learning Arabic in the CASA program was like spending a year in a different historic
age. By the time the academic year finished, I was pretty exhausted but had reached a level of fluency that I had not imagined possible.

-- Paul K. Anderson (CASA '83)
Part-Time Student, Laney College

"CASA was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. At the university level, I've been teaching Arabic for close to 30 years, largely on the strength of having completed my PhD in religion, with my dissertation on the early Arabic-language versions of the Book of Job."

-- Steven P. Blackburn (CASA '73)
Curator of the Arabic Collection, Hartford Seminary

The importance of my CASA experience in setting my career path was second only to that of my initial decision to study Arabic. My time in Egypt was truly formative for me both personally and professionally, and the opportunity to spend first a summer and then a full year in the intensive study of Arabic enabled me to develop the basis for the speaking and research competencies that have been critical to my success as an academic in the field of Middle East politics and international relations.

-- Laurie Brand (CASA '79)
Robert Grandford Wright Professor of International Relations and Middle East Studies and Director of the Middle East Studies Program, University of Southern California

"My year at CASA in Cairo back in 2005-2006 was one of the most rewarding professional experiences in my life. It allowed me to really begin to develop confidence with my Arabic language abilities and was crucial in jump-starting my career as a translator of Arabic literature. CASA helped a few of us students set up a course in pre-Islamic Arabic poetry with the renowned Dr. Farouk Shousha, and that was a key moment for me. The course was delightful and informative in every way. And now, over a decade later, I have just received a major grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to translate that very same poetry. Thank you, CASA!"

-- Kareem James Abu-Zeid (CASA '06)
Scholar, Writer, Editor and Award-Winning Translator