Egyptian feminist Doria Shafik once graced AUC's Ewart Memorial Hall before leading a revolutionary women's march. She was a poet, editor, activist and leader of the women's liberation movement in Egypt, playing a pivotal role in securing women's right to vote.

Today, Shafik's original article drafts, photographs and copies of her magazine, Bint Al-Nil, are stored and maintained by AUC's Rare Books and Special Collections Library. How did her legacy come to be preserved by the University?

Fighting for Women

Shafik's relationship with AUC was in the spotlight in 1951, when she convened 1,500 women to discuss Egyptian women's political rights at AUC Tahrir Square's Ewart Memorial Hall. There, Shafik revealed that the conference was a ruse for greater action, announcing, "Our meeting today is not a congress but a parliament," before the women famously marched to interrupt Egypt's all-male parliament to demand political participation. The demonstration disrupted the legislature for over four hours, after which the president of the senate pledged to meet their key demands, including women's suffrage.

In that month's issue of Bint Al-Nil, Shafik writes, "After many years of struggle, with partial success to gain her literary rights, the Egyptian woman must now turn toward attaining her political rights to ensure her equality with men." (translation provided by Tom Abi Samra, Duke Press).

Beyond suffrage, Shafik was involved in programs to combat illiteracy, provide economic opportunities for lower-class urban women and raise the consciousness of the middle-class -- uniting women from all walks of life. "For Doria, the educated elite woman had a special mission, to bridge the immense gap between the women of the upper classes and those of the poor," writes Cynthia Nelson, former professor of anthropology and founding director of AUC's Cynthia Nelson Institute of Gender and Women Studies, in her book, Doria Shafik Egyptian Feminist: A Woman Apart.

Shafik's instrumental role in advancing women's position in Egypt was largely forgotten in her later years. In 1957, after she undertook a hunger strike protesting his government, former President Gamal Abdel Nasser put Shafik under house arrest, closed down her magazine and movement, and banned her name from appearing in historical texts and news.

By this point, Shafik had also been ostracized from the broader women's rights movement and its leaders due to the political nature of her activism, which other feminists deemed as too radical. She spent the remaining 18 years of her life in isolation.

Remembering Shafik

Though her work was once forgotten, AUC plays a key role in keeping Shafik's legacy alive. "We provide the venue, climate control and preservation of the material itself. We also provide the metadata and cataloging to make the material accessible to researchers, including students working on their master's theses," says Eman Morgan, assistant director of special projects at the Rare Books and Special Collections Library. "In addition, we help the Egyptian media and newspapers write articles and post the material online."

AUC received the collection not only because of Shafik's early activism at the Tahrir Square campus, but also because of its unique relationship with her family. The collection was donated by Shafik's two daughters, Jehane Ragai '66, '69, emeritus professor of chemistry, and Aziza Ellozy '64, '67, adviser to the provost for transformative learning and teaching.

"Shafik's daughters understood how the AUC library preserved, catalogued, digitized and made accessible collections at AUC and worldwide," Morgan explains.

To celebrate the life and works of Shafik, AUC also hosted a Bint al-Nil/Daughter of the Nile exhibition by Egyptian-American artist Sherin
Guirguis, which was on display during the University's centennial celebration in 2019 at the historic Tahrir Square campus.

Ellozy and Ragai additionally established the Doria Shafik Endowed Award at AUC in memory of their mother. The award recognizes undergraduates who have "worked on women's empowerment in any discipline, field or activity, such as artwork, a community service project, research on the inclusion of women, volunteer work and more."

Shafik's daughter Ellozy remembers her mother's legacy fondly. "Doria Shafik was a trailblazing force of courage and unwavering determination who fought any barriers in order to achieve equality, freedom and political rights for Egyptian women," she says. "Thanks to her, Egyptian women today can vote and actively participate in political life."

Now, Shafik's work and writing -- once the cause of her persecution -- is finding a new audience through AUC. Her powerful contributions and legacy will continue to live on through Egypt's future feminist leaders.

-By Celeste Abourjeili

AUC’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) recently graduated the inaugural cohort of Egypt’s first Film Industry Business Certificate, a program that launched this summer in partnership with the international Silver Screen Film School in Romania.

“The certificate bridges a long-standing gap in film education, merging creativity with the vital business skills needed to thrive in the film industry,” said SCE Dean Mahmoud Allam. “We’re proud to introduce a program that speaks directly to the needs of aspiring filmmakers, producers, marketers and entrepreneurs across the region. This collaboration is a strong example of how SCE continues to connect education to emerging market needs.” 

Taught by industry veterans, including award-winning filmmakers and producers from the Silver Screen Film School as well as AUC subject matter experts in the business field, the program provides learners with a practical understanding of the film industry and its inner workings. To do this, its curriculum offers training in areas such as production, marketing, budgeting, distribution and more.

"The film industry in Egypt and the region is undergoing a rapid transformation, and with it comes a demand for talent who are not only creatively driven but also strategically equipped."

“The program is designed not just for emerging talent, but also for anyone who didn’t previously have access to this kind of specialized film education, whether they’re shifting careers or reigniting a passion,” said Mariam Hamdy ’06, ’14, who co-founded the Silver Screen Film School alongside Octavian Dăncilă, a Romanian senior film programmer.

Students in the first cohort were a mix of aspiring producers, marketers and creative entrepreneurs, united by a passion for film and a desire to understand the industry beyond the camera. They learned how to pitch projects, manage film financing, navigate distribution and build personal brands using AI tools. 

“I loved all the mentors; they listened to every question and were incredibly generous with their knowledge. If anything, I just wish we had more hours for each module because the content was so rich and engaging,” said participant Nachwa El Batal.

“The program is designed not just for emerging talent, but also for anyone who didn’t previously have access to this kind of specialized film education, whether they’re shifting careers or reigniting a passion.” 

The program is aiming to fill a gap in the market and respond to a growing niche within the film industry, according to Hamdy. “Many talented individuals lack access to structured training in the business side of film,” she said. “The program bridges creative passion with real-world industry skills, and that’s what makes it unique.”

Echoing the same sentiment, Allam noted, "The film industry in Egypt and the region is undergoing a rapid transformation, and with it comes a demand for talent who are not only creatively driven but also strategically equipped."

Moreover, the program is pushing the envelope in the ways that filmmaking skills are taught. Doaa Salem,  senior director of outreach and partnerships at the SCE, said: “This program is designed to combine world-class mentorship from both Silver Screen and SCE’s strength in applied learning and professional development. We see this certificate as the first step in building a stronger, more resilient film ecosystem, and we’re committed to supporting its continued growth. This program is a testament to how education can unlock access to new careers, empower local talent, and elevate industry standards in Egypt and beyond.”

Photo captions: top: Co-founders of the Silver Screen Film School Octavian Dăncilă, a Romanian senior film programmer, and Mariam Hamdy ’06, ’14; bottom: Inaugural cohort of Egypt's first Film Industry Business Certificate, offered by AUC's School of Continuing Education in collaboration with the international Silver Screen Film School in Romania

What Participants Have to Say