AUC Welcomes Mena Hanna as Director of Government Relations

Last fall, AUC welcomed Mena Hanna as the University’s new director of government relations. In this role, Hanna serves as AUC’s top representative in Washington, DC and works to secure funding from the United States government for the University’s essential programs and other needs.

Hanna graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s in security studies and has extensive experience working within the U.S. government.

News@AUC caught up with Hanna this winter to learn more about him and his goals.

1. Why did you decide to join AUC? 

As someone that has worked in foreign policy, I have always been familiar with AUC and its exceptional reputation. The University’s commitment to providing a world class education to Egyptians from all walks of life has transformed AUC to an institution that has become a destination for many of Egypt, America and the region’s future leaders. This impressive track record and my previous career experience made for a great fit. 

2. What is your main role as director of government relations?

My main role is to represent AUC in Washington, DC. That includes lobbying various executive branch agencies, like USAID and the State Department, and also engaging with the United States Congress to ensure continued and strong scholarship support for the University. 

3. Tell us about your career experience. What have you enjoyed about your previous jobs?

I spent almost eight years working in Congress before starting at the AUC. The last part of my tenure on Capitol Hill, I worked on appropriations issues, specifically America’s foreign aid bill. 

I enjoyed turning ideas into legislation and traveling around the world to see the real-life impact of policies I worked on. Through my job I met many interesting people — many of whom started off as colleagues and eventually became friends.

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

Maintaining and establishing relationships was a key part of my career on Capitol Hill and that will remain central for me at AUC. Having to navigate a vast, complicated system like the federal government was a daunting challenge that taught me many important skills. I will be leaning on those skills as I learn the intricacies of a university system.

5. What are your priorities for the coming year?

My priority is helping AUC’s students. This includes ensuring support for scholarships, finding new and innovative partnerships for the University and encouraging key officials to come see our campus and meet with our students firsthand. 

Tell us your favorite…

Movie: Casino Royale
Music Genre: Arabic
Activity: Traveling
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
What world problem do you wish to solve? Food insecurity