Meet the Team

Central Positions Team

Dina Adly

Associate Provost, Sponsored Programs

Dina Adly is the associate provost of sponsored programs at The American University in Cairo (AUC). Adly is a research administrator with 28 years of experience in management and regulatory skills. She is knowledgeable in the principles governing pre-award and post-award administration on an institutional level, particularly within an academic environment. She provides specialized support to faculty to enable them to generate engaging, interdisciplinary and innovative proposals through her extensive familiarity with the policies and procedures applicable to different types of awards from a diverse sponsor base.

Sulaf Taha

Senior Director - Tomorrow's Leaders Programs

Sulaf Taha is responsible for managing all Tomorrow's Leaders Programs (TLP) at The American University in Cairo (AUC), providing overall technical and financial oversight and support to the Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) staff and scholars. She joined AUC in 2008 at the USAID-funded LEAD program. She held different positions, starting from student life coordinator and assistant director to associate director, through which she impacted the lives of more than 400 successful LEAD students before assuming the leadership of the Tomorrow's Leaders (TL) program in 2014. Before joining AUC, Taha had worked in human rights education for young persons for over ten years. 

Najma El Shelhi

Senior Finance Officer - Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate Program & Tomorrow’s Leaders Gender Scholars Program.

Najma El Shelhi is the Senior Finance Officer of Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate (TLG) and Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars (TLS) programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo (AUC) and has over 10 years of professional experience working with non-profit organizations in Libya and Egypt. With a strong background in development and grants management, Najma has successfully collaborated with international organizations, including the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Her expertise lies in financial management of grant-funded projects of various scales at AUC, consistently demonstrating her ability to effectively oversee project budgets, operations and administration.

Mirna Awad

Senior Counselor - Tomorrow’s Leaders Programs

Mirna Awad is the TL senior well-being counselor and is a certified grief educator. She received both her MA in Counseling Psychology and BA in psychology from the American University in Cairo. She earned a postgraduate diploma in Applied Psychology from Cairo University. Also, she studied the treatment of sexual disorders and addictions at the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna through four psychotherapeutic perspectives. She was trained in carrying out clinical assessments at Abu El-Reesh El-Mounira Pediatric Hospital, Al-Abbasiya Hospital, the Okasha Psychiatry Institute, and the Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital at Cairo University. Her therapy trainings included Wataneya Society, private psychiatric clinics, St. John American International School of Egypt, St. Andrew’s Refugees Services, and the AUC Psychological Counseling Services and Training Center. Mirna is experienced in providing individual and group counseling sessions and workshops to clients of different cultural backgrounds. Her main areas of focus include dealing with loss and grief, anxiety, depression, adjustment struggles, relationship issues, parenting problems, family conflicts, psychological first aid, and both gender and sexual struggles. Mirna uses an eclectic, client-centered approach in her practice, which helps tailor the treatment according to each client’s struggles. She is trained and comfortable with applying primarily CBT techniques plus a variety of therapeutic techniques based on family systems, interpersonal theories and an existential approach.

Salma Jihad

Tomorrow's Leaders Administrative Assistant

Salma Jihad is an administrative assistant at the Tomorrow's Leaders Programs (TLP). She studied Turkology at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Ain Shams University. Jihad took on diverse professional roles that helped widen her horizons and add more to her skill set. She worked as an English instructor at Not Courses, where she had students of different ages. Then, she started a career as an administrative assistant and content writer at Cooing Real Estate, where she was best known for her Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly blog articles. Afterward, she became a registration specialist at the University of Canada in Egypt, assisting the students.

Ezzat Zekry

Tomorrow’s Leaders Office Clerk

Ezzat Zakry graduated from the Industrial Technical Institute in 1997 in, the mechanical force sector. Zakry worked in the National Metro Project and Amun Pharmaceuticals Company. He also served in the Papal Headquarters, Abbasiya. Later, he started his journey at The American University in Cairo (AUC) with the LEAD program in 2013 and is currently with the Tomorrow’s Leaders (TL) program. He is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Cairo University.

Academic Directors Team

Ahmed Tolba

Academic Director, Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars and Tomorrow's Leaders Programs

Ahmed Tolba is a professor of marketing and chair of the Department of Management at The American University in Cairo (AUC). He also served as associate provost for strategic enrollment management (2015-20). He was awarded his PhD from George Washington University (GWU) in 2006; his MBA and BSc from The American University in Cairo (AUC) in 1997 and 2001, respectively. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, marketing education, social marketing, brand equity, nation branding, innovation marketing and online marketing. He published his research in leading academic journals and conferences. He is also a co-author of Egypt’s Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report. In addition, he co-authored the leading textbook Principles of Marketing: Arab World Edition with marketing gurus Philip Kotler and Gary Armstrong. His teaching experience includes over ten courses in marketing and business strategy.

Hakim Meshriki

Academic Director, Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Hakim Meshreki is an assistant professor of marketing at The American University in Cairo (AUC). His main research interests are related to international marketing, consumer behavior and branding, with special emphasis on country of origin research, value research and brand equity. Meshriki has extended his research interests to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial marketing and joined the GEM Egypt team in 2019. Since 1999, he has been a partner and commercial director at Mena Company for Adhesives Technology (Menatec), which is a family business. Since joining, he has contributed to the company's turnaround by defining and managing its strategic growth through key internal projects and partnerships with key international players. He was key during the negotiation, market research and evaluation phases.

Helen Rizzo

Academic Director, Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars

Helen Rizzo is an associate professor of sociology at The American University in Cairo (AUC). She received her PhD in sociology from Ohio State University in 2000. She has published numerous articles on public opinion, citizenship rights and the democratization process in Kuwait. Her book, Islam, Democracy and the Status of Women: The Case of Kuwait, was published in 2005 by Routledge Press. Her more recent projects include working with colleagues from anthropology and media studies on a British academy small grants funded project titled Youth Perspectives on Gender Norms and Public Sexual Violence in Cairo: Cultural and Media Perspectives, and research focusing on social movement campaigns against street sexual harassment in Egypt.
 

Dr. Amani El Shimi

Academic Director - Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Amani Elshimi is senior instructor II of rhetoric and composition at The American University in Cairo. She is a devoted supporter of undergraduate student scholarship, and an active practitioner of engaging pedagogies, including community-based learning, senior capstone experiences, and course-based internships. She has over 30 years of experience in higher education teaching, faculty development, curriculum design, assessment, and program administration. Between 2008 and 2011, she served as founding director of community-based learning, and between 2012 and 2021 she was founding director of the Undergraduate Research Program. She received the AUC’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009, the Excellence in Community-Based Learning Award in 2013, and is recognized on the Talloires Civic Engagement Expert’s List. Elshimi has an MA in Applied Linguistics, an MA in Islamic Studies, an MPhil in Middle East Studies, and is completing a PhD in Islamic Studies, specialization Islamic Philosophy.

Tomorrows Leaders Undergraduate Program Team

Dina Mohsen

Associate Director, Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Dina Mohsen is the associate director for Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate (TLU) Program. Her role involves critically furthering TLU’s mission and objectives, developing the program’s strategic plans and implementing relevant modules for students to become future community and business leaders. Her experience of over 15 years has been mainly in the area of development, where she was part of several projects and initiatives in capacity building, cultural exchange and entrepreneurial training. In previous positions, she worked closely with different constituencies in various capacities, aiming to empower and advance their leadership and professional potential.

Youssef Samuel

Leadership Coordinator, Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Youssef Samuel is Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate (TLU) program's leadership coordinator. Samuel is a youth leadership development specialist. He worked for several esteemed organizations such as Aspire Training Solutions, Streams Organisation, The British Council and Mouvement Eucharistique des Jeunes (MEJ) Egypt. Throughout his career, he developed and monitored young clients’ leadership skills. He developed training materials and provided mentoring and coaching services in management, leadership, communication, customer service, etc. Samuel received a degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is currently enrolled in a two-year diploma in CBT from the Egyptian Association for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Egyptian Doctors Syndicate.
 

Noura El Atreby

Leadership Coordinator - Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Noura El Atreby is a Leadership Coordinator for the Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate (TLU) program. Noura is a seasoned professional with more than nine years of experience in supporting youth capacity development, and educational projects in Egypt and the MENA region. Prior to her role at AUC, Noura held several positions in renowned organizations such as Amideast and the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE). She previously managed the implementation and activities of several youth programs and scholarships where she empowered students and young professionals to enhance their skills, advance their careers, and achieve their academic aspirations. Noura holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Cairo University.
 

Sherief Khalil

Program Officer - Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program (Sherief Khalil | LinkedIn)

Sherief Khalil is currently the Program Officer for the Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program (TLU) at the American University in Cairo (AUC). He holds a Master’s degree in Education Studies from Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources and International Business from the German University in Cairo (GUC), combined with a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certification. This unique blend of academic insight with hands-on experience in education management and leadership development. With over eight years of experience working across the MENA region and Europe, Sherief has delivered training programs for over 500 students at organizations such as the British Council’s Taqaddam Program, Loreto Sixth Form College, and Qatar University. He has also collaborated with NGOs like Scoala de Valori, Youth Trainers Academy (YTA), Leadership Summer School (LSS), and ReachOut UK, leading initiatives that have impacted over 1000 young people. These experiences have equipped him with valuable intercultural awareness and collaboration skills. In his current role, Sherief manages student recruitment, oversees the study abroad process, and develops policies and procedures that support the holistic development of students. His ability to create inclusive learning environments and foster leadership skills has been key to his success in helping students thrive.
 

Yomna Adel

Finance Manager - Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program

Yomna Adel holds an MFM, MBA, MPA, and PMP, with over 14 years of experience in finance and accounting. She brings extensive international expertise, having provided financial consultancy services to numerous development organizations across 25 countries in Africa, Asia, and the MENA region. Yomna has successfully managed several major USAID projects, including the LOTUS and Leadership for Education and Development Scholarships, Data Quality Assessments, People with Disabilities Assessment, STEM Evaluation, and the Technical Assistance for the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's Monitoring and Evaluation Department. She has also contributed to USAID’s Workforce Improvement and Skills Enhancement Activity and the Agribusiness for Rural Development and Increasing Incomes project. Most recently, she served as the Finance Officer for USAID’s Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program (WESEP). Prior to that, she worked as the Project Accountant for USAID’s SEED Program, which focused on fostering entrepreneurship and enterprise development. Her career includes key positions such as Senior Financial Officer and Contracts Manager at North South Consultants Exchange (NSCE), collaborating with various donors such as the EU and UN entities, as well as Accounting and Procurement Manager at the Confederation of African Football (CAF). In addition to her strong background in development and federally funded projects, Yomna possesses comprehensive knowledge of fundraising, budgeting, banking, treasury, financial statements, and management.

Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate Program Team

Yasmine Ibrahim

Associate Director, Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate Program

Yasmine Ibrahim is the associate director of the Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate (TLG) program and an accomplished expert with 16 years of management experience in the field of higher education. She started her career in the education USA center services in Egypt, co-managing the Ford Foundation's International Fellowship Program (IFP). She later worked with universities, gaining long years of experience in graduate student services, outreach and recruitment, and managing several externally funded graduate fellowships for key regional and international donors and foundations, such as the Tokyo Foundation and the Nadhmi Auchi Foundation.

Yasmina Al Azazy

Program Coordinator, Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate Program

Yasmina Al Azazy is the assistant coordinator for The American University in Cairo's (AUC) Tomorrow's Leaders Graduate (TLG) program. Al Azazy formerly worked as a research and teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science. She graduated from The American University in Cairo (AUC) with a BA in political science in 2016 and an MA in political science, with a concentration in comparative politics and Middle East Studies in 2021 as part of the joint program CMEPS between AUC and Tübingen University in Germany. Her main research areas include democratization, regime change, and Middle East comparative studies.
 

Aisha Altubuly

Assistant Coordinator - Tomorrow’s Leaders Graduate Program

Aisha Altubuly, currently seeking her MA degree in Gender and Women's Studies at the American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt. She graduated from AUC with a BA degree in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations in 2020. Aisha is a Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program alumna. Aisha is interested in WPS agenda and has been working on women's issues since she was 15 years old in Libya. Through her work, she has developed the capacity of youth generally and young women specifically as stakeholders to speak up and address issues. She focuses on an intergenerational approach in order for women and youth to be empowered to take active roles in decision-making processes within the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 2250. She was also an honorary member of UN Women Youth Gender Innovative Agora. Aisha had also began working in the field of Higher Education, Development and Scholarships Management within the American University in Cairo (AUC)

Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars Team

Fatemah Farag

Associate Director Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars (TLS) program and TL Senior Gender Coordinator

Fatemah Farag is a gender expert with 22 years of professional experience, of which she dedicated the last ten years to the design, development, and implementation of a global gender equality media development program known as Women In News (WIN) in her capacity as the regional/advocacy director for the World Association of Newspapers WAN-IFRA. She created and expanded a partner network that includes influential media organizations in different countries and external donors and partners through her role. She also designed and led advocacy activities to support gender equality and co-led the development of the WIN training modules.
 

Hind Al-Helou

Program Coordinator - Tomorrow’s Leaders Gender Scholars Hind Alhelou | LinkedIn

Hind Alhelou is currently serving as the Program Coordinator for the Tomorrow's Leaders Gender Scholars (TLS) Program at the American University in Cairo (AUC). She is a highly motivated independent researcher with a rich international experience and background. She has an MA in International Relations and a BA in Communication and Media Arts. Her academic areas of expertise include Race; Gender; colonialism; Imperialism; Security Studies; the Middle East; Lebanon; Syria. Hind is trained in policy and procedures writing, in GESI in proposal writing and is a certified Gender Trainer. She is also a trained English as a Foreign Language teacher with teaching qualifications from the University of Cambridge and has 10 years of teaching experience. Hind is the former Graduate Student Representative at the International Studies Association (ISA) Women’s Caucus. She was also a visiting scholar at State University of New York in New Paltz, USA, where she engaged with civil servants from UNDP, UNHCR and OCHA at the UN Headquarters (New York City) and with organizations affiliated with the UN (EU delegation, World Bank, US Department of State office in NYC, Doctors Without Borders ‘MSF’, Permanent African Mission to the UN).