<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

Photos compiled by Aliah Salih | These photos appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday and are courtesy of the University Archives.

Since its founding, AUC has always welcomed students from different parts of the world. Charles R. Watson, AUC's founding president, laid an "emphasis on international relations" at AUC.

"Here in Egypt, we are international in language, in customs, in race, in culture. The training of any Egyptian must include training in internationalism. This is achieved in our College not through language studies, history classes, [and] sociological and economic courses, but through the very practical training given in this College by its very life. Let me read to you the racial types included in our enrollment: Egyptian 60 percent, then come Palestinian, Armenian, Greek, American, Syrian, British, French, Malayan, Sumatran, Italian, Persian, Mesopotamian, Higazi, Javanese [in Indonesia], Turkish, Maltese, Russian, Moroccan. Do you imagine that any student can live and study in our international atmosphere and not gain an international training which will fit him for Egypt's outstanding international life?"

-- Charles R. Watson, AUC's Founding President
"The Place and Program of The American University at Cairo," 1933

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Check out some more historical snapshots from AUC's rich history here.

 

Photos compiled by Aliah Salih | These photos appeared in the Fall 2017 edition of AUCToday and are courtesy of the University Archives and Ahmad El-Nemr.

International Day has been a tradition at AUC for more than 30 years, celebrating the diversity of students on campus. The annual event usually includes booths showcasing the cultures of various countries; traditional dances, food and handicrafts; national costumes; and a parade. AUC held its first International Day in 1984.

Following are snapshots of International Day throughout the years.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Explore the services offered by the Office of International Student Life here.

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

Nagah Allem

 

Associate Professor of Physics
Young Scientist Award, The World Academy of Sciences, 2015
Egypt's State Award in Advanced Technological Sciences, 2013

Using nanotechnology, Nageh Allam, former research scientist at MIT, is creating smart energy to produce renewable fuels and electricity from sunlight on a sustainable basis. Allam and his team are working on solar production of hydrogen as a clean and efficient fuel that can power everything -- from houses and electrical devices to cars and airplanes -- as well as the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful fuels.

"The international community is aware of the crisis arising from the use of fossil fuels and is increasingly focusing on the development of zero-carbon emission technologies using renewable energy sources. If harnessed efficiently, solar energy is capable of meeting global energy needs for the foreseeable future."

 

 

Salima Ikram

 

 

Distinguished University Professor of Egyptology
Visiting Professor, Yale University, 2017-2018
International Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts & Sciences

World-renowned Egyptologist and author Salima Ikram has participated in numerous archaeological excavations, working with international and local missions on ancient Egyptian human and animal mummies. In addition to playing a key role in the discovery of new tombs and sites across the country, Ikram founded the Animal Mummy Project at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo -- the first-of-its-kind at the museum and in Egypt -- and is currently excavating in the Valley of the Kings.

"Egyptology has given me the chance to travel around the world as a field archaeologist, museum researcher and lecturer. Travel broadens the mind and allows us to take the best from each place and integrate it into our lives. But I always come back to the land of the Pharaohs. The more I travel, the more I love Egypt."

 

Sahar Nasr

 

Sahar Nasr '85, '90
Adjunct Faculty of Economics
Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation

Minister Sahar Nasr has made several strides to enhance Egypt's business environment and investment climate, with the ultimate objective of promoting private sector participation. One of her most notable achievements is the passing of the long-awaited Investment Law, which brings new features to the investment landscape and introduces incentives to make Egypt one of the top investment destinations in the region. Nasr has focused on strengthening the country's ties with its current international partners, as well as exploring new opportunities for cooperation. This includes consolidating Egyptian-Gulf relationships, expanding and deepening ties with African states, and exploring new relationships with Asian partners.

 

"Always work on the ultimate goal of serving others -- the most rewarding goal of life. Always strive to make your home, your workplace, your country a better place."

 

Bernard O'Kane

 

Professor of Arab and Islamic Civilizations
Iran's Farabi International Award, 2018
Board Member, Writing Center,
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, 2014-2016

Bernard O'Kane spearheaded a project to preserve and document unpublished, fragile inscriptions on Islamic monuments in Cairo up until the 1800s. O'Kane and his team of students spent seven years photographing, transcribing and translating the inscriptions. The data was then migrated to a software that generated a fully compatible and searchable database in both the original Arabic epigraphy as well as an English translation. The online database contains 3,271 inscriptions from 509 monuments and more than 13,500 photographs and drawings.

 

"Many of the Islamic monuments in Cairo were deteriorating and threatened to disappear, and there was no documentation of the inscriptions. I felt I needed to do something to help with their preservation. The online database is a useful tool for scholars, historians, art historians and linguists to study this rich and extraordinary legacy."

 

Hassan Azzazy

 

Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry
First Place, Arab Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award, 2015
Global Innovator Award, Texas Christian University, 2014

Through D-Kimia, Egypt's first University spinoff that utilizes research and technologies developed at AUC, Hassan Azzazy and his team of scientists have created novel and affordable solutions for hepatitis C diagnosis, including a fully automated, robotic machine. Performing six primary lab functions to isolate specific RNA or DNA as markers of viral or bacterial infections from a patient's blood, the machine is controlled by a computer to avoid human intervention in handling the highly infectious material. The machine self-sterilizes at the end of the process.

"We are focusing on the hepatitis C virus because Egypt has the highest infection rate in the world. Diagnosis of the disease is the cornerstone in managing and preventing the spread of the virus. If people know whether they test positive or negative, they will act accordingly so as not to put others at risk."

 

Rania Siam

 

Professor of Biology
Visiting Scientist, Berlin Center for Genomics
in Biodiversity Research, 2014
Visiting Research Scholar, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 2012

Rania Siam explores environmental genomics and microbial life in Red Sea brine pools, located 2,300 meters beneath the water's surface, with temperatures reaching up to 70 degrees Celcius. Through her work, Siam identifies novel microbes and bacterial communities and their associated genes, in addition to mapping new genes that have diverse biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.

"A limited number of studies have addressed life in one of the youngest and most exotic oceanic systems -- the Red Sea. This line of research allows the utilization of our regional natural resources for the expansion of science and technology."

 

 

 

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

In this issue, we look at AUC-ians serving Egypt.

When we think of AUC, we obviously think of education -- a good education. But those who know AUC, and AUCians, well understand that service is just as important as education in the life of the University: service to our local communities and a dedication to broader causes at the national and international levels -- a form of "effective citizenship."

Charles Watson, AUC's founding president, envisioned AUC -- among other things -- to be of service to Egypt, preparing its youth for later positions in life. AUC graduates, he emphasized time and again, do not just earn academic degrees, but are driven by initiative, leadership and integrity of character -- whether on campus or in their communities. "No one may secure the diploma of this University without doing more than merely pass examinations on [a] subject matter," Watson said. "He must give evidence of a total development of life and character that makes him worthy of being called a college graduate. ... It is our aim to develop scholars who will have in their lives the mainspring of initiative which will say, 'I know, I can and I will.'"

AUC's local contributions in Egypt are numerous, from student club activities and faculty research to alumni initiatives and University outreach. While we can't cover everything in one issue, we try to shed light on some striking examples that are really making a difference and #MakingAUCProud.

Public school reform, blended learning, employment opportunities, transportation solutions and cleaner energy -- students, alumni and faculty are making their presence felt in all walks of life. Our faculty are also leading the way with their research: preserving Egypt's legacy through archaeology and historic inscriptions, fighting diseases such as hepatitis C, exploring Red Sea genomics, using nanotechnology for solar energy and working as ministers to bring about positive change.

The University as a whole -- with its libraries, schools, centers, programs and courses -- is working toward a better Egypt, just by doing what it does every day.

One of the stories in this issue that is close to my heart is that of scholarship and fellowship students coming to AUC from different Egyptian governorates. Reading about their determination and future plans for the advancement of Egypt makes me feel happy and proud that such talented youth are part of our beloved country and our diverse campus community.

Serving Egypt is only one way that shows how AUCians are pioneers in their own right, upholding Watson's motto of "I know, I can and I will."
We hope you enjoy the issue.

P.S. Watch out for AUC's yearlong centennial celebrations coming up soon, starting February 2019! Read more about it in "How to Turn 100."

 

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

By Aliah Salih, photos by Mohamed Fahmy | This story appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of AUCToday.

Photo by Mohamed Fahmy.

AUC's more than 38,000 alumni worldwide have always been a pillar of its global character and intellectual identity. To further strengthen this ever-expanding network, the University and a group of dedicated alumni have come together to establish AUC's first Alumni Council.

A 15-member volunteer service body representing alumni worldwide, the Alumni Council will help foster communication between the University and its graduates, increase AUC's global visibility and promote its strategic goals, as well as play a key role in the University's yearlong centennial celebrations beginning in 2019. Mirroring the effectiveness of Ivy League alumni bodies, the Alumni Council will also build connections between well-established alumni, young graduates and students.

AUC's alumni engagement team has selected nine founding members, serving two-year terms, based on their active record of volunteer participation in alumni activities and philanthropic support of the University. Founding members will begin their official term in Fall 2018. The remaining six council members will be elected next year, with their official term beginning in Fall 2019, also serving for two years.

Mohammed Ismail '87, the Alumni Council's first president, shares his goals and aspirations to connect AUC graduates in different parts of the world.

Ismail '87 is general manager and CEO of the Egyptian German Automotive Company and managing director and CEO of the Egyptian Kuwaiti Foundry. At AUC, he studied mechanical engineering and was president of the Student Judicial Board. After graduation, he headed the 1987 Class Chapter and founded the Facebook group "We of AUC Forever" since 2008. Using his vast network of friends, Ismail hosts events throughout the year -- not only for his classmates, but for all AUC graduates. He received the Distinguished Alumni Volunteer Award in 2012 for his longstanding dedication and commitment to AUC. Ismail also served as a member of the AUC Parents Association board.

What is the Alumni Council? How did the idea start?

Mohammed Ismail: The Alumni Council is a small volunteer service body that represents AUC alumni worldwide. Its main objective is strengthening ties between AUC alumni, increasing awareness and participation, as well as preserving and promoting AUC's rich heritage. The idea was initiated by some alumni and AUC's alumni engagement team in order to give AUC graduates the chance to own their programs and increase networking to mutually benefit the University and its alumni.

Why is the council an important step for alumni worldwide?

Alumni are stakeholders of the University. The council will play a crucial role in impacting AUC's future development. The Alumni Council will foster the educational, professional and social interests of our alumni by forming unbreakable ties that will be passed down to all future generations of AUC graduates. Our plan is to bring together and represent alumni's wide-ranging and diverse views and contribute to building an engaged, interactive and supportive community suited to a world-class University like AUC.

What kind of model will this council set for other higher education institutions in the region?

The council will definitely give a strong message to higher education institutions in the region regarding the value and importance of their graduates because alumni involvement is a vote of confidence in any university's mission. Alumni returning to support their alma mater bring with them credibility and justification -- two crucial pillars for the success of universities in all parts of the world.

As president, what are your goals and aspirations for the first year?

I want to bring thousands of alumni volunteers together to work on various committees and engage as many of them as possible in the life of the University. I want to serve fellow alumni across the country and around the world in mutually beneficial ways.
I want to support all alumni initiatives, not just the council's.

Ultimately, our aim is to further promote the goals of AUC -- the University we all cherish.

What priorities will you focus on?

There seems to be a misconception, especially among younger alumni, that life at AUC ends after graduation. So one of our main focuses is to change this perception. We want to establish a two-way communication channel with alumni in order to guarantee a high level of engagement and support. We already held several meetings as a council, where we discussed a number of projects in the pipeline. All our projects will center on increasing alumni engagement and involvement with AUC, particularly among younger graduates.

What are you hoping to accomplish during your two-year term?

We as a council, specifically the founding members, hope to be able to leave a long-lasting mark through the projects we are currently working on. These ongoing projects will continue to serve the AUC community and all its future generations for years to come.

How can alumni connect with you and other members of the council?

There will be a direct channel through which alumni can communicate, connect and reach out. We are currently working with AUC's alumni engagement team on several social media communication channels that will be announced shortly.

What will be the council's role in AUC's centennial celebrations?

We will be working closely with the alumni engagement team and the Alumni Engagement and Fundraising Task Force in organizing the festivities and events taking place to celebrate this joyous and memorable occasion. We're calling on you -- AUC alumni -- to participate and volunteer. We need your ideas and efforts. We need you to preserve and promote the rich heritage and values of our alma mater.

What message do you want to convey to all alumni through the council?

We should all work together to benefit from the power of the AUC alumni network and, in turn, benefit the University. We want to build lifelong relationships that not only bring the alumni community together, but foster meaningful connections with AUC to share and learn from each other. Let's all put our hands together -- for AUC.

 

By Elizabeth Lepro, photo by Ahmad El-Nemr | This Q&A appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of AUC Today.

In this interview with Haynes Mahoney, AUC's special adviser for arts and community engagement, the newly appointed adviser discusses the plans for AUC's cultural future. You can read a full version of this interview here, and a recap of the very first Ramadan Nights event here.

What do you think are the positives and drawbacks of AUC New Cairo's location?

Haynes Mahoney: New Cairo is an expanding area, and Cairo itself -- Old Cairo -- is bursting at the seams and is constrained geographically. But what you mostly have in New Cairo are malls and cinema complexes and really not much else. So my job is to figure out how to make AUC attractive as a cultural and artistic hub to the burgeoning population that's moving out here, utilizing all of the resources and, first and foremost, the people who are here at AUC. We've got amazing talent. The challenge is to bring people in from
the community.

How will students be involved?

They're key players. They have the passion and ideas, and we really need to do
them justice by involving them in every phase of the Arts, Community Outreach and Campus Animation program.

How would a non-arts major benefit from AUC becoming a community cultural hub?

When you're a student, you're dealing with a lot of theory. You're seeing the world through the eyes of academics, which is fine. It's what a university does primarily. But with this initiative, whether you're a performer, a manager or a publicist, you're reaching out to an audience that is not just your parents or fellow students, but is outside the community. That really exposes you to marketing, to getting feedback, to dealing with the outside world, the media -- these practical aspects of putting on a program. It's a lot of hands-on experience, and that is key to a liberal arts education.

Will artistic and cultural events at AUC be affordable? For the most part, yes. We should be aiming at things from a very wide spectrum. We shouldn't exclude those who are on limited budgets or any intellectuals, artists and people who are culturally creative. We want to include everyone.
With all that's going on in the world, why is art still important?

It's not just important; it's really at the core. It gives people meaning. That's the problem we're facing now: Everybody is on their cell phones or devices, responding to the concerns of the immediate moment, but not having a longer perspective.

"Art is a universal way of letting people look at the meaning of their lives and how they relate to history as it's going on. People come and go; empires rise and fall; governments disintegrate. But art endures because it has an eternal message to it."

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

By Elizabeth Lepro, photos by Ahmad El-Nemr| This story appeared in the Spring 2018 issue of AUCToday.

Click here to read a Q&A with Special Adviser for Arts and Community Engagement Haynes Mahoney.

Ramadan Nights, organized by Haynes Mahoney, AUC's special adviser for arts and community engagement, featured music from Ayamna El Helwa, an open art exhibition in the Sharjah Art Gallery, a soccer tournament and sohour.

Haynes Mahoney on stage at AUC's first Ramadan Nights event. Photo by Ahmad El-Nemr.

Mahoney, whose focus is on opening AUC's art scene up to the rest of Cairo, said the night was a success in terms of showcasing what the campus is capable of. "I've talked to some people who are in the entertainment and public relations business, and they're very interested in AUC as a place to bring their events in the future," Mahoney said.

The night's Master of Ceremonies, who provided plenty of laughs, was AUC alumnus, director, actor and producer Rami Imam '98. "I'm happy to be back," Imam said. "It's an honor."

He added, "I was at the art gallery and saw that it isn't just about drawing or painting. It's about the concept of art. And that's what AUC has always focused on: creating young men and women who have more to offer beyond their majors."

Other performers -- including some AUCians -- performed before Ayamna El Helwa. Photo by Ahmad El-Nemr.

As beams of light swept the University Garden, guests chatted at what Mahoney said many described as a "beautiful event of classic simplicity." Some AUCians, including Nourhan Haffez, educational outreach specialist at the AUC Center for the Arts, performed prior to Ayamna El Helwa as the audience sipped coffee, juice and tea.

Sitting with his family, guest Hussein Salama said he felt nostalgic when Ayamna El Helwa started to play the theme song from the 1985 Egyptian TV drama Howa wa Heya. "They probably don't know the songs, but I do," Salama said, laughing as he gestured to his daughters.

Mervat Abou Oaf '88, '02, professor of practice in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, said reaching out to the New Cairo community for events like these is integral as the area grows. "We have a lot of potential ---- a lot of room, events and topics," she said. "We are big enough, so, of course, AUC can be a hub of cultural events for New Cairo."

Ayamna el Helwa with Haynes Mahoney and Rami Imam. Photo by Ahmad El-Nemr.

 

 

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

By Sara Ali | This regular guest-written column appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of AUCToday

Sara Ali. Photo by Ahmad El-Nemr.

Team leader Sara Ali is an undergraduate student majoring in construction engineering and minoring in business management. Her team in Shell's Imagine the Future competition was made up of Ahmed Samir, economics; Salma El Maghraby, political science and anthropology; Salma Morsy, actuarial science; Mohamed Saad, petroleum engineering; Rana El Semary, mechanical engineering; and Ahmed Azzam, who is pursuing a Master of Science in construction engineering. AUC's School of Business and Shell Global collaborated to provide the six semi-finalist AUC teams with training sessions on campus, delivered by AUC faculty members and both Shell Egypt and Shell Global stakeholders.

This year, I had a life-changing experience, to say the least. I, along with my team, won second place in Shell's Imagine the Future competition in Singapore, where participants were required to build scenarios of what cleaner energy would look like for an Egyptian city in 2050.

I was in the library when I read about the competition, and this is where we randomly formed our group. I met a couple of my friends who were participating individually, and we decided to form a team, calling other friends who were interested. Our team was made up of seven AUC students -- all from completely different majors, which I believe helped us the most throughout the competition.

As a team, we all had very strong personalities, which made it difficult for us to agree on an idea -- and this was our major setback. Everything that we began to work on was eventually thrown away, and we had to start over. But then we found that we were running out of time and had to compromise a little. It was then that I realized that when we combined all our perspectives, we were able to actually visualize the scenario of Egypt more clearly.

It wasn't just our majors, but also our skills and characteristics, which we gained either socially or through AUC's cocurricular activities, that made all the difference. Our team included the creative, analytical, bold, attentive to detail, research-focused and goal-oriented. It was a good mix.

The process of scenario-building is very complicated, but AUC's School of Business organized several sessions in collaboration with Shell, featuring AUC professors as well as professionals working in Egypt's agricultural sector. This helped us define and refine the scope of our research.

We found out that Egypt has taken steps to overcome its energy problems stemming from its rapidly increasing population. In addition, the country took several renewable energy initiatives. And this was another impediment, since we had to focus on factors other than renewable energy as we know it.

As part of our scenario-building, we had to imagine external and internal factors in 2050 that would affect the form of renewable energy that will be used in Egypt. We came up with two scenarios: 1) A centralized Egypt, where the government would own most of the industries and would regulate agriculture. Thus, the government's resort to renewable energy solutions would be in the form of large-scale investment technologies, such as real-time maps to advise farmers on which plants to grow in certain areas and advances in solar water systems. 2) Entrepreneurship driving Egypt's policies and economy. The second scenario would adopt a completely different form of renewable energy -- a variety of solutions enough for a small business or startup to be profitable. Entrepreneurs would be given room for research, which would lead to innovations such as smart fertilizers, use of artificial intelligence to monitor crops and multiple sources of energy.

Our presentation consisted of two animated videos showing how the daily lives of Egyptians would vary according to each scenario. We also had a presidential debate between two candidates, each promoting one of the scenarios. It was very challenging competing against smart, well-driven groups from prominent universities such as Yale-NUS College in Singapore, which came in first, and Chiang Mai University in Thailand, which came in third.

During an interview in Singapore, I was asked the question of how we as Egyptians can help the government and society adopt these scenarios and technologies. I really believe that Egypt as a country has shown its ability to overcome a lot of challenges, and it has started to develop and ease the process of foreign investment in the country. In addition, a lot of startups are being introduced in Egypt, with venture capital companies and events that cater to the startup arena, such as the successful RiseUp Summit.

So in answer to the question, I believe that Egypt is already taking significant steps toward advancement. We just need to change our mindsets toward energy usage in terms of water, food and electricity. We need to make the community aware of the dilemma that Egypt will be facing. We need the government's support in doing what it takes to actually make Egypt as progressive and self-sufficient as it ought to be. We can do it if we all work together for the sake of our beloved Egypt.

 

These quotes appeared in the Spring 2018 edition of AUCToday.

Click here for the full story about AUC's GSE-ERC educator training program.

The first cohort of AUC's GSE-ERC program recently celebrated the completion of its professional training program, ushering in another cohort of public school teachers.
Through such collaborative initiatives, AUC encourages external entities to build programs and projects that promote positive local change. In this way, AUC acts as the nucleus of educational transformation in Egypt, both producing knowledge and effecting change through its own programs while also establishing partnerships to pioneer impactful projects using the University's venues and resources.

"It's a very good initiative because different companies and businessmen fund the training of public school teachers at AUC as part of their professional development," said Heba El Deghaidy, associate professor and chair of AUC's Department of International and Comparative Education.

Here's what public school teachers involved in the program had to say about its impact.

"I benefited a lot from this program. We learned new strategies and teaching methods for children. We learned that students don't have problems; it's teachers who need to enhance their skills. If we are able to understand children's mentality and psychology, we would be able to benefit students: developing innovative minds, opening their horizons, helping them understand how to think. We don't all have to be doctors or engineers. We just need to know what we want and how to serve well in the fields that we are passionate about."

- Amira Mohamed Ahmed
KG Teacher, Al Sayida Khadija
Umm Al-Mu'mineen school,
East Shubra Al Kheima

"This program developed many things in my personality. I learned how to share knowledge with my colleagues and how to exchange teaching experiences. The most useful course for me was focused on how to deal with technology and relay your material to students in an effective and up-to-date way. The way we were trained at AUC is really excellent, very different. As a teacher, I changed completely."

- Saeed Ghoneim
English Teacher, Al Khosous
Language School, Al Khosous

"We are in an advanced, high-tech age, so we learned in this program how to help students search for information on the internet and expand their knowledge through technology. We also learned as teachers how to create collaborative initiatives between classmates and peers, as well as how to effectively divide students into groups when carrying out activities. We also understood more about learning difficulties: how to discover them and, more importantly, how to deal with them in the proper way. We learned new teaching strategies, particularly how to make use of class discussions and diversify our teaching methods so students would benefit to become effective, modernized citizens."

- Kholoud Mohamed El Shahat
KG Teacher, Ahmed Shawki School,
Al Matareya

<?xml encoding="UTF-8">

By the News@AUC team | These stories appeared online at aucegypt.edu/news and in this format in the Spring 2018 edition of AUCToday.

Longtime AUCian Richard Bartlett

Richard Bartlett Chairs Board of Trustees

AUC's Board of Trustees elected Richard Bartlett, managing director of Resource Holdings Ltd, as its chairman, succeeding Atef Eltoukhy '74, chairman of Aurum Capital Management.

Bartlett has known AUC since his childhood, when he lived in Egypt during his father Thomas Bartlett's tenure as AUC president from 1963 to 1969. Sharing his father's passion for education and for AUC, Richard Bartlett has been a trustee since 2003 and previously served as chairman of the board. Richard Bartlett has contributed significant time and energy to the University, as well as philanthropic support for numerous programs and scholarships. In 2011, he established the Molly Bartlett Endowed Scholarship in his mother's name to support top-performing Egyptian public school students who wish to attend AUC.

More recently, Richard Bartlett and his brother Paul Bartlett, both AUC trustees and Princeton University graduates, established the Bartlett Family Fund for Innovation and International Collaboration between AUC and their alma mater.

"Richard Bartlett has extensive experience as board chairman and is a dedicated and committed trustee," said AUC President Francis Ricciardone. "We are proud to have him lead the board during this momentous time for the University with the centennial campaign and celebrations in 2019 -- ushering the next 100 years of excellence, innovation and service."

Bartlett received his JD from Yale Law School and his BA from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Before joining Resource Holdings Ltd, a private equity firm in New York City, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, and prior to that, as a law clerk on the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the boards of several private companies.

"I am honored to serve the Board of Trustees again in this capacity and will build on Atef Eltoukhy's able leadership," said Bartlett. "AUC is a very unique institution with a strong and vibrant community. I look forward to working with President Ricciardone, the Board of Trustees and the AUC community as a whole as the University enters another milestone in its history."

Read the full story here.

Accreditation Aced: AUC's Accreditation Reaffirmed

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has reaffirmed its accreditation of AUC through the 2026-2027 academic year. The University received the top level of MSCHE's reaffirmation of accreditation, without any requirements. Out of 523 institutions worldwide that are accredited by MSCHE, only 17 -- including AUC -- are outside of the United States, with four in the Middle East. AUC is the only University in Egypt that holds this accreditation.

"Congratulations and thank you to all whose daily work to make AUC an amazing institution has won us this vitally important, highest official recognition of our performance at, or exceeding, the highest American standards," said President Francis Ricciardone.

After a rigorous self-assessment process and the production of a 100-page self-study report, AUC welcomed a team from MSCHE in March 2018 to observe the University's congruence with its self-study, determine AUC's compliance with MSCHE standards, provide recommendations for areas that can be further enhanced and meet with all AUC constituencies. AUC's Accreditation Steering Committee had been compiling data, considering University needs and seeking input from community members, to finalize the self-evaluation presented to the MSCHE team.

With AUC's recent reaffirmation of accreditation, MSCHE gave recommendations and noted a number of AUC accomplishments, including the establishment of Employability and Career Development Centers at several Egyptian public universities; improvement of the enrollment process; implementation of a cocurricular transcript; integration of planning, resource allocation and assessment in all areas of the University; as well as documentation and data usage for planning and assessment.

"In higher education, institutional accreditation by a reputable agency such as the Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an unparalleled hallmark of quality," attested Iman Megahed '90, '93, AUC's chief strategy and institutional effectiveness officer.

"At a time when accreditation is becoming considerably more rigorous, with accreditation probation and warnings issued to some institutions worldwide, AUC's accreditation was reaffirmed and praised on multiple fronts by the visiting team. Every member of the AUC community can feel a genuine sense of pride that they belong and contribute to the well-being and advancement of this University."

Read the full story here.

Nora Abousteit, left, and Kristin Lord, right

Jumping on Board: Nora Abousteit and Kristin Lord

Nora Abousteit '00, founder and CEO of social-crafting business CraftJam Inc., and Kristin Lord, president and CEO of the global development and education nonprofit IREX, are AUC's newest trustees.

Abousteit speaks German, Arabic and English. She graduated from AUC with a bachelor's in Middle East studies and a minor in philosophy. She is the founder of online crafting communities, including the world's largest sewing network, and Kollabora, an online community for DIY [Do It Yourself] projects and makers. Her current company, CraftJam, organizes hundreds of monthly social crafting occasions in New York City.

"My time at AUC was one of the most formative in my life," said Abousteit. "It nurtured a great love of the institution and the people there, as well as a strong belief in the mission of AUC and my responsibility to help carry it forward."

Lord, who received her MA and PhD in government from Georgetown University, previously served as acting president and executive vice president of the United States Institute of Peace and held two associate dean positions at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs.

She is also a member of the board of directors for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations. "I am truly honored to join the Board of Trustees of AUC -- an institution devoted to preparing young people to contribute to an even brighter, more prosperous future for the people of Egypt, the region and the world," Lord said.

Read the full story here.

Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr '85, '90 speaks at the midyear commencement

Commencement Speakers: A Tip from the Top

At AUC's 2018 Midyear Commencement, Naguib Sawiris, executive chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding and chairman of Orascom TMT Investments, shared "the secret to success" as the keynote speaker for bachelor's degree candidates. "Don't accept 'no' for an answer," he advised. "Whenever someone tells you it's not possible, don't just trust what [they say]. Try [it] yourself. ... Intelligence without hard work won't get you to the end of the road."

Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr '85, '90 came back to her alma mater at the midyear commencement as the keynote speaker for the graduate Class of 2018. "You will, at some point in time, get disappointed and experience tough times. But never let this put you down -- ever," she affirmed. "When it seems like it's getting too hard, push back even harder. This is the only way you will be an achiever."

At the 95th Commencement held in June 2018, Mahmoud Mohieldin, senior vice president for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations and Partnerships at the World Bank Group, received an honorary degree from AUC. "I am profoundly honored," he said, "by the decision of The American University in Cairo and its Board of Trustees to confer upon me the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters." Advising graduates to "broaden the scope of [their] opportunities...beyond borders, beyond disciplines," he said, "Your journey starts now. It is yours to define."

Minister of Tourism Rania Al-Mashat '95 addressed master's and PhD candidates at the June 2018 Commencement. "I just remember my own graduation [from AUC], which happened to be June 22, 1995," she reflected. "I will never forget the vice provost at the time looking at all of us and saying: 'The certificate you have in hand is more important than your marriage certificate. It will not be revoked, and it cannot be nullified.' So to that, congratulations to all of you!"

Read the full story about 2018 graduate and undergraduate commencements here. Click here for videos of the commencement speeches on AUC's YouTube!

Celebrating 50 Years of CASA

At its seventh annual Benefit Dinner in New York, AUC raised more than $600,000 to go toward the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) Endowment Fund. The fund will support CASA, the world's premier, full-immersion Arabic-language program that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Prominent and long-standing members of the AUC community, along with Egypt's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr '85, '90, were present to thank donors and encourage support for the University.

President Francis Ricciardone and Lois "Elle" Johnson

U.S.-based TV writer and producer Lois "Elle" Johnson opened the event by describing her time at AUC in 1986, when she came as a presidential intern to work at the Office of Development. "Although I was not a CASA participant, AUC's Presidential Internship Program opened my eyes to this part of the world," said Johnson, now a writer and producer for shows including CSI: Miami and Law & Order. "It was also my first time living outside of the U.S., in a place where I didn't speak the language and couldn't read any of the signs."

Johnson continued, "I was a black girl who had attended predominantly white schools. At AUC, my right to be there was never questioned. To be thought of as 'other' in your own country then go halfway around the world to finally, casually, be accepted as 'American' was an incredibly empowering experience for me. Being at AUC, being in Egypt made me believe I could do anything."

Dr. Marie Ricciardone, President Francis Ricciardone, Former AUC President Lisa Anderson, Former AUC President David Arnold and Sherry Arnold

Over the last 50 years, CASA graduates have shared Johnson's feeling of empowerment through immersion. A number of the program's alumni came to the dinner -- one of whom took the microphone to share her success story.

Susan Peters (CASA '98), senior advisor at ABANA, described how much the program influenced her language skills and preceding career, which has been spent in nonprofit management, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa region.

"There's a moment when you stop having to pay attention to language and get to engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas in that language. It's when you actually get the punchline," Peters said. "CASA's real gift is that moment when the penny drops. It provides a self-confidence and familiarity that allow you to be a participant in another culture, not just a student or observer."

To support CASA and contribute to the CASA Endowment Fund click here.

To read the full story about the benefit dinner, click here.

Better off Blended: AUC Offers First Blended Degree in Region, Pairs with MIT

Pioneering new pathways in education, AUC is now the first University in the region to offer a blended degree, pairing with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to grant MITx MicroMasters online learners credits that would count toward the completion of a full master's degree at AUC.

AUC is the first University in the world to collaborate with MIT in recognizing credits for this particular online program on Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP), offering a possible pathway to earning a full master's degree from AUC in economics in international development. The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, one of the largest privately funded philanthropic education initiatives in the world, will fund eligible Arab students for the DEDP.

This move was instigated following the launch of a program, led by the foundation in collaboration with MIT, to build the capacities of AUC and the American University of Beirut faculty members and instructional designers/staff in blended learning. The broader goal of the program is to develop and promote quality online learning in the Arab world.

"I am thrilled that AUC is the first University in the region to take on the exciting challenge of formally adopting blended learning," said Maysa Jalbout, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education. "This is a visionary move and one that will encourage other universities in the region to follow suit and to open up a new world of higher education opportunities for Arab youth."

MIT offers several online MicroMasters credentials through its online course database, MITx. Participants who complete the online program are given the opportunity to use their earned credentials to complete a master's degree in person at MIT. With AUC now in the fold, participants will be able to apply these credits toward completion of a master's degree at the University. "We are excited that AUC will offer credit towards [its] own master's programs to students who complete the DEDP MicroMasters credential and pass the AUC admissions process," said Krishna Rajagopal, dean for digital learning at MIT. "We believe that [this] collaboration will advance the education and careers of many learners who would not otherwise have been able to complete master's degrees."

Online learners who complete the MITx MicroMasters in DEDP will be able to earn nine graduate credit hours toward completion of the AUC master's degree in economics in international development at the School of Business, if accepted into the program. This opportunity will be available to potential applicants to the AUC program in economics in international development starting September 2018.

To read the full story, click here.