AUC celebrated the launch of a new USAID-funded University Center for Career Development (UCCD) at the University of Sadat City. 

This inauguration comes after the opening of two other UCCDs at Mansoura University, in addition to a center at Minia University and another at Beni Suef University, making the UCCD center at Sadat University the fifth to be opened under the four-year University Centers for Career Development project.

The center, one of 20 centers set to open at 12 public universities in Upper Egypt, the Delta and great Cairo area, was established as a part of the larger University Centers for Career Development project that offers students a comprehensive set of career management services, training for employment and entrepreneurship to increase the graduates’ competitiveness.

To ensure the sustainability of the centers and their career services, AUC's Career Center team will train and certify the staff of the University of Sadat City.

AUC Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman expressed his excitement about the new center, saying, "We are pleased to partner with the University of Sadat City to establish a University Center for Career Development that will contribute to qualifying students for the labor market and developing their employability skills, thus positively impacting the reduction of unemployment in the governorate. We thank USAID for funding this project that aims at spreading career guidance services in  Egyptian universities.”

Rebecca Latorraca, USAID deputy mission director asserted, "Egypt's economy and future rely on the active participation of its youth. That's why for the past several years, USAID has worked to create linkages between schools and the private sector so students are prepared for available jobs."

Ahmed Bayoumi, University of Sadat City president, added, "The University has always served the Sadat City community and has been an essential part of the revival of the promising agro-industrial city. Today, as we celebrate the inauguration of the University Center for Career Development, we are not only serving students and graduates by qualifying them and helping them become more employable, but we are also offering a service that will have a positive impact on the economy of Sadat City as a whole. We are delighted and proud of this constructive cooperation with USAID and AUC."

The project aims to reach around 1 million students at public universities in Upper Egypt, the Delta and Greater Cairo. It will help bridge the gap between university education outcomes and the needs of the labor market and industry. 

Menoufia Governor General Saied Abbas, as well as senior officials in Menoufia, university presidents and high education experts, also attended the opening ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The monthlong exhibition, Nothing Vanishes, Everything Transforms, at the Prince Mohamed Ali Tewfik Palace (Manial Palace) featured the works of 28 Egyptian artists, including AUC alumni Marwan El Gamal '12, Islam Shabana '13, Malak Yacout '15, in addition to Khaled Hafez, adjunct associate professor of design in the Department of the Arts, Shady El Noshokaty, professor of practice in the Department of the Arts, and Huda Lofti, who taught Arab cultural history at AUC from 1983 to 2009.

The show endeavored to highlight the diversity and complexity of Egypt's cultural landscape while simultaneously attracting the private sector's interest to give donations that help preserve the palace museum.

The show was curated by Nadine Abdel Ghaffar, founder of Art D'Egypte, a platform that organizes an annual contemporary Egyptian art exhibition in a different historical site every year. Last year's exhibition took place at the Egyptian Museum for one night. Malak Shenouda, '18 and Hana Al Beblawy '18 worked with Abdel Ghaffar on curating the art exhibit.

Several artists drew inspiration from the palace itself for their compositions. "I find it very interesting and challenging for me to think about creating a sight-specific idea for the Sham Reception Hall, thinking about the historical context of the palace," confessed El Noshokaty, as he explained how his project at the exhibition, "Colony-Sound of the Seven Tears" was inspired by the museum's historical collections.

Check out some of the exhibition art pieces below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognizing its distinguished scholars, AUC held a ceremony welcoming its 120 newest scholarship students, who hail from 26 Egyptian governorates and multiple countries, including Somalia, Yemen and the West Bank. The event also honored returning scholarship students who demonstrate an excellent academic record and was an opportunity for new students to network with scholarship alumni and learn from their experiences. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chadi Ben Ghanem, Master of Ceremonies and Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship student from Tunisia, majoring in management of information and communication technology

“We are gathered here today to recognize, celebrate and award those who work hard, those who stand out and those who inspire. We are here to celebrate those who have not only worked hard to get here, but who continue to prove themselves through academic and leadership achievement.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iyed Hamadi, Tomorrow's Leaders Scholarship student from Tunisia, majoring in business administration and minoring in economics

"When you go through a transformative journey like the one I had at AUC, you start looking at the world differently," explained Hamadi. "No other university would have allowed me to experience the cultural exposure and connection to the MENA region as much as AUC." 

“I want to express the level of development that my academic and professional journey at AUC allowed me. Since joining this special institution, I got to study in four countries, including China, South Africa, the United States and Egypt, I got to participate in six competitions, join three clubs, work as a research assistant, work at the Career Center and lead an event as big as the employment fair –– all while fulfilling my academic duties. I was always stimulated by the AUC community to do more.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sohair Saad, executive director, Office of Student Financial Affairs and Scholarships

 “You have demonstrated that when given the opportunity and support, you can make significant contributions to your communities, both local and global.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ibrahim Abougendy '14, Leadership for Education and Development (LEAD) alumnus from Port Said, who graduated from AUC with a bachelor's in architectural engineering and studied abroad at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst  

"Let no one stop you from sticking to one thing and disrupting it."

"Back in 2008 ,I was so different. I felt I wanted to achieve -- but achieve what? I didn't know much about my goals. It was fine at that time not to have a certain passion. That's why we are here at AUC, and this is what AUC is really good at: giving students the chance to explore."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“To quote Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ I shall not look upon his like again,” said Soreya Altorki, professor of anthropology, in the Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology at the memorial service for Professor Emeritus Galal Amin.

The memorial service for the visionary educator was a chance for those who knew him to reflect on his life and accomplishments, and to share some words about his impact on their lives.

Nabil Elaraby, chairman of the Board of Trustees for Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and former secretary-general of the League of Arab States, talked about how Amin went above and beyond as a teacher and as an economist. “Galal was a visionary professor of economics,” Elaraby said. “My three children were at one point his students, and they benefited greatly -- not only from his teaching, but from the way he looked at life.”

Besides teaching in AUC’s Department of Economics for 44 years, Amin was also an award-winning economist, prominent writer and commentator, and AUC Press author. However, to those who got the opportunity to meet him, he was more than just a distinguished academic and encyclopedic thinker. He was a mentor, an advocate for Egypt and, most importantly, an inspiration. The speakers painted a picture of a rare type of man –– someone who could captivate a room simply with his words and laughter.

“He could make even perennially dry subjects like microeconomics exciting,” laughed Mona Said ’89, ’91, associate professor and chair of AUC’s Department of Economics.

“He gave sufficient weight to qualitative areas, including the impact of economics on ordinary people, the impact of economics on quality of life and the impact of economics on communities at large,” said Walid Abdelnasser, director of the Regional Bureau for Arab countries, World Intellectual Property Organization, describing how Amin stood out within his field.

And just about everyone talked about how funny he was. Sherif Kamel ’88, ’90, ’13, dean of AUC’s School of Business, recounted how Amin –– author of Whatever Happened to the Egyptians –– once joked about writing a book titled, What More Can Happen to the Egyptians? 

During the ceremony, speakers shared their cherished memories with the professor -- attending one of his lectures, reading one of his books or simply sitting down with him for a talk and some Turkish coffee. All speakers emphasized how lucky they were to know Amin and how universally beloved he was. 

Amin was well known at the University for being incredibly popular with students and offering a unique class experience. “There was no PowerPoint, no screen and no computer. It was just Dr. Galal, a board, a marker and us,” described Yasmine Kamar '11, business director at KAPO Group and one of Amin’s former students. She related her decision to register for his 8 am microeconomics class. Despite the early hour, her mother, also an AUC alumna, encouraged Kamar to sign up for a class with Amin, and she was not disappointed by her decision. “I’m very blessed to have gotten to take part in that class. I was encouraged to minor in economics, and I took three or four classes of the whole minor with him.”

Kamar was not the only student whose major and future trajectory was strongly influenced by Amin. Both Kamel and Said also affirmed that their interactions with Amin changed their career paths. “It was microeconomics and the stylized way he portrayed it that ultimately convinced me to change to economics,” noted Said.

Kamal recounted how he went to Amin as a senior, unsure of whether he wanted to continue as an economics major. He confessed to Amin that he wanted to switch his major to business. “He said go to business, and we’ll see what happens,” Kamal remembered. “And I think that five minutes in his office actually changed my career.”

According to Danya Amin, Galal Amin’s daughter, this sort of support and encouragement was nothing out of the ordinary. “He never made me feel bad about myself,” said reflected. “He never told me what to do, and he never said I told you so.”

Indeed, one of the topics the speakers touched on most was how Amin was a source of kindness and support. Kamar described how when she asked him to write her a recommendation letter, that he took the time to write it by hand and in pencil. “And that’s just professor Amin,” she smiled. “It’s something no one else would do, to be honest. I kept that letter, and it’s something I want to hang in my house one day.”

Like Kamar, other speakers emphasized Amin’s dedication and generosity. “He was a gentleman and a brilliant scholar, but in addition he was generous, kind and devoted to freedom of thought,” related Altorki.

At times heartwarming, at times heartbreaking, the memorial service was a testament to how Amin was an inspiration to his students, friends and Egypt at large. “Some people count themselves lucky or honored to have been in one of his classes or to have been one of his colleagues. How honored am I to have had him by my side for half a century?” said Danya Amin tearfully.

As dedicated as he was to AUC, Said believes that Amin embodied the vision of AUC’s Department of Economics –– to be a hub of inspirational teaching and creative research with regional expertise and global impact. “Given who he was and what he meant to all of us, we could have simply stated that our vision was carried on by the legacy of Galal Amin,” shared Said.

AUC students and alumni were active participants at Egypt’s second World Youth Forum, a global platform for young people from around the world to come together, exchange ideas with top policymakers and recommend initiatives for making the world a better place.

Aya Ateya ’07, '12, public coordinator of the World Youth Forum, delivered the closing speech, where she spoke about youth successes and challenges, calling on youth from around the world to rise up and feel empowered to make their own decisions.

In addition, Basma Serag '13, '17 was responsible for the Startup Vein, a hub for entrepreneurs and startups. There was 12 international startups, 17 Egyptian startups, 5 incubators and a number of other initiatives in the Startup Vein. "The Startup Vein provided an arena for entrepreneurs pioneers to share their experiences – including challenges and successes – as well as network with World Youth Forum participants that came from different backgrounds," explained Serag.

She also ran "Freedom.e," a space for forum attendees to take part in activities, experience new technologies, interact through games and discover new cultures. "Enjoy, Explore and Experience were the keywords that defined activities that took place in the Freedom.e," Serag stated.

The 10 AUC student participants attended sessions on a range of topics, giving them an international perspective and the opportunity to express their thoughts on how to make change. "The experience itself is one-of-a-kind; it can't be described –– attending panels and talks by the people who actually change the world to a better place, and meeting and having a quick chat with all of the people leading this country and the world,” said Mohamed Mahmoud Abd El Sattar, petroleum engineering major, describing how he got the opportunity to meet world leaders and influencers, including the grandson of Nelson Mandela, Zondwa Mandela, and his wife. “That’s besides the exposure to different people and cultures coming from all around the globe. We  shared thoughts and experiences on how the future will be like for youth.”

For Radwa Elhelw, mechanical engineering major, the diverse topics covered in the sessions were of great benefit. "We attended workshops on sustainability, peace, the seven pillars of Egyptian identity and technology,” she said.

The forum provided a chance for participants to mingle with youth from around the world who have similar aims and goals. "I’m honored to [have been there] experiencing this conference ­­–– a huge and amazing event,” said Shahenda El Defrawy, integrated marketing communication major. “I interacted with many people from different countries and cultures. Even Egyptians do not know each other’s cultures, values and beliefs when they come from different places. I met people from Malaysia, India, Yemen, Bahrain – and a lot more. We also attended sessions about different topics that enriched our perspectives and ways of thinking.”

For Anissa Bek, another AUC student, this wasn’t her first time to attend an international event, but it was her favorite. “When I first applied to the World Youth Forum,” she noted, “I expected it to be just another conference on current affairs and youth that I can attend to further my knowledge, since youth empowerment is related to my career interest. I didn't expect that I'm about to have one of the best cultural experiences of my life.”

Bek commended the “amazing performances by great artists and talks by inspirational speakers,” as well as the chance to take part in fun activities and, “most importantly, make new friendships.”

Not only was the event led by Egypt, Bek noted, the World Youth Forum brought in large delegations from various Arab and non-Arab countries. “It allowed us to act as ambassadors to our individual countries and helped bridge the gap between Arab and Western youth," she reflected. "It was simply us talking.”

She added, “The diverse conversations and international dialogue truly enriched my views of the world around me. I'm so grateful for this experience, the people I met, the things I learned and everything the World Youth Forum 2018 offered me. If I go back in time, I'd apply over and over again. 

The 10 AUC student attendees are: Ahmed Ashraf Abdelalim, Shady Wael Mostafa Shendy, Radwa Mohamed Elhelw, Shahenda El Defrawy, Tarneem Wanis, Mohamed Mahmoud Abd El Sattar, Haroun Mohamed Tharwat, Mariam Youssef, Anissa Bek and Khaled Essam Mohamed.

 

Shahenda El Defrawy, integrated marketing communication major, is one of 10 AUC students who participated in the World Youth Forum  

 

Basma Serag '13, '17 was responsible for managing the startup Vein at the World Youth Forum
 

Radwa Mohamed Elhelw, mechanical engineering major, especially enjoyed the diverse workshops at the forum 

 

Mohamed Mahmoud Abd El Sattar (right), posing with Nelson Mandela's grandson Zondwa Mandela and his wife

Mohamed Mahmoud Abd El Sattar (center) with AUC's Vice President for Student Life Deena Boraie  

Anissa Bek (center left) with international friends she made at the World Youth Forum 

Focusing on antiquities theft in Egypt and around the world, students in the Core Curriculum class, Loot: The Research for Buried Treasures in Egypt and Beyond, gained hands-on experience in Egyptology through visits to historic sites.    

Offered for the third semester, the course encourages students to preserve their own cultural heritage by learning more about it through readings, presentations, activities, field trips and conflict resolution.

But why looting?

 “I got interested in this topic when I was doing research for a novel,” said Gretchen McCullough, senior instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition who designed this course. “Theft of antiquities became a huge issue after the Arab Spring and the security breakdown. But then, I realized this was not only a big issue in the Arab world, but also in Turkey, Greece and so many other countries.”

McCullough added, “This course focuses on how antiquities intersect with issues of cultural identity and ownership. We decided to run it as a course within the Core Curriculum, and since there are so many things to see, we added field trips as part of the course. One semester, we went to Ibn Tulun, Sultan Hassan and Refai [mosques], and Coptic Cairo.”  

Mariam Habib, who is currently enrolled in the course, appreciates the chance to complement her interest in history with knowledge on this topic. “The theme of looting was interesting and eye-catching to me from the beginning, especially because I've always been interested in history and the importance of antiquities,” she said. “What I like most about the course is the fact that we learn so much about the different methods of looting, how looters think, how antiquities are smuggled and the importance of cultural identity.”

Kathleen Saville, senior instructor and associate chair of the Department of Rhetoric and Composition who is currently teaching the course for the first time, is enjoying the course and how the students get to know their own culture and visit its historical sites, which they might not have had the chance to visit before.

“Despite being a foreigner, I’ve gone to more sites than any of my students,” she explained. “Maybe this course will engender some interest in the students who’d like to study Egyptology.” Said Saville. “Only a few of the students have been to the pyramids for example, so we are working on helping them to know more about their country. We already went on a field visit to Saqqara.”

Monica Hanna ’04,’07, who studied Egyptology at AUC and received the SAFE [Saving Antiques for Everyone] Beacon Award one (SAFE) for her tireless efforts to publicize and expose the rampant looting of Egypt’s ancient Egyptian, Coptic and Islamic archaeological sites, was invited as a guest speaker during the class, talking to the students more about the dangers of looting antiquities and giving real-life examples.

“This is an excellent course,” said Hanna. “It keeps the students engaged and very-well informed. They actually built a solid background and arguments about the topic, which means that the content of the course is really strong. It’s not an abstract course. It’s very hands-on and triggers the students’ enthusiasm to learn and know more about their own heritage.”

According to Saville, the students were as much impressed with Hanna’s arguments and knowledge as she was with their enthusiasm. They were eager to know more about the real-life problems that the theft of antiquities might cause.

“The students were pretty impressed when Hanna explained how the mafia uses young children in the sites to help them search for antiquities because they can wiggle down in the tunnels,” said Saville. “Sometimes they destroy the sites, and sometimes the sites actually collapse on top of these kids and kill them.”  

 “There is a huge black market in terms of antiquities, and it’s often tied with the mafia,” added McCullough. “There are families in Upper Egypt who make their living by stealing antiquities.”  

An added value of the course and its importance to the students is learning to not only preserve their heritage, but also to value it as part of their own individual identity. “The course has taught me so many things that now I look at antiquities and looting in a very different way than I used to.,” said Habib.

 

 

Widely recognized as a hub for cultural and artistic expression, AUC’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) recently received a $50,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund a series of teaching, research and outreach programs for strengthening public humanities and civic discourse.

Bel Arabi Falsafa (“philosophy in plain Arabic”) is a public humanities venture designed to democratize access to philosophy and change popular perceptions of it not just in Egypt, but also in the Arabic-speaking world as a whole. Its purpose is to bring philosophy to a non-specialist audience, demonstrating the relevance of philosophy and philosophical methodologies to matters of both private interest and public concern.

A Philosophical Vision

The name of the initiative—Bel Arabi Falsafa—points to one of the project’s central goals, which strives to combine philosophy and plain speaking –– concepts that are often considered incompatible in the contemporary Arabic-speaking world.

The goal for the coming year is to host events at cities in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt. The long-term aim is to establish a visible, active and sustainable presence in Egypt beyond the greater Cairo metropolitan area. Over the next 10 years, Bel Arabi Falsafa events are envisaged to be held in three different governorates every year. The project organizers hope to establish self-sustaining Bel Arabi Falsafa-type events across the MENA region.

The project will also create an online database of curated intellectual content, a portal through which the public may access videos, webinars and Arabic translations of philosophical texts (particularly contemporary philosophical texts, of which only a scant few have been translated) with commentaries. This online repository is intended as a supplement to the ongoing public outreach programs that allow people, who might otherwise not have access, an entry point into the academy.

Philosophical Culture on Campus 

At AUC, Bel Arabi Falsafa will make a significant impact in promoting a culture of philosophical inquiry on campus, where it will serve as an extension of the formal classroom. Undergraduate students who attend Bel Arabi Falsafa will have the opportunity to enrich their study of philosophy and to do so in their native language.

There are numerous perceived benefits to this initiative, including minimizing the perception that philosophy is inherently Eurocentric by preparing students to re-enter English-speaking classrooms with a newfound awareness of how philosophical concepts—especially concepts from contemporary philosophy—can be translated back into their own colloquial idiom and cultural context. Hence, Bel Arabi Falsafa envisions contributing to the teaching and study of philosophy by encouraging AUC’s philosophy classrooms to be more broadly inclusive and bilingual through the example and leadership of its speakers, most of whom are themselves recent graduates of the Department of Philosophy.

The project aims to bring philosophy to a larger audience as well as strengthen the ties between AUC students and the wider community and its concerns, changing perceptions about the field and demonstrating its universal applicability and relevance. 

According to Robert McIntyre, assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy, postdoctoral teaching fellow and project director, participants at Bel Arabi Falsafa events should walk away from the public conversations and lectures with a greater appreciation for the relevance and usefulness of philosophical modes of discourse to their daily lives. The role of speakers and workshop leaders in this project is to place the tools and methods of rigorous philosophical investigation into the hands of the public and to disseminate scholarly knowledge as widely as possible. 

“There is a need, globally, to enhance the quality of civic discourse through sustained public philosophical activity. We can grow and nurture a respect for a diversity of opinions, the willingness to listen to dissenting points of view and intellectual integrity,” McIntyre said.

Student-Led Regional Model

As Bel Arabi Falsafa expands beyond Egypt, AUC’s model will provide an example to instructors in other universities in the MENA region, showing how to engage students in the active construction of philosophical learning. Even at universities that do not have robust graduate and undergraduate programs in philosophy, the Bel Arabi Falsafa model can still be successfully implemented as a teaching tool, McIntyre explained.

Bel Arabi Falsafa is a largely student-led initiative, and the founding members of its planning committee include many uniquely dedicated former and current graduate students: Yossra Hamouda, Hussein Barrada, Wafaa Wali, Sherif Salem, Wassim Sabry and Khadeega Gafar. As McIntyre noted, the initiative provides an opportunity for AUC graduate students involved as lecturers and speakers -- researching, writing and delivering workshop and lecture content and engaging in constructive debate with members of the general public -- to enrich their own educational experience and contextualize philosophical knowledge in a hands-on way.

Mcintyre believes that philosophical engagement is undeniably an essential feature of critical thinking and that it is a primary goal of post-secondary education to cultivate skillful critical thinking. "When students engage their own community by leading and participating in long-form philosophical debates and workshops, they inevitable sharpen their own critical abilities," he explained. "They will discover
that philosophy, though lampooned as idle wordplay—a parlor game for an elite few—is, in fact, at the very heart of human progress and the human experience."

Law and compliance are the backbone of any institution. This is why AUC brought in Sunanda Holmes, the University's first General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

President Francis Ricciardone introduced Holmes to the AUC community declaring, "Dr. Holmes will bring unique and extraordinary experience and expertise to help AUC advance from very good to truly great as we enter our centennial year."

The general counsel is part of AUC's leadership team. Holmes's office will guide AUC on legal matters, assessing the liabilities and risks of strategic decisions the University makes with regard to its current and future operations. In addition, the office ensures that the University follows its own policies and practices as well as applicable United States and Egyptian laws and regulations. The new position was created to generate consensus among management operations and to make sure that central management strategies and plans for the betterment of the University comply with all applicable legal standards.

With over 27 years of legal experience, including a recent position as deputy chief administrative officer and associate university counsel at Weill Cornell Medical College in Doha, Qatar, Holmes will bring a rich background in law to her position at AUC. No stranger to working abroad, Holmes has also spent time working and visiting more than 100 countries, including teaching law as a visiting Fulbright professor at Bir Zeit and Al-Quds universities.

"I guess having been overseas already, I was looking for a new challenge!" Holmes exclaimed, talking about her decision to come to Egypt.

Holmes loves her time in Egypt and at AUC so far and is excited about AUC’s upcoming yearlong centennial celebration.

She feels that she has come to the right place. "Someone told me that Cairo is magic, and it is. In Cairo, I already feel at home," Holmes reflected. "The entire AUC team is fantastic. People seem hardworking and committed at all levels.  I want to be part of the team.”

Bringing Clarity and Collaboration

Her first objective is to bring clarity and organization to the University. "My job is to make systemic changes to our systems that impact students, faculty and staff," she explained. "Being an American, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization operating in Egypt, it is not always clear whose laws apply.”

Holmes will give advice and counsel from a legal perspective, resolving any confusion concerning legal requirements and tackling problems the University faces with the future in mind. "I think about precedence and know that every decision has a life and long-term impact," she said. “Our policies and practices are what create us, what maintain us and what sustain us, so I'm going to work on developing those to really bring clarity to our work as educators.”

To problem solve, Holmes plans to handle issues in a collaborative manner. She aims to listen to all stakeholders and recommend meaningful changes in AUC’s policies and procedures going forward. “I want to open communication,” she added, emphasizing that she will listen to everyone’s input as she works to make positive changes.

The Great Equalizer

“I really believe in education – the only equalizer that can bring people of all ages together to change the world," Holmes explained. "International higher education and research is where I am committed to put my effort to make that difference."

Not many lawyers venture into higher education. While Holmes taught law at Georgetown University, she transitioned from being a litigation lawyer to working in higher education administration. However, she continued her role as a faculty member, teaching both at Johns Hopkins University and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar to stay connected with the students. "If we want things to change, it starts with ourselves first, and then we can bring others along,”  she added.

Holmes wants to increase opportunities for others through American-style, liberal arts education in foreign countries. Applying her legal background to improve the infrastructure and systems of the universities that offer such education in foreign countries is where she sees she can make a real difference and hopefully meaningful change.  

Her favorite quote from Einstein is “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” To Holmes, being a lawyer in the higher education space means to be on the journey of a lifelong learner. 

For the fourth year in a row, AUC is the only higher education outside North America to earn a coveted spot on the Princeton Review’s 2018 Guide to Green Colleges.

“This recognition demonstrates our role as a global and regional model in terms of sustainability,” explained Yasmin Mansour, AUC’s sustainability officer. 

AUC is one of the 399 most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review. Schools were chosen for this ninth annual edition of the Green Colleges Guide based on data from a 2017-2018 survey, which reviewed hundreds of four-year colleges, analyzing the schools' commitments to the environment and sustainability. AUC’s Green Rating score was 87 out of 99, and only schools with a score of 80 or above made it into the guide. 

“We strongly recommend AUC and the other fine colleges in this guide to the many environmentally-minded students who seek to study and live at green colleges,” said The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief Robert Franek.

"AUC’s Office of Sustainability thanks the faculty, staff, and students for their contributions to our environmentally and sustainability-minded campus," said Mansour. "We hope to continue implementing policies and programs that reinforce our commitment to maintaining an environmentally-friendly institution."

This ranking coincides with October being Campus Sustainability Month, an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Be on the lookout for events this month to highlight AUC's sustainability accomplishments.

AUC's website has been redesigned with a fresh look and updated with advanced features to enhance your user experience.

Here are the top things to look out for on the new website:

1. Enhanced infrastructure, whereby academic school websites are on the same platform, ensuring a consistent user experience 
    
2. Better and more user-friendly experience on mobile phones
    
3. Up-to-date design in line with the latest trends on higher education websites
    
4. Easier navigation with multiple ways to explore the website
    
5. Publicly accessible website content, including in.aucegypt.edu 
    
6. Compiled content with fewer webpages so all your information is in one place