As Mental Health Awareness week kicks off at AUC, activities, class visits and discussions with experts on mental health and well-being are happening across campus. Later this month, there will be a community wellness day and mini-marathon at the University.

But it doesn’t stop there. AUC’s Mental Health Wellness Taskforce, launched under the University’s Mental Health and Well-Being Initiative, is just getting started.

“Our whole community — students, faculty and staff — is affected directly or indirectly by mental health issues,” states Michelle Henry, interim dean of students and member of the taskforce. “The mental health initiative seeks to destigmatize mental health by starting conversations about the way we as an institution can contribute to community wellness.” 

The taskforce aims to utilize previous research on mental health and well-being on campus, to engage the AUC community through open discussions, review institutional practices and recommend specific actions for the University to enhance its support of the community. 

Getting Involved

Henry emphasized the importance of including the whole AUC community in the initiative. While she is dean of students, Henry’s role in the taskforce is to be an objective advocate for all members of the community — representing staff, faculty and students equally. 

The taskforce will be hosting a series of roundtable discussions this month to allow community members to voice their thoughts, concerns and vision for mental health and well-being at AUC. 

In addition to the discussions, the taskforce will also work to identify individuals and groups on campus who are already contributing to mental health support but may not have an integrated approach. 

“There are community members who have been doing this work for a while but in an isolated fashion,” Henry explains. “We want to open up cross-communication between these efforts so that we can really work together.” 

Celebrating these established programs is also a goal of the taskforce. For instance, AUC’s Center for Learning and Technology (CLT) has been running workshops on inclusivity and diversity, which include training on how to support students with special needs accommodations. “These are related to mental health too,” Henry says. “Supporting both students and faculty is important.”

Moving Forward

Long term, the taskforce aims to use research, discussions and surveys to recommend institution-wide changes to support mental health and well-being. “There is more than one type of health,” Henry explains. “Physical health, emotional health, social health –– they are all interrelated and we want to support all of them.” 

The biggest challenge, Henry says, will be changing mindsets. 

“Stigma about mental health comes from a mindset,” Henry states. “There’s a tendency for people to keep their problems to themselves because they feel a sense of shame about sharing. The taskforce wants to open these communication channels and encourage people to reconsider their mindsets on mental health so that we can all support one another.”

What is COP27?

COP, or Conference of the Parties, is a UN initiative that encourages international cooperation to mitigate the impacts of climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions and making ecosystems around the world more resilient. The 27th session of this conference will be held this year in Egypt. 

The conference will host panels, workshops, research presentations and roundtables on climate change topics, such as financial roadmaps to carbon emission reduction, to facilitate communication and problem solving across borders.

Why is COP27 important?

Climate change is a vast international problem. Emissions from one country in the northern hemisphere may destroy their southern neighbors’ ecosystems, making the problem too complex for one country to solve by itself. COP encourages nations to collaborate by identifying problems and designing integrative solutions. 

Who attends COP27?

Delegates from member nations of the UN will attend COP27, in addition to scientists, policymakers, academics, business leaders and others. AUC will be participating through presentations on faculty research and student activities, highlighting the University’s work and Climate Change Initiative. 

Where is COP27 held?

The 27th COP conference will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The first COP was held in Berlin in 1995 and has alternated hosting countries since then. 

When is COP27? 

COP27 is happening November 6 - 18. 

Ahead of Egypt hosting COP27, the AUC Innovation Hub and New Silk Roads convened a Futures Lab in September exploring the question: “What if real estate accelerates a green transition?” Attended by a multidisciplinary group of senior business leaders, investors, architects, policymakers, urban planners and researchers, the Lab used futures thinking and scenarios to design avenues for the Egyptian real estate sector to adapt to the realities of climate change.

"With Egypt's population doubling every 30 years, the real estate sector is becoming critical in its impact on climate change,” stated Ayman Ismail, director of AUC Innovation Hub. “In the Futures Lab, we get into a deep conversation with industry leaders to think of innovative, pragmatic, industry-driven solutions, building AUC’s depth of knowledge." 

Egypt currently faces a myriad of climate-related challenges, such as water scarcity, extreme changes in weather patterns, land degradation and large-scale migration, among others. Rather than trying to predict exactly what will happen in the future, the lab examined what could happen and expanded discussions about climate change from narrow “problem-solution” questions to more holistic and long-term approaches. This allowed members to envision multiple plausible futures for climate-friendly Egyptian real estate, with a focus on possibilities rather than certainties. 

“The Futures Lab could not be more timely. The pace of change in the climate change space is unprecedented, and immediate actions are needed,” said Dalia Abd-Allah, senior director of the AUC Innovation Hub. “Bringing voices from all relevant stakeholders to greening real estate in Egypt into one place through the Futures Lab is a much-needed approach in addressing climate change pressures beyond traditional solutions.”

The lab produced several recommendations for climate-resilient real estate in Egypt. These items advise that green technology should be incentivized for real estate and business developers and financial institutions may be able to provide support for this transition. Additionally, the lab recommended that companies and economic planners design their long-term visions with carbon emission mitigation and resource efficiency in mind. 

On a wider scale, the lab suggested that policy makers and regulatory agencies should work with local governments to design clear rules and regulations for the green transition, while companies should promote green products that emphasize affordability. Finally, the lab recommended that there should be enhanced collaboration between different sectors and supply chains so that green technologies can be produced more efficiently. 

“To work towards the future that we want, we have to imagine it first. Imagining the future is especially important during crises, such as confronting the impacts of climate change, which call for urgent action in the present,” noted Helga Delaere, Director of New Silk Roads. 

The AUC Innovation Hub, located at AUC New Cairo, connects corporations, start-ups, researchers and innovators to collaborate on developing strategies for Egypt’s most challenging problems. 

Founded in 2009, New Silk Roads is an agency that connects mission-driven organizations with the right opportunities, tools and guidance to thrive. New Silk Roads offers futures thinking programs focused on collectively imagining the future and developing bold future visions. 

The Futures Lab has been implemented with support from the Hivos GreenWorks Alliance and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Coming from abroad or returning to their alma mater, AUC welcomed a new cohort of around 40 faculty members this fall.

While some members are experiencing Egypt for the first time, having moved from their homes in Germany, South Korea and more, other members are turning to their alma mater. News@AUC interviewed five members of this diverse cohort on their research, their decision to join AUC, and what they are looking forward to this year.

Shaimaa El Sherif

Instilling moral values such as acceptance and respect into her students is a key part of Shaimaa El Sherif’s, instructor in the Department of Rhetoric and Compositions, goals at AUC and her research in global citizenship education. She is currently working on two research projects, one on transformative learning and teaching and another on enhancing students’ 21st century skills. 

“I found out that there is no better educational institution in Egypt other than AUC to practice teaching and researching,” El Sherif states. “Honestly, I also owe AUC much of what I've learned academically and professionally throughout the past 10 years… I felt like it’s time to give back through teaching.”

El Sherif is excited to spend the year connecting with her students and helping them to become more well rounded through different teaching strategies in addition to working on her two research projects. 

Rodrigo Gratacós Brum

Guided by his academic background in philosophy and film, Rodrigo Gratacós Brum, associate professor of practice in the Department of the Arts, is a talented filmmaker and teacher who joined AUC because of its growing film program. 

“I saw it as an opportunity to have an impact in the area, helping to develop a program that is already very strong,” Brum explains. 

Brum is looking forward to getting to know his students better and learning how he can help them develop projects based on their own experiences and interests. 

Sanghyeok Lee

After studying in Australia and teaching in South Korea, Sanghyeok Lee, assistant professor in the Department of Economics, is ready for new academic adventures in Cairo. Lee studies micro-econometric theory, which includes event history and duration analysis, machine learning and treatment effect analysis.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills in a new place, and hopefully to be able to contribute to the local community as well,” Lee states. 

For the next year, Lee is most excited about the learning opportunities. After teaching in Korea and studying in Australia, New Cairo presents a novel experience for him to explore as an instructor and an academic.

Mariam Abdelazim

As an architecture alumna from AUC, Mariam Abdelazim, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture, is looking forward to the opportunity to give back to her alma mater. In her research she utilizes behavioral science to explore how people interact with public spaces. As a professor, she is excited to bring innovative teaching methods to her classroom. 

 “The attention span of students is different than before, so I always rely on interactive methods of teaching,” she explains. “I ask them to make TikTok videos on a building, or Instagram posts, or we play Jeopardy and do competitions, to get them interested through the type of media they are familiar with.”

Through the next year, Abdelazim looks forward to cultivating a learning community where students can learn from each other and she can learn from them.

Noah Farhadi

With over 27 years of experience in business administration, Noah Farhadi, professor of practice in finance in the Management Department and CIB Endowed Chair, is excited to continue his academic research on strategic finance, mergers and acquisitions and business ecosystems while teaching at the AUC. 

“I think to be a good professor, you need good students,” Farhadi explained. “The students at AUC are motivated, focused and engaged. So I made my choice to move here because it's a great platform for growth.”

In the next year, Farhadi is excited to experience Egyptian culture, connect with his students and contribute to the community. 

AUC has joined the Race to Zero campaign, a UN-backed global initiative aimed at achieving a zero-carbon world. The University has pledged to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

“Race To Zero aims to rally leadership and support from colleges and universities across the globe for a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth,” said Yasmin Mansour, AUC’s sustainability director.

With AUC's Climate Change Initiative ramping up ahead of Egypt hosting the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), joining the campaign was a no-brainer, according to Khaled Tarabieh, University architect and associate professor in the Department of Architecture. 

"AUC is always looking for opportunities to join models of excellence and best practices," he said. "In line with our preparations for COP27, we believe our participation would situate us perfectly and align well with our work."

AUC will now set up an action plan with short-term goals. An expert peer review group will then evaluate the strategy and communicate to the UN's High-Level Climate Champions whether the initiatives fulfill the minimal standards.

"Curbing our emissions on campus is a primary operational goal and key for our mitigation of climate change challenges," Tarabieh said. "We have so far reduced our carbon footprint by 35% using a smarter set of operational strategies since we started looking at our emissions 10 years ago." 

Moving forward, AUC is committed to furthering reductions, institutionalizing sustainability in both operations and curricula, maximizing the efficiency of current structures and planning for greener buildings with lower environmental load and emissions, according to Tarabieh.

The Office of Sustainability added that the University will focus on improving areas such as energy use, transportation, solid waste disposal and campus design — drawing from recommendations made in its biennial Carbon Footprint Report.

“As a leader of sustainability in the MENA region, we hope AUC’s commitment to the Race to Zero campaign encourages other institutions to join us in taking meaningful action toward reducing our carbon emissions in the face of climate change,” Mansour said.

Net zero refers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as closely as feasible to zero, with any leftover emissions being reabsorbed from the atmosphere. At AUC, this means reducing energy usage and air travel and rethinking waste disposal.

“Climate change is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing humankind,” Mansour said. “Universities play a vital role in helping to solve the climate crisis. Higher education does this through research, community engagement, student activity and sustainable operations.”

With this move, AUC is joining what Mansour described as “a well-established international alliance” that includes more than 1,000 educational institutions. “Committing to the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges is an exciting and essential step toward whole-institution sustainability,” she said.

Read more about AUC’s commitment to sustainability here.

Launching for the first time in early 2023, AUC’s Piece of Mind festival aims to normalize conversations about mental health by featuring scripts written by members of the AUC community on mental health and well-being. 

The festival will be accepting English and Arabic submissions from students, alumni, faculty and staff until October 15. 

“Despite global efforts to raise more awareness about the importance of mental health and to destigmatize it, Egyptian society still has a way to go,” says Nadine Abdel Razek ‘20, festival artistic director. “We wanted to use theatre, as the powerful tool that it is, in creating change and starting conversations about this vital topic.”

Piece of Mind will showcase realistic,10-minute plays about mental health and community. Ahead of the festival, Abdel Razek and their team will select seven to nine scripts from the AUC community’s submissions to develop, after which three to five will be offered a place in the festival. Each script will be assigned a director, and a casting call for actors will follow. AUC community members are encouraged to audition.

The festival was created and is overseen by Jillian Campana, professor and associate dean for Undergraduate Studies and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. “When I initiated this community project I wanted to promote the idea that mental health is an issue for all of us,” she said. “Needing to talk about it, or wanting help is nothing to be ashamed of; rather seeking help when we need it is part of our total wellness."

The production will take place at AUC early February 2023 and will provide an opportunity for its creators and the audience to start conversations, connect with one another and see the ability of theatre to guide social change and acceptance. 

“We want these plays to show people that they are never alone in whatever they’re going through, that whatever they may be experiencing and/or struggling with is valid,” Abdel Razek explains. “We hope that this festival can help normalize this often taboo topic and help destigmatize it, allowing people to talk more openly about mental health struggles.”

Submit your original play to Piece of Mind here.

After 70 years of maintaining the British monarchy’s non-political status, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has raised concerns over how the transfer of power to King Charles III may disrupt the status quo. News@AUC spoke with Chris Barker, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, and Olivier Schouteden, assistant professor in the Department of History, to gain more perspective on this transition. 

What was Queen Elizabeth II’s role in the UK’s political affairs, if any?

Schouteden: Elizabeth II was a constitutional monarch, the embodiment of the nation, and without much more than a ceremonial role. Elizabeth II indeed had the reputation to refrain from intervening in (or even expressing her thoughts publicly about) political affairs.

Barker: The word often used about the queen is “inscrutable.” She was careful not to politicize the monarchy. In his 1867 book The English Constitution, Walter Bagehot distinguishes between dignified and efficient parts of the constitution, arguing that the dignified part is where the power lies and that the efficient part merely uses it. In my own view, that goes too far. And while American small-r republicans will criticize the monarchy, think of the dignity they typically impute to (or require from) their president.

What impact, if any, will this transition have on global politics? 

Schouteden: Through thick and thin, Elizabeth reigned for 70 years — her death leaves a considerable vacuum to fill. This challenge is heightened by the crisis the UK is currently undergoing. Four prime ministers in six years, reflecting a political instability that cannot be understated, an economic crisis fueling popular discontent and social strife, which stem from, among other factors, the combined effects of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine. 

On an international and diplomatic level, the UK in a post-Brexit era also struggles to redefine its position within Europe and on a global level. This transition could contribute to further weakening Britain – on a smaller level, some have been quick to notice the losses caused by the slowing down of the economy during national mourning.

Barker: Some countries among the 14 who retain the monarch as their sovereign will take the opportunity of the queen’s death to reconsider the value and meaning of the monarchy. Some may become republics, like Barbados did last year. Expect action on this front in the Caribbean countries anxious about the legacies of slavery and empire.

Will this have any discernible effect on the MENA region and Egypt specifically? 

Schouteden: It is hard to tell so early on. But what about Charles’s position in regard to religion? Charles III seems aware that he will reign over a multicultural, multi-religious society, and this could also mean more openness to different cultures outside of Britain. Yet, there is little indication that his role in this realm will be different from that of Elizabeth II.

How would you describe King Charles’ involvement with politics during Queen Elizabeth’s reign? 

Barker: The commentariat tends to describe Charles as an activist heir, and thus possibly an activist monarch, particularly on issues of importance to him, such as climate change. But Charles said in 2018 that his activism will stop when he takes the throne. The new role requires a new approach, a new restraint, and he has a model to imitate in his mother’s conduct.

Schouteden: Charles has publicly expressed his concerns regarding global warming and support for an ecological transition. He might try to stir the course of the economy in this direction, but it is unclear at this point whether ecological concerns will be given a boost in the UK because of Charles’s passionate claims for a greener world. It is worth noting that during his tenure as Prince of Wales, Charles has been criticized for his lobbying of politicians. Charles is quite savvy and more politically inclined than his mother, but we cannot overplay the impact he could have on political affairs because of the limitations discussed above.

In the past, King Charles has said publicly that if he becomes monarch, he won’t act the same way he did as an heir. Even if this is true, do you think the public’s perception of him will create challenges regardless? 

Schouteden: His earlier opinions [on politics] were expressed in his own name and before his reign, not as part of the royal ideology. We can expect him to reign as Elizabeth II did. What will be demanded of him? To officiate in public ceremonies, to partake in public duties, to represent the UK abroad.

Charles is not held in such high esteem by the citizens of the UK. He is actually less popular than his son William, Prince of Wales (next in line for the throne) and his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton. But is there any reason to doubt the British peoples' sympathy for the Crown at large? I am not sure. We know of the dissatisfaction of young British people with the monarchy but this does not indicate a potential for sedition either. 

Barker: Charles is probably the most overexposed heir to any throne in history. The public has had seventy years to form their opinion – apparently, this is a Guinness world record for heirs-apparent. While he may never outgrow those judgments, the question is whether those old judgments will overbalance the public’s reverence for the institution. And, perhaps more important than what he did as heir, is what he will do to prepare his own heir, Prince William, to continue to embody the dignified part of the constitution.

What would the consequences be for King Charles if he is found to be misusing his position? Can you impeach a king?

Barker: You cannot impeach a king; at most, parliaments have used the impeachment power as a tool to act indirectly against a monarch by impeaching royal ministers. However, all the lesson you need about removal from office lies in a name: Charles III inevitably reminds us of Charles I, executed for treason in 1649.

Is there any other information about this topic you would like to share? 

Schouteden: I would conclude by saying that the only true justification for the British Crown (especially the hereditary nature of the title) today is in its impotence! In other words, should Charles III attempt to exert more power than Elizabeth II, he would not only hit an institutional/constitutional wall, he would also probably be the subject of much ire and criticism that could end the monarchy altogether.

Paul Hannon, an AUC trustee for more than four decades and former chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, died last week.

“His passing represents the loss of one of AUC’s most dedicated champions, a person who played a leading role in shaping the AUC of today,” said Richard Bartlett, three-time chair of AUC’s Board of Trustees and the first chair emeritus at the University. “Paul’s leadership style exuded calm, collegiality and competence. … He was courteous but candid. … His advice was respectful, incisive and disarmingly well-reasoned. And what came through in his advice, more than his trenchant analysis, was the humanity that always inspired it.”

Hannon was exceptionally fond of AUC.

“I think the most important thing that I have ever done in my life is be associated with AUC,” said Hannon in a 2015 oral history interview with the University Archives:. “AUC is the most important American University in the world. I say that not because it’s the best, but because it’s where it is and because of the crucial role that it plays in the most important Arab nation, Egypt. And so … the privilege of having been associated with AUC as long as I have been associated is something for which I'm very thankful. … It’s a great University, and I'm delighted to have been able to work with it.”

Born in Denver, Colorado in 1935, Hannon specialized in international law and spent 20 years practicing law in Los Angeles, Paris and London. He held critical leadership roles throughout his career, including serving as a partner at O’Melveny & Myers American law firm; director, vice president and general counsel at General Atlantic Group growth equity investor; vice president of the London Court of International Arbitration; and chairman of Beltone MENA Equity Fund. An international arbitrator, he was a member of several bar associations as well as associations for courts of arbitrators.

Hannon joined AUC’s Board of Trustees in 1976 after former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who was his partner at O’Melveny & Myers, recommended him for the position. “I always told Chris that it was the nicest thing he ever did for me,” said Hannon in the 2015 oral history interview. “I very much appreciated it because it’s been a very important part of my life.”

Bartlett reflected on this transformative moment for Hannon: “Paul was surprised [at his selection to the board], as he had relatively few ties to Egypt and none to AUC. That changed quickly, as he was captivated by the University’s compelling mission. Paul quickly came to believe in AUC’s potential for Egypt, and he spoke eloquently about how AUC’s uniqueness within the country allowed it to generate impact that greatly exceeded its size. He became dedicated to its success.”

At AUC, Hannon was involved in multiple committees and projects, serving at “almost every board committee” during his tenure, Bartlett recounted. As a member of the Century Committee, which made the historic decision to relocate the University to the New Cairo campus, Hannon chaired the subcommittee on Educational Priorities, which the Century Committee described in its report as the “cornerstone for the overall exercise.” In 1997, after the Century Committee’s activities were completed, Hannon was elected chair of the Board of Trustees, serving two three-year terms. During that time, the University chose the location and developed designs for the new campus, launched its $100 million Capital Campaign to raise funds for the project and started construction in 2003. 

“The biggest thing that came out of this Century Committee was the decision to move,” said Hannon in the 2015 oral history interview. “As we examined the problems at AUC, it just came [up] time and time again. Space was what we needed, and we didn't have this space at our downtown campus. The idea of moving has been on the books since the 1920s. One time, the University owned some land out near the pyramids and [was] going to move there, but nothing ever came of it.”

It wasn’t just the move to New Cairo that came out of the Century Committee, but on an academic level, “we pressed to have a history department … and now we do,” Hannon said in the same interview.

Hannon was particularly passionate about improving scholarship opportunities for students. 

“Paul Hannon was chairman for a long time and displayed unusual competence in judging difficult situations or situations which needed some remedial action,” recalled former AUC Trustee Lawrence Hyde in a 2009 oral history interview by the University Archives. “He was one of the ones that took the lead in embracing scholarships.”

Former President David Arnold echoed the same sentiment in a 2016 oral history interview:

“[Hannon] was a great supporter of the University, always willing to champion the cause and to rally other members of the board who support both the new campus project, but also the larger vision of AUC as a world-class University in the heart of the Middle East," said Arnold.

Hannon admired AUC’s faculty. “I am amazed at the loyalty of our faculty,” he said in the 2015 oral history interview. “They hold AUC in their hearts as a whole remarkably well, and we’re lucky to have them.”

Hannon received his BA from the University of Colorado and JD from Yale Law School. He spent one year at the Universidad Central de Venezuela on a Fulbright Scholarship and completed programs at the Harvard Business School, Parker School of International and Comparative Law (Columbia Law School), and the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico. He also served as a trustee at the AUC UK Foundation. 

Hannon received an honorary doctorate from AUC in 2006 for his support of the University’s drive for academic excellence. Among his many contributions to the University are the Paul Hannon Endowed Scholarship Fund; his philanthropic support of academic areas, including experiential learning and research; and the Paul B. Hannon Swimming Pool at the University’s Sports Center.

“Paul was charming, and his dignified manners juxtaposed wonderfully with his capacity for irreverence and wit,” said Bartlett. “I thought of him this past June as we stood around the Paul B Hannon Swimming Pool and donned our academic regalia for the undergraduate commencement. I remembered him inaugurating the pool by swimming a ceremonial lap. … Although Paul’s efforts for AUC leave a legacy of great consequence, our loss of a mentor and friend is profound.”

Affirming the dedication of the Board of Trustees to the University, Hannon noted in the 2015 oral history interview, “We are there to serve Egypt, and we certainly [have been].”

The same year she was appointed director of the mental health unit at Palestine’s Ministry of Health, Samah Jabr took part in the Leadership in Mental Health, Eastern Mediterranean Region (LMH) training program at AUC.

Years later, Jabr reflects on what the course enabled her to do.

“In Palestine, we developed a National suicide prevention strategy, a national mental health response to COVID-19 and a final draft of a Mental Health Act. We’ve also been expanding the integration of mental health in primary health care,” she said.

Kate Ellis, assistant professor at AUC’s Department of Psychology, has been coordinating the LMH program for nearly a decade, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The program aims to empower mental health professionals in the Eastern Mediterranean region as effective trainers and leaders in their communities.

“This course is the only one of its kind in our region and brings together those already in leadership roles, as well as, those aspiring to become leaders,” Ellis said.

Whether it be stress, anxiety, depression or something else, mental health remains a pressing challenge around the world, with the WHO reporting in 2019 that one in eight people lives with a mental disorder.

Unfortunately, it is also a majorly overlooked and neglected area of healthcare worldwide. This especially rings true in the course’s target region, where lack of awareness, limited access to mental health services and stigma all contribute to a decrease in treatment.

Ellis’ intensive, ten-day course connects participants with global experts in the field and facilitates discussion among attendees. From essential leadership skills and mental health policy to increasing access and improving overall care, the course trains participants on taking a holistic approach to mental health challenges.

In order to stay relevant to the region’s needs, Ellis uses a process of circular evaluation developed by Carie Forden, professor and chair of AUC’s Department of Psychology. “Our participants steer the course’s direction and we pride ourselves on hearing their needs, Ellis said.

“In 2022, we focused on responding to the increasing numbers of suicide within the region and how to tackle the localized issues of stigma, bringing faculty from Tunisia, Libya and Lebanon to share how their countries have successfully introduced anti-stigma and suicide prevention campaigns.”

Describing the course as a gift, Jabr added that after taking it, she has advanced mental health policy and legislation and advocated for the development of community-based services in the West Bank and Gaza, pushing mental health as a top priority.

“The course was exactly what I needed as I started my work,” she said. “I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

This year’s cohort included representatives from Somalia’s ministry of health, Save the Children Ethiopia and UNICEF Libya, to name a few. Past participants have come from as far as Mali in the West and Iran in the East.

Another 2016 LMH alumna is Hala Al Maghari, who works for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Following the course, she began integrating mental health services into an existing primary health care center in Gaza. 

“After one year, UNRWA headquarters in Amman decided to expand the program to all of the 22 primary healthcare centers in Gaza, as well as others in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon,” she said. “Now, here in Gaza, we have a well-integrated mental health program within the UNRWA Health Programme.”

In addition to the course, Ellis has created a vast network of program alumni hailing from 17 countries, through which past attendees can communicate with and support each other. 

“Mental health is not only stigmatized for service users, in our region, mental health professionals also face isolation, stigma, low salaries and little training and development opportunities,” Ellis said. “This network is an invaluable resource and continues to grow, providing a much-needed platform for the mental health leadership community.”

Ellis has also carried out a longitudinal evaluation of the program where she interviewed alumni from the first two cohorts and tracked their journeys since course completion. 

Wanting to share past success stories with this year’s cohort, Ellis invited three alumni — including Al Maghari and Jabr — to AUC this summer.

Joining the other alumni was Randa Shinkada, a primary health care health adviser for the Libyan-German Health Project. Despite taking the course just one year ago, she has since hit the ground running.

“Starting from scratch, I initiated a project to implement basic mental health training in Libya,” she said. “This includes psychological first aid training and raising awareness throughout different municipalities.”

“This professional training was essential for enhancing my effectiveness in the field,” she recalled. “I gained confidence, knowledge and self-assessment skills, as well as the ability to define and achieve goals.”

Ellis feels privileged to be involved in this effort when she hears the stories of past alumni. “[The stories] highlight that actually, a few determined individuals with the right support can [enact] remarkable change despite challenging situations.”

This November, for the first time, the program's reach will go beyond the Mediterranean and into Pakistan and South Asia thanks to a collaboration between Ellis and Dr. Zafar Mirza, the former minister of health in Pakistan.

Special Representative of COP27 President-Designate Wael Aboulmagd took the stage at AUC Tahrir Square this week to discuss the significance of the upcoming COP27 conference, which will be hosted by Egypt in Sharm El Sheikh this November. Watch the full talk here. 

Rabab El Mahdi '96, '98, associate professor of political science and executive director at Alternative Policy Solutions, moderated the discussion.

“The climate issue is the topic of the hour and the main existential challenge nowadays,” Aboulmagd said.

COP27, which takes place in alternating continents each year, aims to address climate change through emission mitigation. This year’s conference will focus on economic problems and solutions related to climate change. 

"Climate change is certainly an environmental phenomenon, but what we are dealing with locally, regionally and internationally are mainly the economic consequences,” Aboulmagd stated. “Humanity has to change the pattern of development that has been followed since the Industrial Revolution after it proved to be solely based on growth, regardless of its consequences on the planet, which is unsustainable.”

The consequences of this unchecked growth have already been severe. "All the world disasters we are facing now because of climate change are due to a 1.1°C increase [in global temperature] compared to the pre-Industrial Revolution, so a 1°C change resulted in 30 million homeless people. Each 0.1°C [increase] is impactful," Aboulmagd explained.

In terms of economic solutions, Aboulmagd stressed the need for innovative solutions, such as considering carbon markets along with carbon credits and clean development mechanisms. According to Aboulmagd, large companies with high carbon emissions have noticed that consumers are beginning to prefer sustainable products, which has negatively affected their business. This may encourage these companies to improve their emission mitigation strategies. 

COP27 has been called the “implementation COP” and is focused on integrating businesses, local communities and international financial institutions. The Egyptian government has spread the word about COP27 to their embassies in African countries to encourage African countries’ participation. As host of the conference, Egypt was able to add 20 African organizations and 36 Egyptian organizations to COP27.