AUC graphic design graduate Maha Hesham ‘19 became a city sensation with her senior thesis: colorful postage stamps depicting historical Egyptian female pioneers, from Um Kulthum to Doria Shafik and Huda Sharawi. 

For Hesham, the project was an opportunity to raise awareness of these impactful women and the unequal representation they’ve been given within historical narratives and popular culture.

"We have so many female leaders to be proud of, and people have no idea,” she explained. “I wanted to create stamps that would value these women and discuss their significance -- bringing them some measure of equality.”

Picking Postage

So why did she choose stamps as her medium?

Hesham wanted to pursue a subject that could incorporate her passion for illustration. “My first idea was to design the stamps that go in passports,” she said. However, when she proposed the idea to her professor, the teacher thought she was referring to postage stamps.

“I thought it was an interesting idea, and I decided to look into it,” she confessed.

Hesham started her research broadly, first looking into the history of postage stamps and then focusing on Egyptian postage stamps specifically. Using the AUC Library as her main resource, Hesham discovered that something as seemingly innocuous as a stamp had a rich history and a variety of purposes.

“I found so many uses for postage stamps -- of course their primary function is to prepay mail, but they’re also a form of propaganda. They can advertise for things like the opening of a new hotel or the Art Deco movement,” she explained. “They also have touristic value. If you send a letter from Egypt to the US and it has Egyptian monuments on it, you can get a sense of what Egypt has to offer.”

According to Hesham, the first Egyptian postage stamps were ornamental and detailed with Turkish script. After becoming an independent country, the new motifs in Egyptian postage became symbols of the country’s vast history, like the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx.”

“Looking at these stamps, you can see how Egypt saw itself and decided to represent itself,” she explained. “These stamps really are an important method to record history.” She also saw historical figures represented in these stamps -- leaders, scientists and changemakers who were contributing to society at the time.

A Commemorative Stamp

From her research, one thing stuck out to Hesham: You could learn a lot about a country’s values through its stamps. And by looking at Egypt’s historical stamps, she realized that they were used to pay more tribute to men than to women.

“This is when I decided to start researching Egyptian female leaders,” she stated. And for Hesham, this research was eye-opening. “I learned about so many female pioneers between the 1920s and the 1960s whom I had never heard about,” she exclaimed.

She decided to choose nine women to represent in her stamps, and she picked women whose stories moved her. These were Amina Al Said, a writer and magazine editor; Suhayr Al Qalamawi, an academic and journalist; Lutfia Al Nadi, the first female pilot; Doria Shafik, an activist and writer; Huda Sharawi, a feminist and activist; Moufida AbdelRahman, a pioneering female lawyer; Sameera Moussa, a nuclear researcher; Um Kulthum, the famous Egyptian singer; and Safiya Zahgoul, a political activist and revolutionary figure.

During the process, Hesham also sat in on a meeting of a philatelic (i.e. stamp-collecting) society in Cairo. “If I’m going to design something, I need to have a target market,” Hesham explained. Originally, she had considered making her stamps digital, since traditional postage has fallen out of use in Egypt. However, after meeting members of the philatelic society, she realized that there are people out there keeping stamps alive. “Maybe I should do something for them,” she posited.

Making Mail

Once Hesham decided the stamps would be physical instead of digital, she began the design process.

For the representation of women on the stamps, Hesham decided she wanted to incorporate all the colors of the rainbow. She drew the leaders vividly in bright hues -- symbolic of hope. She decided to number the stamps 1, 2, 3 and 5 since these were the most common values for vintage stamps at the time the women depicted on them were alive.

“I experimented with so many art styles from pointism to monochromatic, but then I started with lines, and I realized that minimalism is in right now and that just simplifying everything to lines was the way to go,” she said, explaining her stamps refined look.

Hesham's project touched a chord with people. After the final exhibition of her thesis, someone from Women of Egypt reached out, writing an article about her stamps for International Women’s month. Since then, Hesham has been interviewed by more than six news sources about her project.

“Even now it's very hard to process. It still feels like a dream -- so surreal,” Hesham exclaimed.

So where will Hesham go from here? “It would be so nice to see Egypt develop the production of these stamps,” she suggested. “There is still a debate over whether I should make then a collector's item, print them or sell them in local bookstores.”

According to Hesham, a lot of people are getting into stamps these days, even outside of the philatelic society. “Vintage things are coming back into fashion,” she explained. “More and more people are getting into it.”

And what else is on the horizon for Hesham? “I want to continue to create art that raises awareness about important issues,” she stated.

In the end, her stamps are at once an artistic homage to female leaders, a feminist story and a beautiful collector's item.

“They are like miniature paintings -- masterpieces,” she stated.

Want to learn more about Hesham and her work? Check out her website here.

For any budding Egyptologist, the opportunity to study the hieroglyphics and history of Egypt's ancient civilizations on-site is a chance not to pass up. Graduate student Julia Viani Puglisi, who is currently pursuing her PhD in Egyptology at Harvard’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, decided to do just that — studying Egyptology for a semester at AUC as a recipient of the Simpson Endowed Scholarships for Year-Abroad Program in Egyptology. Puglisi came to AUC as the result of a recent partnership with Harvard University, facilitating student exchange and future collaboration between both institutions. 

Puglisi earned her bachelor's in classical languages from the University of California, Berkeley and her master's in Egyptology from Indiana University, Bloomington, where she won the Indiana University 2018 Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award. Titled The Mechanics of Egyptian Paronomasia: Applying Pattern Recognition Search to the Ramesside Dream Manual, Puglisi's thesis is the highest evaluated thesis in the Math/Physical Sciences/Engineering category. 

Puglisi is grateful for the opportunity to study Egyptology firsthand in the land of the Pharaohs. Speaking at AUC's Centennial Campaign launch in February 2019, Puglisi said:

“I am honored to be here representing my field and, now, two institutions as part of a new generation of Egyptologists empowered to learn from Egyptians and this country’s deep cultural heritage. I am here because I want to contribute to the dialogue of Egyptology’s future in Egypt. As a digital humanist and devoted student to Egypt’s past, I hope to push my discipline forward and encourage young Egyptologists to break convention. With the generous support of the Department of Egyptology and its fearsome faculty — my new mentors — I am able to know how it feels to study Egyptology in Egypt. I am here because I believe that the future of a discipline rests on its ability to reignite sparks of childlike wonder — when you’re too old to play anymore. Egypt has that magic. I am deeply grateful and thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to a strong legacy of Egyptology at The American University in Cairo."

News@AUC spoke with Puglisi about her passion for Egyptology and her learning experience at AUC:

Q: What originally got you interested in Egyptology?

Like most Egyptologists, my passion emerged when I was young and never went away. The hieroglyphic script caught my attention first, in particular, the inscriptions on monumental structures half-buried under layers of debris and sand. Although I could write my name with the hieroglyphic "alphabet" (snake - quail chick - mouth - reed - vulture

) I was dissatisfied with my inability to make sense of the enigmatic texts inscribed on tomb and temple walls. What did they truly say? It was my dream to read their language and to understand how they felt and expressed their world.

Q: What was your favorite part about attending AUC?

The Egyptology faculty is the primary reason why I chose AUC. I felt that there was a harmonious balance between my professors, which created a rich, open learning environment. I also greatly enjoyed the composition of my schedule and how the conversation and material explored in each course complemented and enhanced one another throughout the semester.

Thank you, Fayza Haikal, Salima Ikram, Lisa Sabbahy and Mariam Ayad for your endless support and the passion with which you shared your knowledge.

I also loved the bus rides and the University Garden with its rows of grapefruits, oranges and lemons. I loved that my backpack was packed with citruses of all kinds in March and April. I remember the transit in and out of New Cairo: I would arrive on campus as the sun was rising and leave when it was setting. Every day, the R9 bus was filled with dynamic and colorful conversations between students, professors and visiting scholars. Specifically, I remember connecting more with two of my professors during these commutes — I spoke about my dreams as a scholar and consulted them on my fears as I embark further on my path in my field. It was very therapeutic.

Q: Would you encourage other international Egyptology students to come to Egypt to study?

Yes, I would highly recommend the program and the opportunity to live in Cairo. I think it is essential for young Egyptologists to familiarize themselves with the culture and spaces that modern Egyptians inhabit and experience and to be able to see history in person in the place where it all happened.

Q: Do you have a hero?

My mother and father, who worked hard to do what they love and taught their children to chase their dreams to the end. They're the best people I know.

Maggie Michael '00, who graduated from AUC with a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication, will be the guest speaker at the University's centennial commencement taking place on Thursday, June 20.

Michael is a winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting, along with an Associated Press team, for covering famine and torture in Yemen's civil war.

She has covered the Middle East for nearly 17 years, focusing on Islamic militancy, the U.S. war on Iraq, the 2011 uprisings and the aftermath in Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Egypt

She has received several awards, including the 2017 Joe and Laurie Dine Award from the Overseas Press Club of America, the 2019 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage and others for reporting on secret prisons, famine, recruitment of child soldiers and the impact of the U.S. drone war against Al-Qaida in Yemen.

Michael supervises a vast network of Arabic-speaking stringers and reporters in different parts of the region.

Do you have any questions about the upcoming commencement? This week, as we prepare for the ceremony and look forward to honoring the graduating Class of 2019, News@AUC tackles questions you might have about the event.

Q: Where can I watch the livestream of the event?

Q: When is commencement?

A: June 20, 2019 at 7:30 pm.

Q: Where is commencement?

A: In the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium. The stadium gate will open at 6:00 pm.

Q: What is the schedule for the day's events?

A: 6:00 pm: Gate opens to Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium

7:30 pm: Faculty and administrators processional

7:45 – 8:15 pm: Student processional

8:30 – 9:30 pm: Centennial commencement

9:30 pm: Faculty and administrators recessional

9:45 – 10:30 pm: Music entertainment

Q: Where can I get my tickets?

A: Tickets will be distributed to graduates during their rehearsal ceremonies on June 18 and 19, as well as from 4 - 7 pm starting June 16 and ending on June 19. Graduates are required to present their national ID card, passport or AUC ID to receive the tickets. No one is permitted to pick up anyone else's tickets. Tickets will not be distributed on the day of commencement. For more on rehearsal schedules, go here.

Q: Where do I park/enter?

A: Each graduate will be provided with one parking ticket. You should enter the campus either through Gate 2 or Gate 5.

Gate 2 is located on South Teseen Street, and Gate 5 is located on AUC Avenue in front of Point 90.

Faculty staff and alumni can use either:

• Gate 1, visitors parking and Portal Entrance

• Gate 3, parking A and Pepsi Entrance or Sports Entrance

AUC undergraduate and graduate students:

• Gate 2, parking J (100 parking slots) garden entrance

Graduating class, their families and friends:

• Gate 2, parking I, J, K, and L, then take a shuttle bus to East Entrance

• Gate 5, parking H, G, F, E, D, C and B, then take a shuttle bus to Pepsi Entrance or Sports Entrance

Students of the School of Continuing Education as well as Engineering and Science Services:

• Gate 5 on foot (no parking on campus)

External commencement organizers:

• Gate 3, parking A and Pepsi or Sports

Visitors:

• Gate 1 on foot (no parking on campus)

Daycare Users:

• Gate 5 and Pepsi Entrance in the morning to drop off the kids. In the afternoon to pick up the kids, they will be using Gate 5 and Bus Terminal Entrance

Ministers:

• Gate 1

VIPs:

• Gate 2

Assistance requested guests and their families:

• Gate 4, Parking A and Habtoor Entrance or Pepsi Entrance

Q: What should I bring with me for commencement?

A: Make sure to bring your tickets with you to the ceremony. You will not be able to enter the gates without one.

There will be food outlets available around the ceremony venue before the ceremony begins. However, bringing some water is always advisable. These outlets will not be accessible once the ceremony has started.

Q: What can’t I bring with me for commencement?

A: Please note that any noisemakers, balloons, signs and other items that block the view of others or cause disruption to the ceremony will not be allowed past the security entrances. Food and beverages (except water) are prohibited in the seating area of the commencement venue.

Q: Any important rules to be aware of?

A: Note that children 7 years of age and older are permitted to enter if they have a ticket. Children cannot enter without a ticket of their own. Out of respect for the occasion and the other guests, children under 7 years of age are not permitted entrance.

Children must also be accompanied at all times by a ticketed adult.

Q: Who should I reach out to if I have a guest with disabilities?

A: If you have a guest attending commencement who requires special assistance, please email the Office of Medical Services at [email protected]. The office will inform you of the special arrangements for you and your guests. Today is the deadline to submit all requests.

If you have any further queries, please check this webpage or email [email protected].

For more than five decades, AUC's Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) has served as the world's premier full-immersion Arabic language learning program, having trained more than 1,500 upper-level undergraduates, graduates and professors who complete the program gaining a greater understanding of Egypt and the Arab world.

For Seth McCombie (CASA '19), applying to CASA program stemmed from his love of the Middle East and Arabic. "Studying as a CASA student has been a dream of mine for years, and I wasn't disappointed," McCombie said.

Read more about why McCombie came to AUC, what he got out of it and what his future plans are.

Q: What made you originally apply to AUC?

A: I think the biggest influence was professors who had done this program before. There was a big difference in their teaching and language skills. I applied to CASA because I love the Middle East and Arabic, but also because I felt like I needed it to teach Arabic well in the future.

Q: What are some of your goals for the future?

A: I will finish my undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University and after that, I’ll hopefully go to graduate school to study linguistics.

Q: What is your favorite part about CASA?

A: Some of the best parts were the visiting lectures we had. At one point, our director brought in the director of a TV drama we’d been watching. I also got to take a class on teaching Arabic as a second language. There were a lot of chances for us to teach and get recorded. The quality of the feedback we got back from our professors got us to think more critically about teaching.

Q: Do you feel satisfied with what you've learned? 

I truly feel like I got what I came for at AUC: things like a survey of Arabic literature and film, professional connections, research opportunities, an amazing experience and a much better language ability. I feel privileged to have studied here.

Q: How was your experience at AUC overall?

A: I've been nothing but happy with my academic experience here. I feel like both my semesters helped me work on the skills that were important to me like public speaking and Arabic teaching, and the teachers here were always willing to make adjustments in the classroom based on our feedback. 

AUC recently partnered with the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area for student and faculty exchange, as well as other forms of academic collaboration.

The consortium is a nonprofit educational association of 17 member colleges and universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area, including The George Washington University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland College Park and the American University in Washington. 

"This partnership is an unsurpassed opportunity for AUC to establish enduring ties with consortium member universities representing around 300,000 students from private, nonprofit colleges and universities endorsing student, faculty and academic exchanges, said Ahmed Tolba ’97, ’01, associate provost for strategic enrollment management. "This is an opportunity for both American and Egyptian students and faculty members to experience and take full advantage of unique and exceptional learning opportunities."

The Board of Trustees held its May meeting in New York earlier this month. As is customary at the May meeting, the Board approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY20) starting July 1 and approved eight tenure cases, in addition to several other discussions of academic quality, strategic capital planning, advancement and student life.

The Board also voted unanimously to renew President Francis Ricciardone for a second four-year term, effective July 1, 2020. “We are pleased that President Ricciardone has agreed to continue his fine service of AUC for another term and look forward to working with him to fulfill the alluring promise of AUC’s second century,” said Board Chair Richard Bartlett. In accepting the renewal, President Ricciardone said, “I have felt deeply privileged and personally gratified to serve AUC over my first three years at our fine institution. I am honored and delighted that the Trustees have afforded me the opportunity to continue serving and collaborating with such dedicated faculty and staff and ambitious, creative students, over many more years ahead.” 

The meeting coincided with the Centennial Benefit Dinner, held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art — one of the world’s largest art museums, housing over 2 million works of art in collections that span more than 5,000 years — in celebration of the University’s centennial. Held in The Temple of Dendur, the Benefit Dinner raised more than $1.15 million for Centennial Scholarships to help top students attend AUC — exceeding the University's $1 million target. This is part of AUC’s $100 million Centennial Campaign, which has now reached 80 percent of its goal. “One hundred years is a long time in the life of a University — but let’s face it, it’s a drop in the bucket when you’re sitting next to a 2,000-year-old Pharaonic temple,” said Bartlett at the Benefit Dinner. “So tonight, let’s revel in the fact that AUC is 100 years young.” At the dinner, AUC presented the Global Impact Award to two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas D. Kristof (ALU ’84), op-ed columnist at The New York Times, and the Distinguished Alumni Award to both Mohammed El Shafie ’17, Harvard Law School Candidate for JD ’20, and Radwa Hamed ’17, 2019 Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University.

The Board also issued a statement regarding amendments to the Faculty Handbook, in which it commended the Senate and Administration for reaching agreement and authorized President Ricciardone to adopt the revised handbook. The statement directs the Administration to continue its consultations with the Senate and to submit a revised version of the entire handbook by December 15, 2019. To read the full statement, click here.

The Board approved the FY20 budget of $179.4 million, which incorporates a zero increase in dollar-dominated tuition, as previously announced. Families will continue to have the option to pay in Egyptian pounds at the exchange rate on the day of payment. The budget also makes a provision for a one-time, performance-based bonus for all staff in the July payroll. The human resources office will provide more detailed information on the bonus in the coming weeks. The budget also includes provisions for $2 million for new academic initiatives and additional funds for redesigning learning spaces.    

The Board also awarded tenure to eight faculty members: Jillian Campana, Department of the Arts; Ahmed El-Banbi, Department of Petroleum and Energy Engineering; Sherwat Elwan, Department of Management; Shahira Fahmy, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; Ayman Ismail, Department of Management; Marco Pinfari, Department of Political Science; Nermeen Shehata, Department of Accounting; and Nadine Sika, Department of Political Science. “Congratulations to all our faculty members who got tenured this academic year — a well-deserving group who have shown exceptional dedication and commitment in their different disciplines,” said Provost Ehab Abdel-Rahman. “We look forward to working with all our faculty to enrich the academic experience at AUC.”

In addition, the Board elected two new trustees: Jonathan L. Wolf, who previously studied at AUC and is the founder and president of Wendover Housing Partners LLC, a Florida-based, privately held real estate development, investment and management company; and Thomas W. Lentz, formerly the Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director at the Harvard Art Museums, one of the leading art institutions in the United States.

Year after year, during the month of Ramadan, AUC students dedicate themselves to serving those in need. From donation campaigns to distributing food packs, old and new clubs on campus work to give back to the Cairo community during this season of generosity.

This year, many campus organizations are giving back through food pack distribution, providing families and communities with meals and Ramadan packs.

The community service club Glow has already packed and distributed 225 food bags, and they are planning on distributing more mid-month to reach a wider range of families. 

The Help Club has been distributing Ramadan packs and meals for over 15 years, and their campaign continues this year. They are giving Ramadan packs and daily meals to more than 500 families between in Masr El Adima, Upper Egypt, Helwan and Ain Shams, among other places. 

"We believe that community service is a reminder of all the blessings we take for granted in our lives. It makes us realize how these basic things for us are luxurious for others," explained Rania El-Shenety, Help Club president.

The club Volunteers in Action (VIA) is distributing Ramadan food packs to orphanages and underprivileged neighborhoods. The club has already distributed 2,700 packs, with a target of 3,000.

“We think it is our duty to help underprivileged people with their basic needs, and we shouldn’t forget that joy is a basic need. That’s why we always to add some fun to whatever project we're working on. It’s also always nice to see people get excited whenever Ramadan comes," said Ali Wael, club president.

VIA is also running Iftar to Go, a project where hot Iftar meals are given out daily to various orphanages around Cairo. 

Founded in Fall 2018, Revival is a new club on campus that focuses on providing education and support to the homeless in Cairo. For Ramadan this year, the organization is kicking off a donation campaign for clothes, medicine and money. Those interested in donating can find their booth in Bartlett Plaza during assembly hour for clothes and medicine drop-offs, and small boxes near food outlets on campus for cash donations. 

"All donations will be used to the direct benefit of homeless people in Cairo," explained Hatem Shakweer, vice president of Revival. "We will be ready to give out the clothes at the end of Ramadan, as it is a tradition that people wear clean new clothes on the Eid days directly after the end of the holiday."

Don't miss the public "Climate-Smart Agriculture Solutions for Egypt" Seminar, taking place today from 9:30 am - 1 pm in the Conference and Visitor Center, Room P019.

AUC's Earth Week is the perfect time to host this seminar, as the University looks forward toward creating a more sustainable future.

"At this seminar, panelists will discuss climate-smart technologies and solutions being adopted for agriculture at different scales, the opportunities and challenges that facilitate or inhibit this and how it all translates to policy recommendations," explained International Food Policy Research Institute event organizer, Yumna Kassim.

The seminar is part of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IRPRI) Egypt Seminar series funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The monthly seminars give a platform for research and conversations that seek to identify and implement policy-based solutions to address poverty, hunger and malnutrition. This particular seminar will tackle agricultural and environmental issues that gypt currently faces.

The event will include research-based presentations from local and international experts as well as policy-makers. These participants will discuss opportunities and solutions to within the field of agriculture.

Speakers include Yumna Kassim, International Food Policy Research Institute; Richard Tutwiler, professor of practice and director of the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability; Ajit Govind, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas; Nicholas Tremblay, International Fund for Agricultural Development; Waleed Hassan, Food and Agriculture Organization, and Assem Sa'eed, owner of hydroponic and aquaponic farms. 

Following the seminar and in conjunction with AUC Earth Week, participants are encouraged to attend “Innovation Day," where sustainability-focused start-ups, companies and organizations run by members of the AUC community will exhibit and showcase their work and solutions.

Twitter International in collaboration with AUC launched an academic competition for the first time in Egypt and the Middle East. The #TweetRight competition allowed students to create a Twitter account and tweet creatively to identify misinformation and fake news -- a key theme in this year's Common Reading Experience (CRE) Fahrenheit 451.

Highlighting how fake news travels fast is what made a team of five freshmen students: Freddy Eskaros, Carol Zaki, Joy Wanis, Farah Abdelsalam and Rola Amro win the competition. They created the Twitter account @Justnewsauc and focused on raising awareness about the importance of checking the credibility of news before sharing it. Their approach was creative and engaging, and they were the most active of all the competing teams. The winning team received a Twitter MENA Innovation Award and $5,000 Twitter for Goods Ads Grant.

The five students created an account that reported fake news, yet in the biography, they mentioned that the account is not a trusted source. “We found that some retweeted the news we created as jokes and some others actually believed them,” said Eskaros. “The main problem that we face on social media is that people believe anything they read even if it is a joke,” he added.

The second prize went to team @PowerKnowledge7, who also received a Twitter MENA Innovation Award. Their main idea was to spread real and correct information about problems in Egypt like water scarcity and Female Genital Mutilation. The team was comprised of four freshmen students: Lucinda Fahmy, Aya Elshenawy, Mayada Metwaly and Salma Yassin. “I am really happy because we didn’t expect to win. We felt it was our responsibility to spread correct information, and after winning the second prize we feel more responsible and we will continue to raise awareness about Egypt’s problems and the means to address them,” Fahmy said.

The judging panelists were George Salama ‘05, head of Twitter Public Policy, Government & Philanthropy for the Middle East and North Africa region and Stefanie Felsberger, senior researcher at AUC’s Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D). Salama believes that the collaboration between Twitter and AUC puts a spotlight on the importance of digital literacy as a key component in the education of youth. “Through this project, we aimed at developing the digital literacy skills of the students by focusing mainly on fighting the spread of misinformation and helping them understand how to be responsible online.”

The competition took place on March 24 for three consecutive days. Doris Jones, director of AUC’s Common Reading Experience (CRE) highlighted how the CRE's collaboration with Twitter has allowed students to share reading experiences on a scale and in a fashion that would not previously have been possible. “Reading is foundational for all learning, and this competition further highlighted changing reading practices in the age of online social networking and pinpoints a particular time during AUC's Centennial year that opens new vistas about the spread of knowledge, education, culture and ideology,” she added.

The impact of digitizing the CRE and introducing the social media component to the reading experience has proved beneficial, as Jones explained that students have been more engaged with Fahrenheit 451 because the text is an e-book, which allowed the CRE to distribute the text to hundreds of students and enabled students to read the book on their smartphones and other digital devices. “Having Twitter as a partner places a spotlight on our chosen text, Fahrenheit 451, while also allowing our students to utilize social media as an opportunity to build a community of discussants around the text,” she added.

While Twitter previously provided a Digital Literacy workshop with AUC’s A2K4D, this is Twitter’s first time launching an academic competition in Egypt and the MENA region. “With the #TweetRight competition, our focus was to engage with students directly by addressing a present-day challenge. We look forward to increased collaborations with AUC, specifically on more student-focused programs,” said Salama.