Student Persistence and Accessibility

The Student Persistence and Accessibility team works with staff, faculty, and students to support students of determination, and functions as a liaison to the Moses Center for Student Accessibility at NYU. The department also coordinates the Student Affairs Deans model, which provides one-on-one support to students throughout their four years. In collaboration with campus partners, the department strives to identify and remove institutional barriers to empower students to attain their educational goals.

Leader Profile

Sara Hassan is the Associate Director of Student Persistence and Accessibility (SPA) and liaison to the Moses Center for Accessibility and Inclusive Culture at NYU Abu Dhabi.

She joined NYUAD in 2014 through the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Scholars Program and served the community for nearly a decade. In her current role, she supports students, faculty, and staff in navigating the Moses Center accommodations process and ensuring equitable access to learning. She also co-chairs the Domestic Students Support Committee (DSSC), working closely with Emirati and domestic students on campus. Passionate about accessibility and inclusion, Sara strives to foster a campus environment where everyone can thrive. Over the years, she contributed to numerous initiatives, including the NYUAD Staff Council, the Student Affairs Mission-Vision Committee, and various training and mentorship programs such as ICLP, Consent Zone, and First-Year Dialogue. She is a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator and a certified Coach.

An alumna of NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Social and Cultural Analysis, Sara’s academic and professional expertise centers on advancing accessibility in higher education. You can find Sara’s published work on Google Scholar, or you can contact her for consultations or collaborations at sah650@nyu.edu

Key People