The Summer Academy Team

Aisha Hamisi is the Manager of Operations and Student Advising for the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program and the NYUAD Summer Academy. She organizes and coordinates recruitment events at various high schools and at NYUAD, where she presents at Summer Academy and meets all potential students. Hamisi works with the students up to and beyond their Summer Academy graduation. She guides students and alumni on their academic, personal, and professional goals. Hamisi heads logistics and administration for both of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs — Summer Academy and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program. Hamisi also worked for the Human Resource department, where she helped NYUAD during its start-up phase and through the employment of its faculty and staff. Prior to working for NYUAD, Aisha worked for Lucent Technologies as a Resource Manager. She graduated from Portsmouth University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration in 2004. Hamisi also holds a Master’s in business administration degree from the University of Wolverhampton Business School. In March 2019, Hamisi received her certificate in CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults).

Ayan Ibrahim is the Resident Instructor for the Challenges of the New Political Economy course in the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program. As an Instructor, she supports the Scholars in strengthening their critical thinking and writing skills through group writing workshops and 1:1 meetings throughout the course of the Program. Prior to joining the SMSP team, she worked as an Associate Writing Instructor for NYU Abu Dhabi’s Writing Program and Writing Center advising undergraduates on various elements of the writing process. Ibrahim is also the Academic and Student Affairs Specialist for the SMBZ Community Programs, in which she advises and assists the SMSP Scholars and the high school Summer Academy students in establishing their educational goals in preparation for their graduate and undergraduate studies, or attaining scholarship opportunities. 

Ibrahim earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism (Public Relations), a minor in Psychology and a Masters of Art in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, with a concentration on Reading/Language and Literacy Education, both from Georgia State University. Since receiving her Masters, she has also worked in Atlanta, Georgia as an adjunct professor instructing adult English language learners on writing and reading skills at Mercer University’s English Language Institute and as an elementary and middle grades ESOL teacher within the public school system.

Aysha Mohammed Aljaberi is the Senior Director of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs. She provides oversight of the academic and administrative functions of the department.

Dr. Aljaberi has been a certified Clinical Scientist and served in different leadership roles in Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services Company, operations, research, and academia. She was previously the Director of Disease Prevention and Screening Center. She was the Manager for the Ambulatory Health Services’ Main Laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. A few of her achievements included; increasing the service market share and growth in revenue, the expansion of services by opening new centers in Abu Dhabi and the Al Dhafra region, the standardization of disease control practices across Abu Dhabi centers, and acquiring international and local accreditations to central laboratories. Dr. Aljaberi also served as an Adjunct member of the Health Sciences Faculty at the Higher Colleges of Technology.

Dr. Aljaberi holds a Ph.D. and Master of Research in Biomedical Sciences/Biochemistry both from the Medical Schools of The University of Nottingham and Strathclyde University, and a BSc from UAE University. She had published research in the fields of cancer cell and molecular biology and is a recipient of the Sheikh Rashid Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement and Academic Excellence from The UAE Embassy in London.

Dr. Aysha Aljaberi is passionate and contributed to the case of enhancing the living quality of people of determination. She is also passionate about childhood and youth mentorship and education.

Dr. Farah Dih is the Academic Affairs Coordinator for the NYUAD Summer Academy and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program. She joined the NYUAD Community Programs in 2024, following a two-year Dissertation Writing Fellowship in the Arts and Humanities division at NYUAD. Dr. Dih holds a PhD in Spanish from New York University, an MPhil in Spanish from New York University, an MA in Modern Languages and Literatures from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a BA in English from the University of Valladolid (Spain). 

Dedicated to the integration of service, scholarship, and teaching, Dr. Dih has over a decade of international experience in education. She has mentored students from diverse backgrounds and taught a broad spectrum of courses, ranging from introductory and intermediate Spanish to advanced historical and literary surveys. As a scholar, her research focuses on the historical and cultural relations among Muslims, Christians, and Jews in medieval and early modern Spain, with an emphasis on the Morisco issue and its role in the configuration of the Spanish Identity. 

As an interdisciplinary scholar engaged with the study of minorities, sociocultural relations, and power dynamics, Dr. Dih’s work navigates between the local and the global, spanning various historical periods. She is excited to join the NYUAD community and honored to contribute to its programs.

Haile is an accomplished mathematics educator with over a decade of experience in various leadership and teaching roles within the academic realm. With a diverse background encompassing positions such as Head of Math, Vice Principal, Academic Programmer, AP and IB Math Educator, and University Lecturer. Haile holds a BSc degree in Applied Mathematics, a BA degree in Management, a Master's degree in Mathematics, a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching from the United States, and a Professional Postgraduate Teaching Diploma in Math from Al Ain University. Haile's teaching approach centers around fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to engage critically with mathematical concepts. Through a combination of real-world applications, collaborative projects, and personalized feedback, Haile aims to instill a deep appreciation for the beauty and relevance of mathematics in his students. By promoting a growth mindset and emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges, Haile empowers his students to become confident problem solvers and lifelong learners in the fields of mathematics and science.

Maleha Arif is a dedicated educator with a passion for integrating technology into learning. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature and a Master of Education, providing her with a robust foundation in teaching and educational leadership. Maleha began her career in Dubai, then moved to Al Ain and is currently employed at NYU Abu Dhabi. Her innovative approach to education and her dedication to staying abreast of emerging technologies exemplify her commitment to creating dynamic, engaging, and future-ready learning environments.

Maleha has been with the Summer Academy Program at NYUAD for three years, where she has taught Critical Thinking and Writing as well as Leadership and Public Speaking. This will be her second year teaching Critical Thinking and Persuasive Writing for SMSP, where she continues to inspire and equip scholars with essential skills for their academic and professional futures. Passionate about both academic and creative writing, Maleha emphasizes that, in a world where AI is taking over many writing tasks, the voice and creativity of scholars and students can never be replaced. She uses AI as a tool in both her writing and art, demonstrating its potential while reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human creativity.

Outside of her professional life, Maleha enjoys creating art. She started her art journey by painting large sizes canvases using acrylics and has now ventured into the world of digital art. Her art can be seen in Women’s History Month collaborations, NFT Bali, Coin Coffee and across multiple platforms in Web3.

Povashni Naidu is the Assistant Manager for Programming and Strategy for both the NYUAD Summer Academy and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program. Povashni joined the NYUAD Community Programs in 2013. Prior to this position, she successfully coordinated numerous international medical conferences for Synovetics in Abu Dhabi. Povashni began her career at Massdiscounters in South Africa, where she was a graduate associate. Thereafter, she was promoted to manage training for the retail giant. Povashni received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of South Africa, and MSc Education from the University of Glasgow.

Sara Aldhaheri is a Program Coordinator for the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs. She acquired her BA in International Relations from Zayed University. Politics and history are subjects close to her heart. Outside of work, she enjoys spending her time with cats and learning the Russian language.

With a background in IT and a passion for helping others grow and succeed, Saeed now works at NYU  Abu Dhabi in the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Community Programs. His journey from the tech industry to the academic world has been driven by a desire to empower individuals and foster their development. At NYUAD, he is dedicated to creating opportunities and providing support to help everyone reach their full potential.