LIFE BEYOND SAADIYAT
Class of 2023
The Class of 2023 marks our largest graduating class to date.
They launch from NYUAD with ambition, a capacity to take risks, courage, and curiosity at a whole new scale. Anchored by their shared experiences of change and their commitment to connectedness, their solidarity is built on hundreds of lunch conversations, classroom dialogues, and late night coffee chats. They engage with difference with a thoughtfulness and intentionality that would be difficult to replicate elsewhere. They bring their talents to bear on some of society’s biggest challenges through meaningful employment, further study and research, and piloting their own projects.
Now they are designing games that educate and inspire action, and resettling refugees after natural disasters. They are studying the intersection of human rights and arts, forensic biology with law enforcement. Their unique post-graduate futures spark a sense of possibility and purpose. We celebrate their journeys and the many people who helped them get there. May their stories here move you to greater hope for people and the planet.
Tatyana Brown
Current Occupation: Taipei Biennial Assistant, Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
“I studied Social Research and Public Policy at NYUAD, largely exploring struggles and justice movements in different global contexts. Outside of class, I found a lot of inspiration connecting these lessons with visits to spaces like the Sharjah Biennial, where artists from around the world shared their own plights with the public. In my work at the Taipei Biennial, I am continuing that tradition while interacting with Taiwanese and international artists and curators. It's all super connected.
As a high school student in the US, I knew I wanted to fight for better structural realities for those marginalized around me. Politics and policy felt like a natural next step. Coming to Abu Dhabi made the audience I want to fight for grow exponentially, and taking a global approach to justice became a necessity.”
Maryam Jasem Hasan
Current Occupation: Financial Analyst, Mubadala Investment Company
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“My degree in Economics allowed me to explore a diverse set of courses, ensuring that I learn a bit of everything while also allowing me to focus and specialize in the specific sector I was driven towards, which in my case was sovereign wealth funds.
Prior to coming to NYUAD I was heavily focused on Biology. Within one semester of taking multiple courses in the Core Curriculum, I realized that I had been limiting myself by focusing on one subject I was good at. NYUAD allowed me to experiment and to leave my comfort zone in a way that led to discovering a passion for Economics and Public Policy. The liberal arts education at NYUAD allowed me to broaden my horizons in a way that both challenged and motivated me.”
Beniamin Strzelecki
Current Occupation: Analyst, AFRY
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
“The civil engineering program at NYUAD helped me develop many quantitative skills as well as project management knowledge. Additionally, during my study away in New York, I took several courses and a directed study that focused specifically on the energy sector, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of this subject.
Environmental sustainability and climate action have been at the core of my interests since high school. At university, I was able to refine these interests and narrow down
what areas of work give me the best opportunity to make an impact in addressing the climate crisis. The energy sector is responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gasses and this sector will undergo transformative changes over the next 2-3 decades, offering great career prospects, especially considering that we are based in the Middle East which is at the heart of the global energy markets.”
NYU Abu Dhabi graduates are making an impact at nearly 200 organizations globally, including:
Boston Consulting Group, Madrid, Spain | AECOM, Manama, Bahrain | Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Alvarez & Marsal, Melbourne, Australia | Mubadala, Abu Dhabi, UAE | JPMorgan Chase & Co, London, United Kingdom | Epic, Verona, United States | Optiver, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE | LG Electronics Development, Da Nang, Vietnam | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, San Jose, Costa Rica | Amazon, London, United Kingdom | Noon, Dubai, UAE | Mohammed Bin Rashid Center for Special Education, Abu Dhabi, UAE | Teach for Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan | HSBC, Singapore, Singapore | PwC Middle East, Amman, Jordan | Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi, UAE | Allen & Overy, Dubai, UAE | Tawazun, Dubai, UAE | Authority of Social Contribution - Ma’an, Abu Dhabi, UAE | Miral, Abu Dhabi, UAE | MBC Group, Dubai, UAE | Wio Bank, Abu Dhabi, UAE | Edelman Smithfield, Abu Dhabi, UAE
“Studying Social Research and Public Policy at NYUAD was an excellent way of setting me up with the foundational knowledge required to make educated decisions as an analyst. It equipped me with the ability to step back and analyze on a macro-policy level, whilst also zooming in and carefully picking an issue apart on a micro-cultural and societal level.”
Mbiko Mayaka, Zambia - Analyst at JP Morgan Chase & Co in London, UK
“The confidence to accept this position stemmed from my experience as an NYU Abu Dhabi student, where it was normal to pursue post-graduation roles outside the conventional path.”
Museera Moghis, Pakistan - Teaching Fellow at Teach For Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan
“NYU Abu Dhabi’s liberal arts education has given me the space to discover the field, or intersection of fields, that I enjoy and excel at.”
Gonzalo De La Cruz, Spain - Analyst at Boston Consulting Group in Madrid, Spain
Rania Sakhi
Current Occupation: Master in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre at Sciences Po Paris
Location: Paris, France
“My transformative journey at NYUAD, where I pursued a comprehensive degree encompassing Film and New Media, Design, and Business, Organizations and Society, has been instrumental in shaping my trajectory within the fashion industry. Studying Film and New Media provided me with essential skills in critical thinking and media analysis, proving particularly pertinent during the industry's rapid shift to digital platforms in response to the pandemic.
Building on this strong foundation, I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre at Sciences Po, Paris. This program not only complements my interdisciplinary education but also allows me to delve deeper into the evolving landscape of luxury, further honing my expertise in marketing strategies.”
Abdulla Almarzooqi
Current Occupation: MA Candidate in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
“The liberal arts education at NYU Abu Dhabi allowed me to explore vastly different areas including business, history, and art. This breadth of knowledge allowed me to ultimately narrow down my focus. Despite my transition from business to history, my understanding of business comes in handy when exploring areas which I am interested in, like the history of trade in the Gulf.
When I arrived at NYU Abu Dhabi, my plan was to study economics. This changed to business and eventually history. As I started taking more courses on the history, culture, art, and literature of the Middle East, I realized that this is where my interests lie. Moreover, as I navigated the scholarship and conversed with professors, I noticed how heavily understudied the Gulf is, which is why I have decided to specialize in it.”
Rania Sakhi
Current Occupation: Master in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre at Sciences Po Paris
Location: Paris, France
“My transformative journey at NYUAD, where I pursued a comprehensive degree encompassing Film and New Media, Design, and Business, Organizations and Society, has been instrumental in shaping my trajectory within the fashion industry. Studying Film and New Media provided me with essential skills in critical thinking and media analysis, proving particularly pertinent during the industry's rapid shift to digital platforms in response to the pandemic.
Building on this strong foundation, I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Marketing: New Luxury & Art de Vivre at Sciences Po, Paris. This program not only complements my interdisciplinary education but also allows me to delve deeper into the evolving landscape of luxury, further honing my expertise in marketing strategies.”
Abdulla Almarzooqi
Current Occupation: MA Candidate in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
“The liberal arts education at NYU Abu Dhabi allowed me to explore vastly different areas including business, history, and art. This breadth of knowledge allowed me to ultimately narrow down my focus. Despite my transition from business to history, my understanding of business comes in handy when exploring areas which I am interested in, like the history of trade in the Gulf.
When I arrived at NYU Abu Dhabi, my plan was to study economics. This changed to business and eventually history. As I started taking more courses on the history, culture, art, and literature of the Middle East, I realized that this is where my interests lie. Moreover, as I navigated the scholarship and conversed with professors, I noticed how heavily understudied the Gulf is, which is why I have decided to specialize in it.”
“My experience at NYUAD has played a pivotal role in my decision to go to graduate school to pursue my Master’s. The ‘experience’ goes beyond the content that I learned in the classroom; it involves the lifelong friends I have made, the professors who I researched with and learned so much from, and the global exposure I have acquired - all of which contributed to my decision.”
Jordan Simpson, Jamaica
MSc, Economics for Development, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
“My journey spanning four countries has played a fundamental role in shaping my character. From China, the US, the UAE, and finally to the UK, I have encountered and navigated through a diverse range of experiences and uncertainties. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) degree, with a specialization in commercial law at the University of Cambridge. Embracing the challenge of continual learning has been a driving force in my academic and personal life. My academic journey included Legal Studies at NYUAD and participating in the London Track, a unique program run by the Legal Studies department, that blends Bachelor of Laws classes offered in London with NYUAD's liberal arts approach.”
Wanting Guo, China
LLM, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
“My journey at NYUAD has been nothing but transformative. The diverse and interdisciplinary approach has been instrumental in shaping my worldview and fueling my creative endeavors. Through enriching courses offered by the core curriculum, I was equipped with academic knowledge and instilled with a profound desire to explore the world from unconventional angles.”
Sadeq Alkhoori, UAE
MFA in filmmaking as a Fulbright Scholar at Maryland Institute College of Art
75% of NYUAD graduates pursuing further education received multiple admissions offers.
University of Oxford, MSc, Economics for Development | Max Planck Institute, PhD, Neuroscience | University of the Arts London, MA, Film | University of Pennsylvania, JD, Law | University of Cambridge, PhD, Immunology | École Polytechnique, PhD, Physics | Harvard University, MA, Human Development and Education | University of Chicago, PhD, Astronomy and Astrophysics | Brown University, PhD, Sociology | Sciences Po, Master in Marketing, New Luxury & Art de Vivre | University of San Diego, PhD, Chemical and Biological Sciences | Northwestern University, MSc, Journalism | University of California Berkeley, MSc, Civil and Environmental Engineering | London School of Economics and Political Science, MSc, Political Science | Yale University, MSc, Computer Science | Tokyo University of the Arts, MFA, Global Art Practice
Dimitrios Mastrogiannis
Current Occupation: Co-Founder & Builder @ AionTech
Location: Athens, Greece
"My Electrical Engineering degree at NYUAD provided me with the sound technical background needed to understand the changes and evolutions of technology, but most importantly it helped me develop a critical-thinking and problem-solving mindset. As a Co-Founder and Builder at AionTech, problem-solving is the skill that I put to the test everyday. I was always the person reading the tech articles and wanting to understand how the greatest and latest piece of tech worked. My experiences at NYUAD helped me realize that nothing is impossible and with hard work and a plan, everything can be achieved."
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