NYUAD has strong ties with the Clinton family. Chelsea Clinton was an inspiring help to NYUAD in recruiting the University’s initial classes when it launched in 2010. Eight years ago, former United States President Bill Clinton honored NYUAD as keynote speaker at the inaugural Commencement ceremony in 2014. Many of the University’s students have also participated in the Clinton Global Initiative University, a program that is aligned very closely with NYUAD’s mission to engage and inspire the next generation of global leaders. NYUAD ’20 and CGIU alumna Sara Pan Algarra is also a 2021 Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Scholar.