Saifeldeen Abed Alrhman’s passion for community-building has seen him working with the University’s administration to improve accessibility and create a more inclusive and welcoming campus. 

Shortly after arriving at NYU Abu Dhabi, the PhD Fellow in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering contacted and eventually joined the Inclusion, Equity, and Action Committee to work on improving independent navigation for individuals with disabilities.  

As a certified braille transcriber, he worked with others on the Committee to improve nonvisual navigation on campus while also pursuing training in braille auditing and building accessibility guidelines. The university administration openly embraced his passion for the subject, and many of his changes have been implemented around campus over the years. 

His leadership in the field also led him to join the Graduate Students Council, which focused on fostering social cohesion among graduate community members, postdocs, and researchers. His work eventually saw him nominated as president of the committee for his community building work. 

“As a contribution towards a larger vision, we prioritized fostering stronger bonds and nurturing long-term friendships within the graduate community. To achieve this, we organized gatherings such as dinners and iftars, game nights, and cooking sessions, aiming to create a sense of belonging and mitigate feelings of homesickness,” he said. 

 

Saifeldeen exemplifies the idea of what it means to be a complete community member at NYUAD. His research is impactful and of the highest academic standards, but it's his work as a community builder that makes him stand out. His work in raising our accessibility standards is a legacy that will benefit our community for years to come.