Tribune News Network
Doha
United by their shared commitment to overcoming challenges and making a difference, Northwestern University in Qatar’s (NU-Q) new first-year and transfer students began their academic journey with the traditional march through the Weber Arch.
This symbolic moment welcomed a dynamic group of students whose diverse backgrounds and experiences reflect their collective determination to drive social change through academic excellence, storytelling and advocacy.
Admitted during one of the school’s most competitive admission cycles, the Class of 2028 represents a tapestry of experiences, ambitions and personal challenges that have shaped their academic and professional aspirations. From navigating societal stigmas, amplifying underrepresented voices, or pursuing truth amid conflict, these students have turned to Northwestern Qatar as a place where they can hone their talents and make an enduring impact.
Among the new students is Maryam Hamad Alibrahim from Qatar, whose passion for storytelling and advocacy sparked while in high school. She was inspired by her aunt’s class film project at Northwestern Qatar,which featured her.
As a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion, she seeks to use communication and film to challenge societal perceptions of disability and be the voice for “differently-abled people,” shifting narratives “from pity to understanding and acceptance.”
“My mission is to change people’s perceptions [about differently-abled people],” said Alibrahim. “My circumstance doesn’t mean I am incapable.”
Another inspiring student is Palestinian-American Falasteen Mansour, who brings a rich background of service and community engagement to Northwestern Qatar. Raised in the United States and having moved to Palestine during the pandemic, her commitment to service shines through her leadership roles as Model UN President and school magazine editor, as well as her volunteer work with marginalised farmers.
Her desire to amplify regional voices and tell the stories of her community led her to choose Northwestern Qatar, where she aspired to become a journalist and contribute to a broader understanding of the region’s complex realities.
“Growing up in an Arab family meant seeing my father watching Al Jazeera all the time,” recalled Mansour. “This shaped my interest in journalism and politics, and now that I am at NU-Q, close to my family in Palestine, I want to take advantage of the opportunities here to advocate for myself and educate people about the multiple issues of our region, the Palestinian cause in particular.”
Also joining is Mensur Semaye, an international student from Ethiopia whose passion for journalism was ignited during the Tigray War. When conflict disrupted his schooling and misinformation spread unchecked, he turned to research to seek out the truth.
This experience sparked his interest in data-driven journalism and he quickly became a leader in his high school’s journalism club.
Now at Northwestern Qatar, Semaye aims to develop his storytelling skills to shed light on underrepresented stories from his country, using journalism as a tool for truth and justice.
Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar, welcomed the new students by emphasising their potential for meaningful impact.
With students hailing from 23 countries — Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, the United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and South Africa — the Class of 2028 is poised to add to Northwestern Qatar’s vibrant community.
