Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) welcomed its largest and most diverse class— the Class of 2025— which will join a community that spans the globe, representing nearly 60 nationalities.
"These new students represent many cultures and languages, and along with the 12 classes before them," NU-Q dean and CEO Marwan M Kraidy said.
Among the more than 130 students making up the class, many from nations and cultural backgrounds represented for the first time at NU-Q, are students with a wide array of unique talents and interests.
Sara Mozafari is a rising star violinist and the first student from Serbia to join NU-Q.
Mozafari says that she has always been inspired by the composer John Williams and his ability to tell stories through his music. She plans to study the science of storytelling at NU-Q to better understand how her music can have an impact similar to Williams.
“As someone who is half Serbian and half Iranian, my cultural background has always been part of my identity as an international violinist,” Mozafari said. “Listening to the work of John Williams really inspired me to apply to NU-Q so I can understand how to use my passion for playing the violin to tell stories of identity and belonging.”
For Fatema Janahi, a Bahraini who grew up in Qatar, her interest in majoring in communication developed after attending a NU-Q summer programme that made her realise the role of mass media in contributing to the region's development.
“Media is not only about writing an article or making a film, she said, “ (but it is also) about making an impact, and I really hope that, as Northwestern students, we can make an impact in our countries through our work,” she added.
Born and raised in the US, Yousef Abdul Fattah decided to study media in the Middle East to connect with the region where his family lived and to contribute to changing how the Arab world is represented in the US media. “For me,” he said, “studying at NU-Q was the perfect choice was because I wanted to fully connect with the region, so I can try to correct how we are portrayed in Western media.”
Another member of the new class is Lebanese-Colombian debater Fairuz Isaa, whose upbringing between Colombia, Venezuela, and Qatar made her aware of the power of storytelling in bridging cultural gaps. For Issa, who plans to major in journalism and pursue courses in social sciences, studying at NU-Q is a gateway to building global connections and to promoting understanding across cultures and differences.
In welcoming the new class to the school, Alex Schultes, NU-Q’s assistant dean for the student experience, said the diverse views and experiences that the new students bring will help enrich campus life and enhance learning opportunities for all community members.
Among the more than 130 students making up the class, many from nations and cultural backgrounds represented for the first time at NU-Q, are students with a wide array of unique talents and interests.
Sara Mozafari is a rising star violinist and the first student from Serbia to join NU-Q.
Mozafari says that she has always been inspired by the composer John Williams and his ability to tell stories through his music. She plans to study the science of storytelling at NU-Q to better understand how her music can have an impact similar to Williams.
“As someone who is half Serbian and half Iranian, my cultural background has always been part of my identity as an international violinist,” Mozafari said. “Listening to the work of John Williams really inspired me to apply to NU-Q so I can understand how to use my passion for playing the violin to tell stories of identity and belonging.”
For Fatema Janahi, a Bahraini who grew up in Qatar, her interest in majoring in communication developed after attending a NU-Q summer programme that made her realise the role of mass media in contributing to the region's development.
“Media is not only about writing an article or making a film, she said, “ (but it is also) about making an impact, and I really hope that, as Northwestern students, we can make an impact in our countries through our work,” she added.
Born and raised in the US, Yousef Abdul Fattah decided to study media in the Middle East to connect with the region where his family lived and to contribute to changing how the Arab world is represented in the US media. “For me,” he said, “studying at NU-Q was the perfect choice was because I wanted to fully connect with the region, so I can try to correct how we are portrayed in Western media.”
Another member of the new class is Lebanese-Colombian debater Fairuz Isaa, whose upbringing between Colombia, Venezuela, and Qatar made her aware of the power of storytelling in bridging cultural gaps. For Issa, who plans to major in journalism and pursue courses in social sciences, studying at NU-Q is a gateway to building global connections and to promoting understanding across cultures and differences.
In welcoming the new class to the school, Alex Schultes, NU-Q’s assistant dean for the student experience, said the diverse views and experiences that the new students bring will help enrich campus life and enhance learning opportunities for all community members.