Video-recorded session with Brett Hegeer, former NYUAD Program Coordinator and Special Assistant to the Provost; and Nils Lewis, NYUAD Program Coordinator then Manager of Faculty and Student Programs for the NYUAD Institute. Conducted by Ilka Datig, Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library, as well as Tamu Al Islam, Director of Human Resources Services, Strategy and Engagement.

Nils and Brett describe their journey in the coordination of NYU Abu Dhabi as recent graduates and younger members of the team. They describe work on important projects like the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Scholars Program and the NYUAD Institute. The former gave them an opportunity to meet leaders in the political field and engage with Emirati students. For the Institute, they recall conducting extensive outreach to the community which was done manually throughout the city of Abu Dhabi at beaches and other locations. They also mention the importance of a connected Arab diaspora and Arab networks to sustaining the relationship between the Institute and the community. Many other instances also required a very hands-on approach on their part whether that was writing welcome cards for visitors or setting up the stage for a particular event. The pair also played the role of hosts to many groups and individuals who visited the institution as part of the recruitment process or for other programs. They discuss the adventures of learning to live in Abu Dhabi, experiencing the environment, local culture, religion and locating necessary spaces such as laundromats and supermarkets.

Video-recorded session with Jordan Schulze, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this session, Jordan Schulze shares his experience of applying to NYUAD while primarily planning to join the U.S. Air Force Academy. He reflects on the overarching feelings of excitement and nervousness before leaving the U.S. for the first time for the Candidate Weekend. Jordan reflects on his experience of seeing the yet unfinished dormitory rooms at Sama Tower and getting to know other students at breakfasts and while studying at the Library. He views the first sports victory of NYUAD and the first rain experience in the U.A.E. as important social events that helped to bring the student body together. Jordan reflects on his exploration of different academic areas and finding his own academic path in spite of the pressure from his family. He shares his experiences of participating in the university's first student production theater show, working as the Assistant Director for Rubén Polendo, interning at the Lincoln Center in New York and being a part of the RealAD Show. He talks about his academic experiences in relation to the courses he took and the class trips he went on. Jordan also discusses the specificities and difficulties of theater production in Abu Dhabi.

Video-recorded session with Claudia (Patricia) Carrasco Valdich, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this session, Claudia describes her journey from the application process to her final days as a member of the Class of 2014. She includes her initial introduction to NYUAD, first impressions of the school and the cultural novelties and impressions of the city of Abu Dhabi. Claudia also discusses the various difficulties she experienced in this new and diverse environment, unforgettable moments with her schoolmates, especially with the RealAD show and with Dragon boating, and how she began to feel a changing sense of community.

Video-recorded session with Emily Eagen, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Emily Eagen shares her story of applying to New York University Abu Dhabi and her Candidate Weekend experience. She shares a number of anecdotes related to her first days on campus, such as being afraid of leaving the Sama Tower residence, even to do grocery shopping, or feeling nervous about meeting her roommate, who was from a different personal and religious background. Emily recounts her first few weeks on campus filled with excitement and social events but also feeling stressed and homesick later in the first semester. She shares her positive first impressions of the city and reflects on the difficulties she faced in Abu Dhabi, mainly the dress code and the uncomfortable feeling caused by people's stares. Emily shares her experience of starting an informal Christian group on campus and participating in interreligious dialogues, which later grew to become the Interfaith Committee at NYUAD. She shares her concerns with the competitiveness of the University and the mental health of the students, especially with the suicidal inclinations among the student body. She then reflects on the Facebook arguments as being emblematic of the contemporary NYUAD, shares her experiences of participating in the RealAD Show and welcoming the freshman students to the community.

Video-recorded session with Mohammed Omar, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 student and 2011/2014 Student Body President at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Mohammed Omar reflects on his time at NYU Abu Dhabi as he gets closer to graduation. He posits the idea that the student body is formed of two dichotomous groups - those who are accustomed to an international environment and those who had their first international experience at NYUAD. He also touches on his relationship to Abu Dhabi city as he began to explore the physical environment and appreciate its cosmopolitan nature. Omar's experience with community-building at NYUAD as well as within the Global Network of Universities is also important as he was a two-time Student Body President. He discusses the connections he was able to make at a personal level through his friendships, on an administrative level with faculty and staff, and up to the global level.

Viedo-recorded session with Charlotte Wang, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this session, Charlotte Wang shares her story of applying to and receiving an acceptance letter from NYU Abu Dhabi. She recalls her first impressions of Abu Dhabi, her Candidate Weekend experience, and her first day on campus, including meeting her roommates and being sleep deprived. Charlotte gives an overview of her first semester at NYUAD, reflects on the courses she took (Becoming Human; Chinese Language course; Economics; Foundations of the Modern Social Thought taught by Ivan Szelenyi) and reminisces about little things in her student life that she found exciting in her yearly student years (such as having sandwiches from plastic boxes for lunch). She offers her description of the school's physical environment (unoccupied spaces, specific hallway smell). Charlotte talks about her proudest accomplishments, including engaging with the community through the initiatives of ADvocacy and Ecoherence and writing her Capstone project. She also shares the difficulties and opportunities of community building in the early years of the university and advises future students to avoid the segmentation of the student body.

Video-recorded session with Ramesh Jagannathan, former Associate Dean of Engineering, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Ramesh Jagannathan describes his NYU Abu Dhabi journey as a major career and life shift from the corporate world. He talks about developing the engineering program at the University after working closely with colleagues at NYU in New York. He mentions what it means to be a global leader, and both the university's and his role in creating global leaders through the provision of resources for the former, and course creation and mentorship of bright minds in his case. He also touches on the academic difficulties of having a diverse student body with regard to their approach to learning, English proficiency and other factors which affect the standardisation of learning while also contributing to the success of the institution. He reflects on the growth he has seen in the University and in Abu Dhabi generally, moving from undersupplied laboratories to being at the forefront of research in the region, as an exercise in adaptability of the school's leaders and students.

Video-recorded session with John Burt, Associate Professor of Biology at NYUAD,by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, John Burt reflects on his participation in the early days of NYUAD starting from 2009. He shares his impressions of Abu Dhabi and compares life in the downtown and in the outskirts of the city. John Burt reflects on the role of the UAE in his research in marine biology and ecology. He also shares the challenges of conducting research and teaching science in the early days of NYUAD, when the labs were situated in converted office space, later known as the Center for Science and Engineering. He talks about his participation in the admission of the first students, whom he describes as "dynamic" and "engaging". He shares his experience of teaching a class on Desert Ecology to the non-science-majors, in particular, conducting fieldwork in the desert in September. He takes pride in the growth of the students and brings an example in the person of Bethany Kolody, who started with the aforementioned class for non-majors but then excelled in natural sciences. John Burt shares a lot of excitement about relocating to the Saadiyat campus.

Video-recorded session with Joshua Shirley, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Joshua Shirley reflects on his experience at NYU Abu Dhabi as part of the inaugural class. He talks about the process of getting to know his classmates from Candidate Weekend to graduation, as well as the process of learning about Abu Dhabi and its communities. Joshua mentions the groundwork done by himself and his classmates with regard to building mental health resources, Student Interest Groups, Athletics groups, networking and volunteering opportunities. Challenges at the university included the ever-changing academic policy, mental health, maintaining relationships across cultural contexts and the lack of anonymity in the community. His dearest memories include visiting Ethiopia with the football team, participating in the Yas Triathlon and the first open mic event.

Video-recorded session with Nicole Lopez del Carril, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this session, Nicole Lopez del Carril shares the story of her application process to NYU Abu Dhabi, including her experience of finding out about the university and visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time during the Candidate Weekend in 2009. She recounts her first impressions of the city and the difficulties associated with being the first generation of students at NYU Abu Dhabi, such as navigating the city and finding common grounds in building the community, including the creation of the Student Government Constitution. Nicole talks about her experience of engaging with the wider Abu Dhabi community through different initiatives, such as volunteering with ADvocacy and contributing to the Gazelle newspaper as a founding writer. She also reflects on the rapid change of Abu Dhabi, memory preservation in the UAE, student agency in the sphere of human rights in the country, and expresses her concern that different aspects of the community might get lost as a result of moving the university to Saadiyat Island.

Video-recorded session with Ruben Polendo, Executive Director of the Arts and Director of the Theater Program at NYU Abu Dhabi at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Ruben Polendo shares his first impressions of the Downtown Campus, including the challenges of teaching in the unfinished space. He recounts his expectations and first impressions of the first NYUAD students. Polendo shares the stories of multiple theater productions and their performances, such as CHAOS and The Ramayana. He discusses the challenges to the theater production in Abu Dhabi, such as the lack of equipment and the complicated relationship between the citizens and this type of art. He also reflects on the role of NYUAD in popularizing and transforming of the "theatrical ecosystem" in Abu Dhabi over the years, and the theater's power to bring together people from different backgrounds. In addition, he discusses the relationship between the city of Abu Dhabi and an artist, reflecting on the topics of inspiration, authenticity, and curiosity, as well as on the transformation of his own students over the years.

Video-recorded session with Yannick Trapman O'Brien, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Yannick Trapman-O'Brien reflects on his time at NYU Abu Dhabi in his final semester. He speaks about the tension involved in his decision to attend the university instead of his dream school, Candidate Weekend being the event to sway his choice. The adjustments to a new city and lifestyle are important to him, especially experiencing the growing pains of the new university which often involved poor facilities like plumbing and dining. He mentions his complicated relationship with the city and the UAE as a whole because of the weather, differing perspectives on labour issues and volunteering, as well as the fast pace of growth. He says that moments of connection including community open mic events, thanksgiving celebrations and dancing in the rain were able to ease his difficult experience at the university.

Video-recorded session with Musbah Dilsebo, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Musbah Dilsebo reflects on his time at NYUAD in his final semester at the university. He talks about Candidate Weekend with the desert trip and camel-riding being the most memorable events. His introduction to the University entailed feelings of culture shock especially in the student-professor relationship and highly demanding classes. He offers insight to the beginnings of NYUAD Athletics as they formed a collegiate soccer team which Musbah fondly remembers brought major attention to him from the student body. He mentions the difficulties of writing, homesickness and becoming used to having academic weaknesses. The inaugural student government constitution, which Musbah helped to draft, is mentioned alongside the importance of the student body and NYUAD as an institution for the future of global education.

Video-recorded session with Amani Alsaeid, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview Amani talks about the difficulties and high points of her time at NYU Abu Dhabi. Her challenges included choosing a film major while she was expected to follow a different academic path as well as adapting to her new diverse environment, although she appreciated her ability to travel within her program, the close contact with administrators and professors, and other opportunities. The process of advocating for a space for women's only athletics including a gym and fitness classes, one which she spearheaded, is part of her legacy at the University.

Video-recorded session with Alistair Blacklock, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2014 senior student at the time of the interview, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Alistair reflects on his journey at NYU Abu Dhabi from a similar international high school experience. At the University, he became heavily interested in environmentalism and creative writing, and founded the university's independent student-led publication, The Gazelle. His challenges included adjusting to the large amounts of money spent at the institution, the culture of NYU Abu Dhabi exceptionalism, and the relationship between the University and the government. He notes the changing city landscape as Abu Dhabi had just begun to develop, alongside the ever-changing composition of the University as new faculty and students joined.

Video-recorded session with Matthew Silverstein, who at the time of the interview was Assistant Professor of Philosophy, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Silverstein discusses his early years as the first standing faculty member hired at NYU Abu Dhabi, with special interest on the pedagogical, physical, and intellectual challenges of setting up the University. While emphasizing the importance and intimacy of relationships between faculty and with students during the early days. the interview concludes with Silverstein's message for future students, faculty, and staff: we did our best.

Video-recorded session with John Sexton, President of New York University, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

John begins this interview by describing the evolution of the Global Network University (GNU) from GNU 1.0 which saw the incorporation of sites like NYU Madrid and Paris, through GNU 5.0 which he sees as the full integration of the NYU organic circulatory system, as a connected community rather than an accumulation of multinational sites. He describes his first majlis meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed which lasted much longer than the planned 15 minutes, and began the inception of NYU Abu Dhabi as a full portal campus rather than a study away site. Noteworthy is the importance of the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program to the development of the institution in Abu Dhabi. John describes the Institute as a program of conferences which ultimately stimulated intellectual life in the Abu Dhabi community and gave world-class academics an introduction to the city. The latter led to the local community's trust in the NYUAD project and illustrated the team's commitment to the success of the institution. He touches on memorable points like navigating cultural difference, the first Candidate Weekend, and the changing nature of meetings with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and Albert Bloom, the first Vice-Chancellor of NYUAD.

[*Split into two separate interviews, to facilitate a break.]

Video-recorded session with Associate Professor of Psychology PJ Henry by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Associate Professor PJ Henry recounts his journey coming to work at NYU Abu Dhabi. Focusing on his initial trepidation at the great risk of joining the NYUAD experiment, Henry shares how he fell in love with the school's vision, and uprooted the lives of him and his partner to be a part of it. He discusses challenges adjusting to the smaller, more relational teaching environment, conducting psychological research in the UAE, and adapting to the rapidly evolving institutional environment. Henry traces how he has grown as an instructor through several key moments in his first few classes and looks to the future of what NYUAD can become in light of his experience.

Video-recorded session with Yousif Asfour, former Chief Information Officer then Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Yousif Asfour, who began his journey with NYU Abu Dhabi as Chief Information Officer, talks about his role in getting the University off the ground in its early stages. He discusses extensively the interface between NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU in New York - the assuredness of building off their model and the challenges of modifying that model to the Abu Dhabi context, for example with networking, which is more difficult and expensive in the UAE. He also mentions the challenges of working two shifts, one in the morning with the Abu Dhabi team, then at night with his New York contacts. Yousif talks about the obstacles with the establishment of the campus which included problems with contractors, setting up the IT infrastructure and negotiating with the government with regard to academic freedom. The IT system was the main focus of his responsibilities including the recruitment of staff, and setting up operations at the Downtown Campus and the new Saadiyat Campus.

Video-recorded session with Praveen Kumar, Associate Project Director for Planning, Delivery, and Transition for the Saadiyat Campus, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Praveen Kumar shares anecdotes from his time as the Project Director of Planning, Delivery and Transition to the Saadiyat Campus. While skeptical about branching out from his corporate commercial environment, Kumar recounts how he came to lead the provision of NYU Abu Dhabi's physical spaces. From setting up the Center for Science and Engineering in Mussafah to the delivery of the Saadiyat campus, Kumar traces his journey with the University, focusing on the technical challenges overcome, and the relationships forged. Kumar in particular highlights his friendships with Michael Davis and Hilary Ballon as central to his relationship with NYU Abu Dhabi. Proud of the last five years, Kumar trusts his personal and professional investment in NYU Abu Dhabi will yield transformative dividends.

Video-recorded session with Hilary Ballon, former Deputy Vice Chancellor of NYU Abu Dhabi, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Hilary reflects on her role in the conceptualisation and development of NYU Abu Dhabi as a pioneer of the institution. The inception of the university was based on core principles which included the fostering of an organic connection between the New York and Abu Dhabi campuses, becoming a leader of university education in the region, and forging a deep connection with the Abu Dhabi community. Hilary describes the 'giant leaps' of constructing the Downtown Campus, and later the Saadiyat campus, both of which signified the importance of growth, change and adaptability to the life of NYU Abu Dhabi. Notable challenges included the initial recruitment of impressive and qualified faculty to this startup university, as well as making strong connections with the Emirati community. Both of these hurdles were quickly overcome as world-class faculty became a magnet for others, and the early participants of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program became ambassadors for the University. Hilary fondly remembers her first Candidate Weekend, with speeches by John Sexton and a first cohort that was a microcosm of the world. Her interview ends with a look forward to the growth of the community in the years to come, shaping NYU and Abu Dhabi.

Jennifer reflects on her time at NYU Abu Dhabi which started with her position as an academic coach to the first cohort of students in 2010. She remembers her initial impression of Abu Dhabi which include remarks on the weather, the nightlife, and her first experience with Ramadan. As part of the first set of staff at the institution, Jennifer was part of a small dedicated team which led a small community who all lived together in Sama Tower. One challenge of her position was creating a balance between professional boundaries and tight-knit relationships with the students, as she was so close in age to them.

Video-recorded session with Tamu Al-Islam, former Director of Human Resources Services, Strategy and Engagement, by Ilka Datig, former Reference and Research Librarian, NYUAD Library.

Tamu Al-Islam describes her journey from the administration of NYU, in New York, to NYUAD, as the latter was conceptualised. Her introduction to NYU's initial interest in Abu Dhabi was through the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Scholars Program which she helped to bring to its current level of prestige. Tamu talks of the early days of the institution when the support within the team was integral to maintaining focus and camaraderie, as well as beginning to understand and experience the city. Points of contention among the team included dealing with the lack of infrastructure, becoming acquainted with local practices different to one's own and the relationship between NYU and the Abu Dhabi campus. Tamu also refers extensively to the growth of NYU Abu Dhabi from what she calls a startup to its stage in 2014, moving to the Downtown Campus, the interaction of students and faculty, growing school population and substantial academic preparation which has contributed to the continued development of the school.