NYU Abu Dhabi Memory Project Collection

The project began as an oral history storytelling effort to commemorate the University's 10th Anniversary, and was branded the "NYU Abu Dhabi Memory Project" in September 2019. In October 2019, the project launched a pilot effort during the University's first Alumni Weekend, which welcomed back the Class of 2014. Attendees were invited to volunteer for a 30-minute interview session with interviewers from the Archives asking questions such as first impressions of Abu Dhabi, memories of the Downtown Campus (DTC) and Sama Tower days. Alumni, faculty, and staff participated.

Subsequent interviews were recorded in partnership with a variety of individuals and groups such as the Faculty Fellows in Residence, Athletics, Student Government, the Equipment Center, and the Office of Social Responsibility. Over time, the collection has begun to include exit interviews with longtime community members, as well as origin stories with different groups on campus.

Anyone interested in understanding the NYU Abu Dhabi community -- its people, its spaces, its culture, community traditions -- will find this body of interviews valuable. The coming together of recording stories is also a meaningful activity on its own, leading to the archiving of group origin stories that will be preserved for future generations.