Remote Interviews with NYUAD Community Members, April 2020 - July 2021, inclusive

Video-recorded session with Executive Artistic Director Bill Bragin and Director of Artistic Planning, Linsey Bostwick, of the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center. The session was recorded via Zoom on April 16, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the NYUAD Library's Memory Project. Recordings and transcripts are preserved in the NYUAD University Archives.

In this interview, Bragin and Bostwick discuss the origins of the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center, their role in growing the program, and the particular tradition of artist community meals. Building their respective experiences running performing venues and working with talent, Bragin and Bostwick sought to help shape the UAE art scene to center on the experience of the artist, even as much of the industry focuses on the audience. Through the community meals, they have sought to break through the superficiality of the standard visiting artist experience and build an intimate, community centered moment that forges new relationships and links artists to NYU Abu Dhabi, and the UAE as a whole. Sharing several anecdotes of interactions from the past five years, they offer a glimpse into the moments that make the community meals special. Despite the many challenges of the event, Bragin and Bostwick discuss its integral role in the Arts Center's mission and how to keep it a priority in the coming years.

Video-recorded session with NYUAD students Malak Abdel-Ghaffar, Sara Pan Algarra, Alicja Borzyszkowska, and Ian Hoyt, recorded on Thursday, May 7, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project. Recordings and transcripts are preserved in the NYUAD University Archives.

In this interview, NYUAD students Malak Abdel-Ghaffar, Sara Pan Algarra, Alicja Borzyszkowska, and Ian Hoyt reflect on their experiences as parts of the Student Interest Group (SIG) ElevatED, and in particular about their recent project: the children's book 'Where Is Our Home?' They tell the stories behind their involvement with ElevatED and the book in particular. They also share the process behind the book, such as brainstorming for ideas on the train in Turkey or drafting the book at Starbucks. They reflect on their first reactions to the printed book, and the obstacles they had to overcome to complete the project.

Video-recorded session with Peter Dicce, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Athletics, recorded on June 2, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project. Recordings and transcripts are preserved in the NYUAD University Archives. Coach Peter Dicce reflects on his journey to NYU Abu Dhabi, from practicing law in the United States, to leading the Department of Athletics in NYUAD. He talks about building the department from a few students and informal teams, to getting uniforms, and then later becoming leaders in collegiate sports in the country. A major reason for this success comes from a concerted effort to create and build a community among students, coaches, and administrators, which was achieved through creating traditions and breaking down gender or social barriers. He describes the enjoyable process of creating more friendly competition and interaction through ADISL [Abu Dhabi Inter-University Sports League], as well as creating a logo and mascot for NYUAD, both of which encouraged neighbouring schools to participate. Coach Dicce fondly remembers the origins of many traditions such as the Sports Majlis, the semesterly Falcon Feast, Interclasico, and Defend the Nest.

Video-recorded session with Pantelis Demetriou, Instructor of Mechanical Engineering; Eyob Mengiste, Instructor of Civil Engineering; and Aicha Zekar, Associate Instructor of Civil Engineering, recorded on 2 July, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.

Aicha reflects on her journey at NYUAD after joining the institution in 2016 alongside Eyob and Pantelis who were both part of the Global Academic Fellow (GAF) Program and are now instructors. Due to the nature of their instructor role, they describe their interesting experiences leading labs and creating experiments, which Eyob and Pantelis state have become more innovative since 2014. Aicha touches on the role of class size in forging closer connections with her students, which is also reflected in the wider community as they observe that there is a close-knit community amongst the instructors across departments, and between them and NYUAD's contracted staff, for example. Eyob and Pantelis describe their experiences in the GAF Program, which provided close communication channels between themselves and students, as well as inter-departmental connections. Additionally, they praise the J-term courses and the Engineers for Social Impact (EFSI) program for facilitating academic and personal growth through travel and opportunities to connect with many different types of people.

Video-recorded session with Phillip Panicker, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of Engineering Academic Laboratories at NYUAD, recorded on 7 July, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library.

In this interview, Phillip Panicker discusses the early days of the Engineering program, the transition to the Saadiyat Campus, and the development of the Engineering for Social Impact (EFSI) program. Having grown up in the UAE, Panicker discusses his engineering background and how he became involved in logistics and teaching at NYUAD'S Center for Science and Engineering in Mussafah. He discusses the study projects, social experiences, and dining options available for those in the early Engineering program, and how they transitioned into wider traditions. He recounts the journey of NYUAD from an unimpressive and unknown program, to a hallmark institution of the city. The final half of the interview focuses on the development of the EFSI program. Proud of what the program has become, Panicker discusses its values, logistics, and evolution as realized by students, faculty, and staff.

Video-recorded session with Jim McGrath, Manager for Community Sports and Campus Recreation, recorded on 8 July, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Jim McGrath discusses his journey from a stay-at-home dad and volunteer flag football coach to Community Sports and Campus Recreation Manager at NYU Abu Dhabi. Recounting his first spontaneous contact with NYUAD and Wayne Young in 2012, McGrath discusses the close community of the early DTC along with the many challenges establishing an athletics program without its own venues in the UAE. Centering the student experience and the role of athletics in the NYUAD community, McGrath shares humorous and exciting memories that highlight the inclusivity and spontaneity of student involvement. The later portions of the interview focus on NYUAD's role in building the inter-collegiate athletics scene in the UAE with a special emphasis on increasing the opportunities for female athletics not just within NYUAD, but across all the schools with which NYUAD cooperates and competes. McGrath concludes the interview by sharing about the bonds he has built with his students and those the students have built with each other through the Athletics program.

Video-recorded session with Amos Katz, Lecturer and Technical Manager of the Arts and Media at NYU Abu Dhabi, recorded on 8 July, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Katz discusses his history with the NYUAD Arts program, specifically through his relationship with the Equipment Center. Coming from NYU Tisch and Singapore, Katz recounts the exciting energy and "pioneering spirit" of the early years of NYUAD. He tells the stories of the many challenges of setting up the Arts program at the DTC, specifically the logistics of procuring and managing Arts equipment. The interview also touches on struggles with loneliness and the challenges of feeling integrated into the city. Katz goes on to discuss the complicated challenges involved in moving to the Saadiyat campus, building the spaces and systems that define the present day Arts program – such as the Equipment Center -- and its relationship to the Library in particular. Throughout the interview Katz makes an effort to name all the people he worked with and express gratitude towards them.

Video-recorded session with Lyne Ismail, Athletic Administration and Special Projects Coordinator, and Head Coach of the Women's Soccer Team, recorded on 21 July, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.

Lyne reflects on her journey with NYU Abu Dhabi Athletics, something she was heavily encouraged to do by Wayne Young even through the interview phase. She talks about the immense support she received from the department that felt more like a family, as she was able to attain her coaching certification while coaching the Women's Soccer Team. Her current role (at the time of the interview) is focused on the management of many traditional Athletic events like Interclasico, Falcon Feast and Defend the Nest. She was instrumental in the creation of SoccHer then leading to HerSports, which is able to connect NYU Abu Dhabi to the wider community. Overall, she is proud of the inclusion she has witnessed in sports within the region especially with regard to the Special Olympics and the popularity of women in sports.

Video-recorded session with NYUAD students Hafsa Ahmed, Vongai Mlambo, Zain Mustafa, Motoi Oyane, and Lier Qiu, recorded on Monday, 10 August 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, recent graduates and members of the Executive Board of the Student Government -- Hafsa, Vongai, Zain, Motoi and Lier -- reflect on their time at NYUAD. They each share their first impressions of the campus and their favorite memories and challenges, ranging from their Candidate Weekend experiences and birthday celebrations to J-term courses, football games and First Year Writing Seminar. They talk about their motivations and roles in Eboard and discuss their journeys as members of the StuGov. The students also talk about the biggest issues the StuGov had to face during their participation, as well as the changes they made in the community. Finally, they discuss the hardest moments of their time in the StuGov Eboard.

Video-recorded session with Zain Mustafa and Guillermo Andres Schlamp, members of the Marhaba Team at NYU Abu Dhabi, recorded on Monday, 7 September, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Zain and Guillermo reflect on their experiences as the long-term members of the Marhaba Team at NYUAD. They share their motivations behind joining the team, and their views on the goals, values, and structure of Marhaba and its role in the NYUAD community. They reflect on their personal memories in the team, and explain how Marhaba has changed over the years. At the same time, they name several Marhaba events that have stayed the same, such as Marhaba Dinner, Speed Chatting, and Talent Show. Zain and Guillermo discuss ways to encourage community-building on campus and navigating the interests of the student body and administration when welcoming first-year students.

Video-recorded session with NYUAD Dean of Engineering Samer Madanat, recorded on Tuesday, 8 September, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Madanat recounts his engineering career, integration into the NYUAD Engineering Division, and efforts to expand and refine the division for the long-term goals of the University. After discussing his relationship to the Middle East and his time at Berkley, Madanat discusses his perspectives on transportation, engineering, and how those perspectives manifested in his work at NYUAD. Discussing the Division's expansion – particularly with a focus on the creation of the Bio-Engineering program – Madanat recounts anecdotes of intradivision and interdisciplinary cooperation. Impressed by many of his students, Madanat likewise speaks highly of the undergraduates he taught.

Video-recorded session with NYUAD students Hafsa Ahmed, Vongai Mlambo, Zain Mustafa and Lier Qiu, recorded on Friday, 18 September, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

Recent graduates Hafsa, Vongai, Zain and Lier reflect on their experiences as members of the Executive Board of the Student Government during the COVID-19 pandemic. They each discuss the challenges they had to face in those unprecedented times and the issues and students' concerns they had to prioritize. Some of those include navigating their conflicting roles and interests as simultaneously students and the StuGov members, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and advocating for students while avoiding the development of their dependency on the StuGov.

Video-recorded session with Siba Siddique class of 2018, recorded on 23 October, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

Siba Siddique reflects on her time at NYU Abu Dhabi as the first class to spend all four years on the Saadiyat campus. She describes NYUAD as a tight-knit community, in which she was able to take part through her many Foundations of Science classes, her participation in the women's basketball team, Muslim Students Association and Engineers For Social Impact (EFSI) program. Siba recalls many NYUAD traditions including the midnight surprise birthday gatherings held for friends, Midnight Breakfast and the changing of the lights on the dome of the Campus Center. Even as an alumnus, the NYUAD network is strong as she is able to maintain connections with other alumni and the wider community.

Video-recorded session with Krushika Patankar Class of 2015 alumnus, recorded on 23 October, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.

Krushika details her experience with NYU Abu Dhabi, initially being hesitant about the institution after growing up in Oman, then later realising that NYUAD played a significant role in creating the person she has become. She became enthralled with the University after her experience at Candidate Weekend where she met peers from all over the world who had diverse languages and cultures. After coming to NYUAD her experiences with sharing food, her relationship with the dining hall staff and even the Sama fire, allowed her to feel a sense of belonging. Krushika became involved in many areas including the RealAD show, REACH, and Student Government. Krushika went through periods of adjustment, especially adapting to an American academic culture, and later adjusting to the move from downtown to the Saadiyat campus.

Video-recorded session with Felix Beck, Former Assistant Engineering Professor of Practice of Design, recorded on 29 November, 2020 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview Felix Beck discusses his journey to join and become progressively more integrated in NYUAD's Engineering program. In particular, Beck recounts his various projects related to teaching and exploring the field of design. Sharing stories of exciting student projects, inter-department collaborations, and artistic endeavors, Beck reflects on his time at NYUAD having recently begun a new chapter in his career before the date of recording. Beck pays particular attention to his work with plastic recycling through NYUAD's Plastic Recycling Research Lab, and creative institutional navigation in pursuit of his various enterprises. Beck concludes the interview by recalling moments in campus culture that brought him joy and meaning during his time as a campus community member.

Video-recorded session with Lorraine Adkins, Associate Director of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness at NYUAD, recorded on Wednesday, 16 December, 2020, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Lorraine Adkins tells her story of joining NYUAD and working with and for the community. She shares her first impressions of the UAE, and reflects on the peculiarities of ensuring community safety in the Downtown Campus and Sama Tower, and later in the new campus on Saadiyat Island. Adkins discusses the importance of teamwork in the Public Safety Department and shares the traditions and approaches for building a cohesive team. She also discusses the role of females in Public Safety and reflects on the University's preparedness for emergencies, which was recently tested by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Video-recorded Memory Project session with Terry May, Assistant Manager of the Equipment Center and Instructor for Camera and Lights at NYUAD, recorded on Thursday, 18 February, 2021, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Terry May reflects on his life experiences from working as an electrician in a film industry in London to shifting to Dubai and then finally joining NYU Abu Dhabi (in 2015) as an employee in a newly operated Equipment Center. He shares how he was enthusiastic about working in the film industry right from his school days and later placed for an apprenticeship at the age of 17 in one of the biggest lighting companies in London. Later due to his medical condition and a job opportunity, he and his spouse moved to Dubai. Throughout the interview, he speaks about the growth of the Equipment Center in terms of its capacity and demands for equipment with the growing numbers of students every year. He describes his roles and responsibilities of taking account of all the associated equipment, assisting in running some film, music, and interactive media classes. He also shares his working plans and actions such as organized equipment placement/ storage systems, proper barcoding, and labeling, an accessible checkout or loan system, equipment deals (purchase and exchange) with world-class brands, etc. With the expansion of the resources and accessibility of the Equipment Center, he has also hired student assistants, who are trained closely by him via workshops and practical learning. He openly embraces that he loves to train and work with fresh minds and emphasizes the significance of a conducive working environment.

Video-recorded session with members of Gazelien Records, recorded on 25 February, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.

Members of Gazelien Records describe their relationship with the University's student-led record label, and each other, which they describe as having a family-like feeling. Students and faculty from various disciplines, especially across the Arts, like Film and New Media, and Design, have been involved in the development of the label. The student and alumni members of Gazelien records describe the advantages of working with the label, which include training in multiple aspects of sound engineering, building a solid portfolio, dedicating long hours of work in the study and gaining cross-disciplinary knowledge. The interviewees mention how remote working has affected them, and affectionately recall working together on an important project before the University switched to remote learning in March.

Video-recorded session with Laura Assanmal and Kaashif Hajee (NYUAD Class of 2021), editors-in-chief of the student-led weekly publication The Gazelle, recorded on Tuesday, 2 March, 2021, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Laura and Kaashif reflect on their experiences as contributors and editors-in-chief of The Gazelle, the student-led weekly publication at NYUAD. They share their views on the goals, values, and structure of the publication and its role in the NYUAD community and beyond. They also discuss the peculiarities of journalist work in the context of the UAE and the diverse campus environment, including the issues of sensitivity, defamation, censorship, and relationship with the University administration. In particular, they reflect on the ideas and processes behind the creation of Issue 180 #BlackLivesMatter, dedicated to the discussions about race, inclusivity, and belonging on campus and beyond. Laura and Kaashif share the traditions existing in the team and reflect on how their work was impacted by COVID-19.

Video-recorded session with Matteo Marciano, Toby Tinson, Goffredo Puccetti, Ivan Budnik, Reema Kaiali and Zain Mustafa, recorded on 4 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.'

This session is a "Part 2" follow up recording with the Gazelien Records 2021 team. They discuss their experience at the record label, specifically focusing on the various projects that they have worked on before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Two main projects include their work with the Labcast, a podcast produced in collaboration with the NYU Production Lab, as well as the production of the song 'From a Balcony'. The team mentions the various ways in which they adapted to produce works even with limited equipment and space, and participants in different locations. They also refer to their connections with the studio, to community members across campuses, and to NYUAD community musicians.

Video-recorded session with Muhammad Usman, Security Officer for Public Safety, recorded on Thursday, 11 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

In this interview, Muhammad Usman reflects on his journey to NYU Abu Dhabi, from starting a job at a computer assembly store in Islamabad, Pakistan, to dropping his passion for studying and applying for G4S, learning the mandatory training and getting a position as a security officer at NYUAD -- a university he was initially drawn to because of great working conditions. He shares his story of the NYUAD interview process, working at the Downtown Campus at the CSE Lab, daily happenings (for example, handling all the keys to the doors on the campus instead of having the current master key) and the first few weeks adjusting to Arabic culture after hearing experiences from his father, uncle and cousins who worked in Saudi Arabia. Throughout the interview, he shares anecdotes that happened during his work as a security officer. Most importantly, Muhammad explains how at NYUAD, he feels respected both as a person and as an employee. He emphasizes that people are not discriminated against based on their job position, rather there is mutual respect in the NYUAD community. He adds that while working in different places on the campus, he loves working in the Library, because he gets to communicate with students through different greeting styles.

Video-recorded session with Library and IT Committee of NYUAD's Student Government (Anas Muhammad, Yaghsha Mir, Rameen Mahmood, Shehryar Hanif, and Jais Johnson Katoor) recorded on Friday, 19 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project, during a 2021 "Memory Project Week."

In this interview, the members of the Library and IT Committee start by sharing their own reasons for joining the committee - personal impact of the Library, the applicability of Library and IT elements in a remote environment, improving connectivity conditions for students, etc. Then, they reflect on their current work in the committee - from network connectivity to print services to software products, these members work on solving these concerns and providing equal opportunities for all students - and the future plans in terms of programming and organizing events. The Library and IT Committee members later explain their challenges with working in a remote environment and how they overcame these for themselves and for others through their work in the committee. Lastly, the members highlight how the work they do feels more important than ever because with online classes and other activities, with time, students are realizing the full potential of the internet to their benefit, and that the role of the committee is to aid every student in their remote journey to make a more accessible environment for all.

Video-recorded session with Mbiko Mayaka, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2023, recorded on Saturday, 20 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project, during a 2021 "Memory Project Week."

Mbiko Mayaka, NYUAD Class of 2023 from Zambia, Social Research and Public Policy major, shares details about her life before coming to NYUAD and after. Mbiko learned about NYUAD through a former student of the American International School who also studied at the NYUAD. By attending the American International School, Mbiko learned the importance of intercultural communication. Mbiko shares how bringing her experiences from home enabled her to draw connections between NYUAD and home. She talks about different cultural celebrations - Afrofest and Diwali, the classes she has taken - Khaleeji Music, Cultural Appropriation, Street Food, Arab music, Art of the Personal Essay, as well as kayaking, going to the beach, going into the city, trying different cuisines, and how her entire experience is a highlight. Focusing on the present moment enabled Mbiko to make the most out of her experience at the University.

Video-recorded session with Jonathan Lee and Nurpeiis Baimukan, NYU Abu Dhabi Class of 2021 and Jagged founders, recorded on Saturday, 20 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Librarian for Archives and Special Collections atNYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project, during a 2021 "Memory Project Week."

In this session, Nurpeiis and Jonathan talk about their first impressions of NYU Abu Dhabi, what inspired them to start Jagged, the importance of mentorship in their lives, and participation in the StartAD competition. Jagged is an online platform that matches high school students with mentors that are from university. Initially, it started off as a mentorship program in Kazakhstan and Malaysia. Nurpeiis mentions how attending Nazarbayev Intellectual School and completing the IB program shaped his personality, and after coming to NYUAD, he wanted to give back to the community. After his sophomore year, Nurpeiis and his friends, fellow students from Kazakhstan, started an Izbasar mentorship program. Jonathan also shares Nurpeiis' sentiments, and after seeing the success of the mentorship program with 20 paired mentors and mentees in Kazakhstan, they expanded the program to Malaysia and renamed it to Jagged. Together with their friends, Alex Edwards and Dhabia Al Mansoori, the team pitched their idea at StartAD and NYU New York Venture competitions and also received funding from Sandooq Al Watan. Currently they have launched their first app on the App Store and developed a Jagged podcast.

Video-recorded session with Robert Titus, Director of the Department of Public Safety, and Norca Vincent, Assistant Director, recorded on Wednesday, 24 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

Robert Titus and Norca Vincent explain their journey to NYUAD and to the UAE -- the transition from New York, new experiences in Abu Dhabi, trips to the other Emirates, and their responsibilities in the Department of Public Safety. Both Robert and Norca explain how they adjusted to the NYUAD and UAE culture. They elaborate on the first few months of the outset of NYUAD -- they use the metaphor of a blank canvas -- highlighting the journey of Sama Tower and the first NYUAD campus, and integrating the staff workers. They talk about community adaptation both after the Sama fire, and in building stronger relationships with the people employed by the Department. Lastly, both Norca and Robert discuss the firsts -- first Candidate Weekend, first class, first Marhaba and more, as well as how the sense of community was built. Lastly, as most important milestones throughout the years, Norca reflects on the efforts of the NYUAD administration to include more African American and Latino contract staff, permanent employees, professors, while Robert reflects on collective work to enlarge the capacities to fit within the frame of the bigger Saadiyat Campus.

Video-recorded session with Alex Ko, Emília Vieira Branco, Jakub Jurkovic, Lucas Davidenco and Dino Kolonić, members of the Anchorage E-Board, recorded on 26 March, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

Four members of the Anchorage E-Board discuss their individual journeys with Anchorage, as well as the role of the SIG in the NYUAD community. They describe important events that they have held over Zoom such as Spooky Speed Dating, as well as long-standing events such as the Family Dinner. With some emotion, they discuss a moment of tension in the community when an article was published in the school newspaper The Gazelle. The team also reflects on the future, including the future role of Anchorage in the community and changes in the UAE.

Video-recorded Memory Project session with NYUAD students Tori Mondello and Morgane Motlik, recorded on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, and facilitated by Mate Hekfusz, a NYUAD student. Conducted and self-submitted to be added to The Memory Project collection.

In this interview, three friends (classmates) are sharing their NYUAD journey and campus experiences. Firstly, they start by sharing how they met each other, their Marhaba experiences and adjustment to campus life. Then, they speak about their engagements outside class: including SIGs, volunteering, assistantships, and birthdays. They share anecdotes about choosing NYUAD and their instantaneous family support/response. Mate and Morgane also talk about their schooling and their concern about their English accent, which they realize, it's not really a problem at NYUAD. Also, they talk about their off-campus travel, and assignment pressures. They also express their optimism for their senior year and their future career plans. They conclude on a message from the future to one another.

Video-recorded session with Katarina Holtzapple, Zhong (Zack) Chen, Jay Lee, Simran Motiani, Kamel Alsharif, REACH members, recorded on Tuesday, 27 April, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of the Memory Project.

REACH stands for Raising Empowered Advocates for Community Health, and was founded by Kamel Alsharif, Annalisa Galgano, and Eliza T. in 2015 under the supervision of Tina Wadhwa (Student Success and Well Being). In 2015, Kamel Alsharif, Class of 2017, noticed that there were not enough mental health support services for students (no professional counselors at the Health and Wellness Center), and following the mentality "See something - say something", he started REACH together with his friends. While REACH has an element of SIG (Student Interest Group) to it, such as students having interest in supporting mental health development, it exists outside of the SIG framework. The recruitment process for REACH members has changed and evolved over time, as well as the number of students who want to join REACH. REACH members take up different roles, including but not limited to: The Nook (peer-counseling service), social media (looking over social media accounts), treasurer (managing the budget), leading the group (training students). REACH is unique to NYU Abu Dhabi, and has played an integral role in debunking stereotypes about mental health. REACH also organizes so-called "legacy" events yearly, such as ordering banana pudding or bubble tea for the entire community, and hosting Doggy De-Stress. The nature of the event changes based on the health and safety regulations. Katarina Holtzapple, Class of 2020, also notes how the demographics among the REACH members has evolved over time, with more students from different backgrounds, such as Computer Science, joining the team.

Video-recorded session with Tina Wadhwa, Director of Student Success and Wellbeing, Annalisa Galgano, Liza Tait-Bailey, Nadeen Alalami, former REACH members, recorded on Friday, 30 April, 2021 and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Academic Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

REACH stands for Raising Empowered Advocates for Community Health, and was founded by Kamel Alsharif, Annalisa Galgano, and Eliza T. in 2015 under the supervision of Tina Wadhwa (Student Success and Well Being). This is Session 2 of 3 interview sessions about REACH.

Tina, Annalisa, Liza, and Nadeen share how they became a part of NYU Abu Dhabi, but also how they began working in REACH (Annalisa and Liza were part of the founding group for REACH). Annalisa explains how the REACH team wanted the program to have a holistic approach of student mental health and wellbeing, and then in conversation with Liza, discusses the importance of being there for one another and having the vision of starting a program. Then, Tina shares the story of the Mission and Vision activity during the conceptualization phase, and how the students were so engaged and proactive and how that activity impacted the narrative of the program for the future. Later on, everyone explains their perception of REACH's origin story - from the first few meetings and events, peer support activities and sessions, budget difficulties, low outreach, to continual progress and REACH becoming a household name. Then, all of them reflect on their mission to push for change and advocate for different things while supporting peers. Tina touches upon the skills that students acquire: validating, normalizing, refraining; also she discusses the intercept between the Health Promotion Office and REACH. Finally, everyone discusses how the impact of REACH remains with them after graduating, and that they carry REACH values with them throughout life.

Video-recorded Memory Project session with former REACH members Abdur Rehman, Dana AlHosani, Rida Zafar, and Brian Kim, recorded on Sunday, May 2, 2021, and facilitated by Lauren Kata, Assistant Librarian for Archives and Special Collections at NYUAD Library. Conducted as part of The Memory Project.

REACH stands for Raising Empowered Advocates for Community Health, and was founded by Kamel Alsharif, Annalisa Galgano, and Eliza T. in 2015 under the supervision of Tina Wadhwa (Student Success and Well Being). This is Session 3 of 3 interview sessions about REACH.

In this interview, Brian (current student) and three alumni -- Abdur Rehman, Dana AlHosani, and Rida Zafar -- share their experiences working with REACH. They start by explaining the significance and origin story of REACH. All of them restate that REACH is a student-led peer support initiative which mainly focuses on the physical and mental well-being of the community. Brian shares his experience on being a part of REACH from his freshman year. He also recalls the emergence of REACH from a limited role in the Health Promotion Office to an integral part of campus life and independent student body. Dana shares why she was intimidated to join REACH initially, but later with the help of Tina Wadhwa (from Health Promotion Office), she practiced role-playing and active listening that earned her a position in the REACH during her senior year. Rida talks about the most impressive programs of REACH; redefining success and anonymous failures in which different success and failure stories beyond academics are shared, and encourages students to look for their own successes and handle failures. Abdur talks about the other works of REACH, such as delivering Safe Alcohol Education, Sexual Misconduct, and Administrative meetings. In between, they also talk about their experience helping people with stress management, hosting Nook sessions (peer counselling) and their attachment with people both in and out of REACH.