ISSO dean retires after 37 years at AUC
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Courtesy of Marketing and Communications Office/ Rifaat leaves big shoes to be filled |
The American University in Cairo (AUC) is looking for a new dean for the International Student Services Office (ISSO) after Tomader Rifaat, associate dean and director of international student services and programs, retired after 37 years at AUC.
There are nine AUC candidates and 23 from outside the AUC community for Rifaat’s position, said Kim Jackson, associate vice president for student life.
“The selection of the new director is going to be a thorough process because it’s a critical position to the university,” said Jackson.
The requirements for the new candidates include a university degree; a minimum of five years experience in higher education in a multicultural environment; proven ability to work successfully as part of an administrative team; excellent analytical, problem-solving and written and verbal communication skills, as well as knowledge of student development and experience providing services to college students.
The ISSO will be renamed International Student Affairs (ISA) when the university moves to the new campus in order to reflect a broader vision for the office. In addition to student services and to international student services, it’s going to play a role in creating stronger ties between AUC and universities abroad, explained Jackson.
ISA will also offer other services such as cross-cultural adjustment for students who are new comers to Cairo, a more comprehensive orientation for international students and a manual of cultural activities for each semester.
Rifaat taught Arabic at AUC for 14 years, and then joined Student Affairs as the director of housing. In 1985, she established the ISSO to serve international students at AUC.
For the past 22 years, Rifaat has assisted and advised international students as well as AUC students participating in one of the exchange programs to the United States, Europe and Japan.
“It’s a big loss, she was an institution herself, she started the office herself, and she left very big shoes to fill,” said Jackson. “Tomader [Rifaat] served AUC with passion and dedication for [almost] 40 years so her retirement is a loss to the community.”
“For the international student services at AUC, the change in leadership coincides with the shift in focus and a new campus,” added Jackson.
Dina Wafa, assistant director of ISSO, who is currently in charge of the office, said, “Tomader [Rifaat] has been working for a long time for the ISSO and she was very dedicated.”
“She was a good leader, yet I think that everything, such as orientations for example, will be more democratic because now with Dina Wafa, who is responsible until they hire a new dean. We express our opinions and ideas more,” said Aya El Sherbine, journalism and mass communications junior and a member of student orientation leaders team at the ISSO.
“We can never deny the effort that she’s made for [AUC] students and international students, and for the development of the office,” said Perihan Abu Zaid, business administration senior and a member of student orientation leaders team at the ISSO. “We are all sad she retired but I’m positive that the person who will replace her could do an amazing job and add to the youthful spirit of the office.”
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