Women and STEM Education in Egypt and the US: Stepping into a Man's World of Science and Technology

Yasmeen El-Ghazaly

Adjunct Faculty and Assistant Director, AUC’s the Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies & Research (CASAR)

Yasmeen El-Ghazaly is currently an Adjunct Faculty and the Assistant Director of the Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) at the American University in Cairo (AUC). Mrs. El-Ghazaly earned her MA from the Cynthia Nelson Center for Gender and Women’s Studies at the American University in Cairo. Her areas of interest reside in comparing various global feminist perspectives in addition to discussing the implications of the non-secular social discourses governing women's lives in Egypt. She has numerous publications in various journals to date including Wiley-Blackwell.

Dr. Ana Lichtenberger

US Fulbright Scholar and AUC’s SSE Adjunct Professor

Ana M Lichtenberger holds a professor of biology position at Barry University, in Miami Shores, Florida in the Unites States.  During her current sabbatical, she is teaching and doing research as a Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor at the American University in Cairo in the Department of Biotechnology.  She received her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Miami, Florida in 2000, which she attended as a MARC pre-doctoral Fellow. 

Dr. Hanadi Salem

Professor and Chairperson of AUC’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Chair of the University Senate

Hanadi A. G. Salem. is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is the chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department since July 1, 2020. She is the elected Chair of the University Senate since fall 2020. She received her BSc and MSc degrees in Materials Science and Engineering, AUC, 1983, 87 and received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, TX,1997. Salem joined the Mechanical Engineering department at AUC as the first full time Assistant Professor, 1999 and was the first tenured female faculty in Engineering Departments at the School of Sciences and Engineering, AUC, 2005. She was promoted to a full professor rank in 2010. Salem served the University Senate as Vice-Chair, 2019, Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee of the Senate since 2017-2020. Salem is the founder of the Nanotechnology Master’s Program at AUC, 2010, and has served as the Program Director for five years since September 2010. She is one of the three founders of the Youssef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center (YJSTRC) in 2003 and was the Associate Director for Fund Raising and External Funding at the Center, November 2007-2008. Dr. Salem is a co-founder of the Ph.D. Program in Applied Sciences and Engineering fall 2011 and a co-founder of the Biotechnology Master’s Program, 2008.

May Salama

CEO of ‘Mai the Mechanic’

May Salama, a trailblazing graduate from the Faculty of Engineering, Shobra, Banha University with a major in Mechanical Engineering (class of 2006), has shattered gender norms as one of Egypt’s pioneering female car mechanics. Her passion for automobiles drives her to provide top-notch car maintenance and repair services, along with engaging workshop sessions at her very own workshop in Gisr El-swis. Mai’s remarkable achievement lies in being the sole female owner of a car mechanics workshop in an area traditionally dominated by men. Her dedication and expertise are an inspiration to all!