University of Arizona and GCC-UA Alumni Host 10th Regional Reunion
In February 2023, members of the University of Arizona Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC-UA) alumni group gathered in Doha, Qatar, for their 10th regional alumni reunion. The event was attended by University of Arizona president Dr. Robert Robbins and president of higher education at the Qatar Foundation Dr. Francisco Marmolejo.
Established in 2010, the GCC-UA is one of the largest UArizona international alumni affinity groups and includes alumni, friends, and affiliates of the university from the GCC countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The GCC-UA alumni group was started in Dubai by Dr. Mohammed Sharaf (’85, Business Administration & Management). In 2010, Sharaf and three other UA alumni from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined together to reminisce about their college years in Tucson. Present were Dr. Mohammed Sharaf, Mr. Ahmed Anoohi, Mr. Sami Al Hashemi, and Mr. Abdulaziz Malik. From this small gathering, something much larger and significant emerged.
The 2023 event in Doha marked the 10th official reunion, with a record number of attendees totaling more than 200 alumni. Joining the reunion from the University of Arizona, to celebrate the auspicious milestone was President Robert Robbins, JP Jones III, dean of international education, Dr. Sonia Shiri, professor, middle east language programs coordinator and director of the Arabic flagship program, Hassan Hijazi, assistant vice president for Middle East and North African Affairs and Joanne Lagasse-Long, director of international student services.
Photo: Attendees of the 10th GCC-UA Alumni Reunion in Doha, 2023.
President Robbins praised the alumni group for their commitment saying they were like no other, “Your camaraderie and dedication to your alma mater, as well as the university, continues to inspire other Wildcat alumni around the world.”
The president’s sentiment was echoed by alumnus Sabri Al Ali ’83 from Bahrain., who commented, “The reunion reminds us of the most important thing, which is the bond that we forged with other brothers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. We were a family then and we continue to be a family today.”
Each year the reunion is held in a different location across the GCC countries providing an opportunity to showcase the host city and facilitate networking and the development of regional connections for both members and the University of Arizona.
Dr. Turki Al Rasheed ’81 from Saudi Arabia reflected on this opportunity saying, “We speak here as colleagues from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. We share, consult and help each other in any way we can. We all come from the same region and all try to support others together.”
The strong connection between the University and alumni in the region has resulted in many notable collaborations and initiatives, many accomplished in the past few years, despite the challenges of a global pandemic.
UArizona president Dr. Robbins spoke in his speech to the group about a few of these achievements. In Oman, the Million Date Palm project is establishing technical labs in local universities to foster academic exchange and joint research with the University of Arizona. While in the UAE, the University is offering online education for staff at DP World and the Emirates Group Security organization, and across the region dual degree programs are being offered and developed with partners including the Gulf Medical University in Ajman, and Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad University in Dammam.
These projects will serve to grow the alumni network even more in coming years, with all students who attended a University of Arizona program being welcome to join the GCC-UA. As such, the group has evolved to include all ranges in age from recent graduates to retirees, all of whom shared a positive learning experience and appreciation of their time and experience at the University of Arizona.
To join the GCC-UA, please contact Hassan Hijazi.