Women's History Month Feature: Ola Allababidi

 

Ola Allababidi is a senior in the College of Science, double majoring in Neuroscience & Cognitive Sciences, and Molecular & Cellular Biology. She is from Damascus, Syria, and was born and raised in Saudi Arabia.

Ola started working for Arizona Global as a sophomore, on the International Student Advisory Council (ISAC). She has also worked as a Supplemental Instructor (SI) with Think Tank. Now in her senior year, Ola is on the Global Ambassador (GA) leadership team, cultivating and bolstering the global community on campus.

One of several International Student Services (ISS) programs, GAs are involved in greeting and welcoming students arriving to Tucson for the first time, ushering first-year students through Global Orientation, engaging students in frequent gatherings at the Global Center like Coffee@Global and Study@Global. GAs also run the Buddy Program and arrange regular outings, shopping trips, and adventures in the greater Tucson community.

As an ISAC leader and GA over the past few years, Ola has made meaningful connections with and has helped many international students feel welcome and adjust to life in the U.S., students who, just like her, were looking for a place and a community to get involved on campus.

Through all her experience working for Arizona Global and Think Tank, one of the greatest things that Ola discovered about herself is that she loves to collaborate with other students and enjoys teaching and leading students and helping them learn to collaborate.

“Getting to watch students – especially freshman – grow and develop their study and communication skills is very satisfying. I love working with STEM students, teaching them the skills they need to both collaborate with others and to communicate and reach out when they need help, and living up to their full potential.”

Ola’s biggest piece of advice for new students is to talk to other people and ask questions. “This is a time for you,” she says, “to figure out what you want to do and what kind of person you want to be. You need to be able to communicate and ask questions in order to gain that understanding.”

Getting involved with the International Student Advisory Council is what helped Ola hone her own communication skills, make friends, and develop leadership skills. “I was very quiet as an incoming freshman, and now I have become so much more confident and outgoing,” she says.

“I love being on the Global Ambassadors leadership team, and I love being involved with international students on campus. While it’s important to get to know the local culture, there is a level of comfort and understanding being part of the diverse and welcoming international student community. It provides some structure and support for international students, especially when they are new to the U.S.”

As a woman in science, Ola has been happily surprised at the number women she sees in STEM fields at the University of Arizona. “The female representation in STEM, and in my field, is growing all the time. Many more women are applying to programs and working in careers in STEM,” she says. “We are breaking down stereotypes, and here on campus I see a wonderfully supportive community of women in STEM fields.”

As most student do while spending so much time on campus, Ola has a favorite building and place to hang out. For her, it is the Environment and Natural Resources Building (ENR2). Part of the University of Arizona's commitment to environmental sustainability and interdisciplinary research and studies that focus on earth science, environmental programs and natural resources, this LEED platinum-certified building incorporates cutting-edge technologies and design. The building contains offices, classrooms, auditoriums and gathering rooms for public programs, in addition to a café and a stunning central courtyard that is a favorite place for students to gather.

Ola is graduating this coming May and plans to work for a few years to learn about all sides of the industry before pursuing a master’s degree in Business and in Science. She is considering a master’s degree somewhere in Europe, to experience new cultures and see where opportunities will take her from there.

“Being an international student in Tucson has been a great experience. I love the weather, the mountains and scenery, the sunrises and sunsets. It’s a perfect balance here, of warm and cool.”

It’s also a great place to be if you like to travel, swim, and enjoy good food. “I love to go out with my friends,” Ola says, “to discover new places to eat. Tucson is an UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and there are so many great restaurants to discover all over town, even small places you wouldn’t expect!”

We are so glad to have Ola as one of the wise, kind, and amazing #GlobalWildcats who are part of our University of Arizona Global community!

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