Dr. Hadeer Abo El Nagah, an English Literature professor at Misr International University in Egypt, presented "Islam, Women and the Challenges of Stereotyping," at Niskayuna High School’s Little Theater on Friday, March 23.
Dr. Hadeer, pictures left, received a Fulbright scholarship for cultural enrichment and, as a result of a growing relationship between the State University of New York at Cobleskill and Misr International University in Cairo, she is studying Arabic women poets and teaching at the college in rural Schoharie County.
Dr. Hadeer has written a series of ten books, nine of which are in English introducing Islam to non-Muslims, and has served as a translator and editor of magazine articles and books from Arabic to English and vice versa. Her research interests include post colonial literature, Middle Eastern/Islamic literature, Arab-American literature and Islamic feminism.
“My presentation includes an introduction to Islam and follow my lifelong mission to build bridges of understanding between the two cultures (Islam and the West),” Dr. Hadeer said.
In December, she was the focus of an article in Albany’s Times Union, where she said: "I feel that Fulbright scholars should not be just professors. They should play a more crucial role in developing mutual understanding between the culture that they came from and the culture they were sent to… If I am here just as a professor of English literature, many people could do this job."
Dr. Hadeer has also been a guest on “The Round Table,” a WAMC public radio program.
“We are fortunate to have such a distinguished speaker presenting at our school,” said Director of Social Studies Alfred Sive. “High school social studies teacher Rosemary Hirota-Morris has been working hard in the past few months to secure arrangements for this presentation.”
High school students studying global history will attend the presentation. Other students, parents and community members were also invited to attend.

(March 2007)