Dr. Hana Abbas

There are moments in life when you meet someone whose presence quietly reminds you of the highest ideals of learning, discipline, and perseverance. This morning, I find myself thinking about one of those people—my dear friend, Hana Abbas.

Hana teaches in the Department of Geology at University of Alexandria, and on December 31, 2025, she will defend her doctoral dissertation. That single sentence contains an achievement so large that it deserves to be paused over and honored.

For me, the defense of a doctoral dissertation has always represented a summit just beyond my own reach. Years ago, at the University of Colorado, I came very close—named first alternate for a PhD program in theatre. I wasn’t accepted, and while I made peace with that path long ago, I never lost my awe for those who are able to take their intellectual curiosity, discipline, and endurance to that level. I hold them in the highest regard. Truly.

That is why Hana’s achievement matters to me so deeply.

Beyond the sheer academic rigor—years of research, writing, revision, defense, and self-doubt—there is the context in which she has accomplished this. Egypt is a civilization with a breathtaking intellectual legacy, yet like many societies, it remains deeply male-dominated in its academic and professional structures. For a woman to persist, excel, and claim space at the highest scholarly level requires not only brilliance, but resilience, patience, and quiet strength.

Hana embodies all of that.

Over many hours of conversation, our friendship has grown naturally—rooted in curiosity, humor, mutual respect, and a shared love of learning. And while I deeply value our friendship on a human level, today I want to say something very simple and very clear: I am profoundly proud of her as a scholar.

Education has always mattered to me—not as a credential, but as a way of engaging with the world honestly and rigorously. To see a woman take her intellectual capacity to this level, particularly within a system that does not always make the path easy, is deeply moving. It represents possibility. It represents progress. It represents courage.

So this is a moment of recognition.

A moment to say: I see you.
A moment to say: What you have done matters.
A moment to celebrate not just a dissertation defense, but the years of dedication behind it.

Congratulations, Hana. Your achievement is extraordinary—and it deserves to be celebrated.

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