AUS Alpha Lambda Delta chapter is first in MENA to attend student society’s leadership conference in the US

The excitement and anticipation exhibited by American University of Sharjah (AUS) student Siva Durga Adduri can only be described as contagious as she prepares, along with fellow AUS student Ayrah Aaliyah Alvi, to represent AUS at the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Leadership Conference in Colorado, USA, in October 2023. AUS is the first university in the Middle East and North Africa to be invited to attend this conference and has already received the Alpha Bronze Award for an exceptional year of activities 2022-2023. 

ALD is a US-based certified national honor society that recognizes academic excellence among  first-year university students, with almost 300 chapters at universities across the US and over one million student members. The ALD AUS Chapter was launched in 2021 and currently has over 300 current members.  

“This is a momentous occasion for our institution as it signifies AUS' inaugural participation in this distinguished event. It's not just an opportunity for personal growth, but a chance to highlight the excellence that AUS stands for on an international scale. My primary focus in the conference is to strengthen our AUS ALD chapter's growth and impact. I am also looking forward to attending the conference sessions and building meaningful connections with fellow attendees who share a deep commitment to academic excellence,” said Adduri, a computer engineering major and Secretary of the ALD AUS Chapter.

The AUS chapter provides leadership opportunities for students from various majors and backgrounds to connect with other classmates who share the same interests, cultivates a love for learning and encourages high academic attainment among first-year students. To be eligible for membership in the AUS ALD Chapter, students must achieve a 3.5 cumulative GPA in their first semester; finish a minimum of 12 or 24 gradable credit hours in their first or second semester, respectively; and complete the First Year Experience (FYE) Pathway by attending student success workshops organized by the AUS Academic Support Center, which focus on topics such as self-care, time management, study skills and essential information about studying at AUS.

“We are proud to be the first ALD MENA chapter to take part in this conference and to see our students put into practice the skills they developed through our FYE program and within the classroom. The conference is a wonderful opportunity for students to network, exchange experiences with other ALD members and speak about their AUS experience. It will also be a wonderful opportunity to showcase AUS and the amazing student energy we have here,” said Rasha Tawfik, Director of Academic Support Center at AUS and ALD Chapter Faculty Advisor, who will also be accompanying the students on the trip. 

Biology major Alvi, who is also minoring in psychology and is the social media coordinator of the ALD AUS Chapter, sees the conference as an opportunity to engage on leadership issues.

“It is extremely important for universities to provide students with opportunities such as this because it allows them to meet like-minded people and gain new perspectives on leadership and other issues that broaden their worldview,” said Alvi.