WEBVTT NOTE Created by CaptionSync from Automatic Sync Technologies www.automaticsync.com 00:00:00.196 --> 00:00:02.976 align:middle >> Greetings from sunny southern California, everyone. 00:00:03.506 --> 00:00:08.926 align:middle As we gather here today, from all over the world, to celebrate our wonderful achievements. 00:00:10.126 --> 00:00:14.226 align:middle Thank you so much Dr. Hirsh, for that kind and very generous introduction. 00:00:14.306 --> 00:00:15.456 align:middle I'm very, very honored. 00:00:16.056 --> 00:00:21.106 align:middle Is has been such a pleasure to get to know you on a personal level over the past two years. 00:00:21.596 --> 00:00:25.646 align:middle Your genuine care and ability to connect with students and alumni 00:00:25.986 --> 00:00:29.476 align:middle of the iSchool wherever you go is just phenomenal. 00:00:29.636 --> 00:00:33.236 align:middle I look forward to furthering this relationship even more. 00:00:34.026 --> 00:00:36.966 align:middle You have done so much to the iSchool and having 00:00:36.966 --> 00:00:41.306 align:middle to completely virtual convocation ceremony today is just one 00:00:41.306 --> 00:00:44.376 align:middle of your so many amazing accomplishments. 00:00:45.146 --> 00:00:50.306 align:middle What we thought unreal a few years ago, seems to be just the norm today. 00:00:50.716 --> 00:00:56.036 align:middle That is why the advanced skills we all learned here from the high technology program 00:00:56.336 --> 00:01:01.756 align:middle at the iSchool, studying library and information sciences has just provided all of us 00:01:01.756 --> 00:01:04.596 align:middle with the necessary skills to be librarians 00:01:05.076 --> 00:01:08.666 align:middle and information professionals in the 21st century world. 00:01:09.286 --> 00:01:14.836 align:middle I also wanted to thank Dr. Mary Schutten, dean of San Jose State University College 00:01:14.836 --> 00:01:20.936 align:middle of Applied Sciences and Arts who took the time to visit me last year at Chapman University 00:01:21.256 --> 00:01:24.446 align:middle where I work during one of her southern California tours. 00:01:24.936 --> 00:01:27.696 align:middle Thank you so much for taking the time, Dean Schutten, 00:01:28.106 --> 00:01:33.016 align:middle the small act of kindness helped me make it through my journey at the iSchool. 00:01:34.196 --> 00:01:40.446 align:middle Before I get started with my remarks, I wanted to take a moment and thank my husband, my kids, 00:01:40.596 --> 00:01:46.246 align:middle my family, all the way in Egypt, my friends, my colleagues at the Leatherby Libraries 00:01:46.246 --> 00:01:51.416 align:middle in Chapman University, as well as all of you, my professors and fellow students 00:01:51.416 --> 00:01:55.036 align:middle at the San Jose State University iSchool. 00:01:55.346 --> 00:01:59.286 align:middle I could not have done this without your support and encouragement. 00:01:59.906 --> 00:02:04.806 align:middle I also wanted to thank the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Chapman University, 00:02:04.806 --> 00:02:09.816 align:middle and [inaudible] University for supporting part of my education here at San Jose State 00:02:10.096 --> 00:02:13.416 align:middle through scholarships and tuition benefits. 00:02:13.776 --> 00:02:17.136 align:middle It was definitely a huge support. 00:02:17.136 --> 00:02:22.826 align:middle I also wanted to specifically thank Dr. Sue Allman, Dr. Elizabeth Estes, 00:02:22.826 --> 00:02:28.606 align:middle and Dr. Melanie Seller, you all have been so instrumental in my studies here 00:02:28.606 --> 00:02:33.036 align:middle at San Jose State and provided me with a role model to look up to, 00:02:33.676 --> 00:02:37.486 align:middle and plenty of recommendations letters to which I'm very grateful. 00:02:38.696 --> 00:02:40.336 align:middle What an honor to be here today. 00:02:40.646 --> 00:02:47.326 align:middle Who would have thought that a time where Muslim Americans are continuously being portrayed 00:02:47.326 --> 00:02:52.626 align:middle as unrelatable communities, disconnected from the American values and discourse, 00:02:53.206 --> 00:02:57.096 align:middle San Jose State University is proving just the opposite. 00:02:57.646 --> 00:03:03.996 align:middle Not only was I chosen to be this year's Ken Haycock Award recipient, but I also get a chance 00:03:04.206 --> 00:03:08.926 align:middle to share a few words with all of you as this year's student convocation speaker. 00:03:09.196 --> 00:03:15.326 align:middle A testimonial that Muslim Americans are part of the American fabric. 00:03:15.326 --> 00:03:18.976 align:middle For that opportunity I am very honored and grateful. 00:03:20.106 --> 00:03:25.026 align:middle Now if you may allow me, I'd like to take a moment and share with you my own experience 00:03:25.436 --> 00:03:30.866 align:middle and tell you what brought me to the iSchool and the amazing librarianship world. 00:03:32.096 --> 00:03:36.546 align:middle Growing up in the Middle East, libraries were not necessarily part 00:03:36.546 --> 00:03:38.256 align:middle of my ongoing life as a kid. 00:03:38.746 --> 00:03:42.886 align:middle Neither was the librarianship profession much known to the general public. 00:03:43.986 --> 00:03:48.336 align:middle That totally changed with then Library of Alexandria, or what we all liked 00:03:48.336 --> 00:03:55.256 align:middle to call Bibliotheca Alexandrina, opened in Alexandria, Egypt back in 2002. 00:03:55.686 --> 00:04:05.896 align:middle In its slogan back then was to reviving a legacy of the past for a brighter and common future. 00:04:06.906 --> 00:04:11.286 align:middle In just a few years, it became the most important place in town 00:04:11.626 --> 00:04:15.606 align:middle and one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. 00:04:16.216 --> 00:04:22.496 align:middle I had just received my MBA in 2005, when they offered me to join their team. 00:04:22.996 --> 00:04:29.856 align:middle The profession was just being shaped across the country and I started to see how librarians 00:04:29.856 --> 00:04:32.866 align:middle and libraries can positively impact the community. 00:04:33.786 --> 00:04:37.756 align:middle The Library of Alexandria became the cultural center of the town 00:04:37.986 --> 00:04:42.186 align:middle and made me realize the huge role that libraries can play. 00:04:42.886 --> 00:04:47.016 align:middle I realized how libraries can play a major role in social justice, 00:04:47.656 --> 00:04:51.316 align:middle values that the San Jose State University holds tight. 00:04:53.006 --> 00:04:59.276 align:middle Fast forward a few years and life has taken me and my own little family to the United States 00:04:59.706 --> 00:05:05.386 align:middle and as it happened, I got a full-time job at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University 00:05:05.386 --> 00:05:10.946 align:middle where I started as a volunteer in the basement of the library, counting and inventories book 00:05:11.226 --> 00:05:15.476 align:middle until I finally made it to the fourth floor in library administration 00:05:15.766 --> 00:05:17.746 align:middle as head of development and marketing. 00:05:18.746 --> 00:05:21.736 align:middle Through this journey, I fell in love with libraries 00:05:21.986 --> 00:05:27.266 align:middle and saw firsthand how they can change lives and bring people together. 00:05:27.846 --> 00:05:34.166 align:middle As the chair of the arts exhibits and events committee, I helped put together hundreds 00:05:34.166 --> 00:05:40.366 align:middle of programs, exhibits, and events, where we discussed diverse range of topics 00:05:40.746 --> 00:05:46.286 align:middle from Muslim women, Syria, [inaudible] in the great war, to LGBT issues, 00:05:46.426 --> 00:05:50.526 align:middle the Egyptian revolution, the Arab spring, the art of calligraphy, 00:05:51.146 --> 00:05:54.196 align:middle a variety of interfaith topics and many more. 00:05:55.386 --> 00:06:00.356 align:middle These cultural programs bring people together, they break barriers 00:06:00.526 --> 00:06:03.016 align:middle and they create a sense of community. 00:06:04.166 --> 00:06:08.656 align:middle As I celebrate with all of you today, earning a master's degree in library 00:06:08.656 --> 00:06:14.876 align:middle and information sciences, I remain committed to diversity in libraries, bringing people together 00:06:14.876 --> 00:06:18.726 align:middle and helping turn my humble experiences, libraries in Egypt 00:06:18.726 --> 00:06:21.436 align:middle and the Middle East, to reach their full potential. 00:06:21.836 --> 00:06:28.546 align:middle And I hope we all together as the San Jose State University iSchool Class of 2017, 00:06:28.906 --> 00:06:31.016 align:middle remain committed to these goals as well. 00:06:32.016 --> 00:06:37.756 align:middle As I finish putting my final touches to my article, my branch librarianship 00:06:37.756 --> 00:06:43.006 align:middle where have you been, I want to encourage all of us here today to remain committed 00:06:43.006 --> 00:06:49.476 align:middle to teaching the general public about the role of libraries and librarians all over the world. 00:06:50.076 --> 00:06:54.166 align:middle Because if it was not for that teaching moment I had back in 2004, 00:06:54.506 --> 00:06:57.566 align:middle I would have never chosen this amazing profession. 00:06:58.446 --> 00:07:02.056 align:middle Congratulations to all of you Class of 2017, 00:07:02.636 --> 00:07:06.276 align:middle you have all worked extremely hard to get to this point. 00:07:06.866 --> 00:07:12.666 align:middle May you all be committed to libraries and realize your power in a world 00:07:12.666 --> 00:07:16.226 align:middle of alternative facts combating fake news. 00:07:16.636 --> 00:07:18.016 align:middle Thank you so much.