Nora Bouzihay, a 2017 graduate of the Clinton School of Public Service, recently joined Southeast Missouri State University as Assistant to the President for Equity Initiatives and Title IX Coordinator.
Bouzihay will support the development of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives with university leadership and coordinate all Title IX efforts for the school.
Bouzihay recently spent nearly four years at Arkansas State University, first as an Academic Success Coach then as Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs before becoming the Interim Director of Multicultural Affairs. She redesigned trainings, developed programs to contribute to the success of underrepresented student populations, and maintained campus and community partnerships. Programming within the Office of Multicultural Affairs included diversity training for students, faculty, and staff, and initiatives for Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, and programs promoting LGBTQ+ awareness.
Before joining A-State, Bouzihay worked as a tutor and First-Year Experience Instructor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, served as the Director of the North Little Rock Works Mentorship Program, and volunteered with the Little Rock School District.
Bouzihay earned her bachelor’s degree from UA Little Rock and her Master of Public Service from the Clinton School. She is completing her dissertation for a Doctorate of Education degree in higher education-student affairs from UA Little Rock.
What interested you in your new position at Southeast Missouri State University?
What truly piqued my interest in this position at Southeast Missouri State University was a new challenge in the field of student affairs, especially in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
As a person who wants to continue to grow and learn, this position was the perfect fit and segue for that growth. When I was introduced to the application for this position, I knew it would give me a new challenge to learn as well as a different level of leadership to advocate for students, faculty, and staff. I am excited to work on the executive staff with leaders who truly care about those they serve.
What does public service mean to you?
To me, public service means being able to come together to serve the greater good of the community, whether that is through education, healthcare, politics, etc., and being able to make that difference for society.
To be a public servant one must recognize that you can’t fix the problems and issues that are happening from the top, but the key to being successful is starting at the root to alleviate and understand what is happening in order to initiate that change.
In public service you are serving others to make a significant impact. Public service is broad, yet very specific. Working in public service, you do not approach things from one lens. You are interacting with diverse populations of people to come up with solutions from various perspectives. At the Clinton School I learned the value of collaboration and advocacy in public service.
What is one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I like to think that I am an open book, but a lot of people don’t know that I was previously a researcher. Before my time at the Clinton School, I worked at the Food and Drug Administration doing canine stem cell research and at UAMS doing breast cancer research. I am a biologist at heart.
Another thing many may not know is that I’m a charter member for the Dubai chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. – the first chapter in the Middle East for the sorority.
What was your favorite class in your time as a Clinton School student?
I would say I have two favorite classes from the Clinton School: IPSP and The Theory and Practice of Global Development.
I really enjoyed IPSP because I was able to gain a different experience and opportunity that I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for the Clinton School. I was able to work with the U.S. Department of State in Dubai U.A.E., working at the U.S. Consulate General’s Office in Public Diplomacy. I was able to take all the knowledge gained from the classroom during my first year and put it directly into the field. I gained international exposure and met with amazing, strong leaders around the world.
James (Mitchell) was a huge asset to me and taught me so much in my time abroad and allowed me to become an even more competitive applicant at the international level.
The Theory and Practice of Global Development allowed me to really identify my passion for international relations and policy. I actually have used a lot of the knowledge and concepts that Dr. Bowman taught me in the course now in my doctoral degree dissertation.
What skills did you learn at the Clinton School that you still put to use in your job or life today?
I will be the first person to say that I don’t know where I would be if I did not go to the Clinton School. The pieces of the puzzle of my life were finally put together by going to the Clinton School. It not only taught me academically, but also professionally and socially. I was able to find myself at the Clinton School and be proud of who I am; it brought something out of me that I don’t think I would’ve found if I didn’t go there.
I learned how to approach different groups of people, different concepts, and different lenses in order to establish long-term solutions to issues. I can’t really say one thing, because I truthfully can say everything I learned and gained at the Clinton School I use on a daily basis.
I was able to learn how to facilitate relationships and conversations, program development and assessment, the importance of having inclusive dialogue, and ways to advocate that I use daily. I gained a different sense of professionalism that set the standard for me on a day-to-day basis.
Responses