NowaraCo, NLR Works, Doctorate in Education Keep Bouzihay Busy

Nora Bouzihay, a 2017 graduate of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, will complete her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) at UA Little Rock in 2020. The dissertation will focus on higher education leadership within the Middle East and North African region, allowing Bouzihay to shift her focus toward her dreams of working in the foreign service.

“My primary reason why I chose a doctorate in education is that, while I was doing my IPSP, working with the state department in Dubai, a lot of the diplomats stated that it was good to have this type of advanced degree,” Bouzihay said.

Bouzihay worked with the U.S. Department of State in the United Arab Emirates as part of her field service requirement at the Clinton School. She spent a total of eight months in Dubai between her International Public Service Project and Capstone project in the summer, fall and winter of 2016.

She has kept a busy schedule since returning to Arkansas. In addition to earning her MPS and concluding work on her doctorate, she is a tutor and First-Year Experience Instructor at UA Little Rock. Additionally, she is the Director of the North Little Rock Works Mentorship Program, a volunteer with the Little Rock School District, and the owner and operator of her own online scarves boutique, NowaraCo.

Her work with NowaraCo led to her acceptance into Momentum, a five-week accelerator program through Winrock International and the Arkansas Women’s Business Center. Built to support entrepreneurs, the program chose 10 minority women’s business owners in Arkansas to come together for a five-week program.

“You’re around women who are genuine and have the same passion and desire to give back,” Bouzihay said. “They have a vision and we help each other try to work things out. It’s been really great.”

On top of it all, Bouzihay recently helped welcome Sajjad Shah to Arkansas. Shah is the founder of Muslims of the World, a world-famous Instagram account and best-selling book that tell the stories of Muslims living in the United States and around the globe. The pair hosted a fundraising gala, Hope for Humanity, in early March at the Clinton Library. Shah also spoke at Sturgis Hall as part of the Clinton School Speaker Series.

“The goal was to bring people together to understand, gain more knowledge about what’s going on outside of the United States, which is why I named the theme of the gala Hope for Humanity,” Bouzihay said.

What made you apply to the Clinton School?

It’s a funny story. I applied to medical school and I applied to dental school – that’s all I had ever wanted to do. Throughout undergrad, I was involved in an organization called Model Arab League in Model United Nations, where you act as a diplomat for a certain country, and you represent that country in conferences regionally and nationally.

That April about 1 month before graduating undergrad, I was in the airport going to a conference in D.C., and I told my professor “I’m not sure I know what I want to do with my life anymore.” I told her my passion was to give back. Later that week she said that conversation had really stuck with her and that she wanted me to figure out what I was passionate about “without me having to tell you.”

Then she said that she knew the Clinton School had extended its deadline. So, I called the Clinton School and talked to Alex Thomas. I applied, interviewed, and then the day before my graduation, Alex gave me a call and said, “Congratulations, you’ve been accepted to the Clinton School of Public Service.” I thank the Clinton School because, without it, I would probably be miserable right now in medical school.

What experiences stood out for you at the Clinton School?

For sure my Capstone, IPSP, and Practicum project – those stand out to me. What’s amazing about the Clinton School is I learned how to study, and not just regular study, but study and retain the information and put the pieces of the puzzle together. That’s when I learned there is a difference between something you are naturally good at and something you are passionate about.

When you’re passionate about something, the pieces of the puzzle get put together easily. Every class at the Clinton School – which is what I really, really enjoyed about it – builds itself from the ground up. I needed this class for the next class, and they all connected in some kind of way. The curriculum and how it is set up was definitely impactful for me in my education.

What other memories do you have from the Clinton School?

When I started the Clinton School I was not wearing the hijab. Right before my International Public Service project, I began my hijab journey.

The Clinton School helped me be me. I wore the hijab, came back, and people had a whole different type of respect for me as an individual. They could see the real Nora. When I wore the hijab, which is crazy to even say, my true Nora came out. And so that journey of preparing for the IPSP helped me stick to my culture even more which was a blessing in disguise.

People would say, “Nora, this is the real you. There was something missing. You’ve blossomed into the person and professional we’ve been looking for.” The amount of respect I gained when wearing the hijab, the sense of respect that I got from all my classmates and professors was even more reassuring and made me even more proud to be who I was. Without the Clinton school, truthfully, I’m not sure where I would be right now. The Clinton School helped me solve my puzzle.

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