Mohamed Elgayar

You can imagine living through the Egyptian revolution of 2011 having a major impact on my perception of politics. I’ve had a passion for international political and global relations for as long as I can remember, but the revolution sparked something different within me. It was after the revolution that I began looking at the academic side of politics; the research, critical theories, social change, and other elements that make the world tick.

This was perhaps exacerbated and enlightened when I came to Dalhousie as a first year moving from Egypt. My original plan was to do an undergraduate in political science and then go to law school. That all changed when I met with the Dalhousie Undergraduate Political Science Society (DUPSS) during my first week. The friends I made during that year resonated with me for a lifetime, going from first year rep to president of DUPSS by the time I graduated. DUPSS gave me the confidence to be later involved in the Dalhousie Arts and Social Sciences Society and founding the Model United Nations Society, which I was proud to take the Dal team to their first conference at McGill where I won the outstanding delegate award.

It is safe to say that the impression left on me by my professors, has led me down the path I chose today. My interactions with Dr Frank Harvey, Dr Brian Bow, Dr David Black, and Dr Ann Griffiths; it was through their guidance that I found my true passion for political science. I completed my honours (2017) and masters (2019) in international relations, under the supervision of Dr Frank Harvey and Dr Brian Bow, respectively. Their guidance along with Dr Black’s and Dr Griffiths paved the way to me getting many papers published, including two in the Canadian Naval Review.

Upon graduating, I took a break from political science for a year to teach English at my old school to EAL and SEN students. During that year, I also became their Duke of Edinburgh International Award coordinator and taking the silver award students to Cyprus.

In that year, I realised how much I missed political science and grasped at the opportunity to work at the newly founded “Universities of Canada In Egypt.” The university is currently hosting the University of Prince Edward Island, and I have been fortunate enough to be given an opportunity to become an instructor for the first ever year UofCanada is offering political science.

The mark Dalhousie University left on me will never be replaced. I am hoping my path with Dalhousie will cross again in the future. This is a badge I am proud to wear everywhere I go, and I consider myself extremely privileged to be a Dalhousie Political Science Alumni.