Syracuse University Alumni Attend Exclusive Reception at U.S. Embassy in Riyadh

Syracuse University alumni were honored to be invited to a special reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, under the patronage of Ambassador Michael Ratney, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The evening’s festivities celebrated U.S. education and recognized the impact of U.S. higher education in the Kingdom and beyond. Pictured from left to right: Turki Binmoammar ’18, Khalid A. Alsubeaei ’17, Ambassador Michael Ratney, and Mohammed Albunyan ’14.

Syracuse University has made history as the very first university to visit the NEOM Community School in Saudi Arabia. This was made possible by the invitation of Syracuse University alum Christopher R. Tompkins G’00, Executive Director for Early Childhood through Grade 12 Education for the NEOM project. 

This visit marks a growing collaboration between Syracuse University and NEOM, paving the way for future educational partnerships and innovations.

Omnia Shedid L’24, ’24 M.P.A. (MAX) grew up in a small Egyptian village, never dreaming that she would one day walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol, the State Department, and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Now a dual-degree holder at Syracuse University, her journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. 

Each summer, Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies hosts a prestigious preparatory program that helps dozens of international Fulbright Scholars begin their journeys to graduate degrees and research opportunities. Budoor Alsaadi from Iraq and El-Baz Abdallah from the Comoro Islands, reflect on their transformative experiences during the pre-academic program.