From MUN Delegate to MUN Secretary General and Student Body President: Celebrating Nagla Abdelhady’s Unforgettable GU-Q Journey

By Sama Alissa (SFS’27)

I first met Nagla Abdelhady (SFS’25) when she was my orientation advisor during Hoya Welcome Week. Her enthusiasm and energy helped me adjust quickly. While my friendship with Nagla took a while to grow, it was hard to escape her on campus. Whether it be her messages on group chats during her time as  the Student Government Association’s (SGA) Public Relations Officer, or seeing her in MUN training when she she was the Secretary General. And just when I thought that was all she was involved in, I saw her at an event for the Animal Welfare Society. So it makes sense that in my first year, even though I wasn’t the closest to Nagla, I knew she was someone I could easily reach out to if ever  I needed something. 

Our GU-Q community is made up of students with various backgrounds. One thing that makes it even more special is how we strive to embody the Georgetown values. As I sat to reflect on what this means for us at GUQ, Nagla came to mind. So, here, I offer you a a short post  about one student whose journey at GU-Q embodies Georgetown’s values and inspired me.

At the end of my first year came SGA elections and Nagla encouraged me to run for the role of Chief of Staff, while she was running for president. Nagla and I both got elected and we started working together allowing our friendship to finally have the chance to grow. Through this friendship I quickly came to realize that no one embodies the Hoya spirit like Nagla. 

She was first introduced to GU-Q in high school and participated in Georgetown’s MUN. She quickly fell in love with the campus and was determined to come back for every conference after. Nagla ended up coming back for every MUN as a delegate, until she became a Hoya who leads them. Her transition to being a GU-Q student opened a world of opportunities for her, but she kept her promise of being in every MUN. She rose through the ranks as Head of Communications, Secretary General, and she is ending her senior year as Deputy Secretary General.

It wasn’t just MUN where Nagla shined. She rose through the ranks of SGA, serving as student body president in her senior year. She served the student body diligently, listening to every student, and making sure no voice went unheard. And just when you thought you were done seeing Nagla, if you walked into the Student Affairs suite, or the Career Services department, you wouldsee her hard at work in a student job. There is truly no corner, physical or virtual, in GU-Q where you could escape Nagla. Her dedication to GU-Q is admirable. It started off when she was just in high school. And she moved from being the person admiring the Hoya Saxa chants in the crowd, to the person leading them. 

As Nagla prepares to graduate, I know that GU-Q won’t be the same without her. But that’s the thing about community members like Nagla, they leave behind more than just memories. They leave a legacy. Her impact echoes in every student she’s helped, every event she’s led, and every space she’s made more welcoming. For those of us who still have time left here, Nagla has set the bar high—but more importantly, she’s shown us what it looks like to lead with heart, purpose, and joy. What legacy do you want to leave when you come to Georgetown?

“The posts and comments on this blog are the views and opinions of the author(s). Posts and comments are the sole responsibility of the authors. They do not represent the views, opinions or policies of the University.”