The Prime Minister Honors Class of 2025 at Milestone Commencement
In a momentous celebration of academic excellence and global engagement, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) held its 2025 Commencement Ceremony, awarding undergraduate degrees in Foreign Service to 110 graduates representing 37 nationalities. The ceremony also honored the achievements of 20 graduates of the Executive Master’s in Diplomacy and International Affairs (EMDIA) program, a growing initiative advancing Qatar’s diplomatic leadership on the world stage.
This year’s commencement was especially meaningful, as it celebrated both the 20th anniversary of Georgetown’s presence in Qatar and the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Qatar Foundation. Delivering the keynote address was His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar—a powerful symbol of the strong foundation the university has built in the country, grounded in a shared dedication to preparing the next generation of global leaders.
“Education is the fundamental enabler of all the talents working in the country and striving for its advancement. For His Highness the Amir, this sector is considered the most vital,” said His Excellency.
Dean Safwan Masri delivering welcome address
EMDIA Graduates
In his address to the graduates, Dr. Safwan Masri, Dean of GU-Q, called on students to lead with purpose and conscience: “The Jesuit ideal of people for others, and the Islamic ideal of duty, anchor this institution. An education finds its worth only when it bends towards service. Some of you will hammer out peace in war rooms. Some will rebuild broken schools, hospitals, and courts. Others will exert influence in ways still unimagined. Whatever your craft—wield it with a moral clarity that does not flinch.”
Degrees were conferred by Georgetown University Interim President Robert M. Groves, who also conferred a PhD in History on João Sodré at the event. A recipient of the prestigious Dr. Karen Gale Exceptional PhD Student Award, Dr. Sodré elected to graduate in Qatar after spending his final year teaching at Georgetown’s Qatar campus as a GU-Q doctoral fellow.
As GU-Q continues to mark two decades of academic leadership and service in Qatar, the graduating class of 2025 embodies the university’s mission to educate ethical, globally minded leaders ready to serve the common good.
Class of 2025 Award Winners
At a ceremony earlier in the week, students were recognized for their accomplishments, including completing honors in the majors, being admitted into honor societies, and receiving awards for service and community building on campus. Dean Masri presented the Dean’s Medal to Deema Alhashemi and Hala Hudaib for receiving the highest Grade Point Average.
Zain Fanik delivered the senior class speech, recalling the highs and lows of an incredible four years spent together, and thanking the family, friends, staff, and especially faculty who helped along the way.
“Our professors weren’t just educators; they were full-time mentors, and some part-time therapists, who helped us become not only smarter but also better people. So, a huge thank you to all of them, our academic growth and personal development owe a lot to you!”
She went on to sum up the sentiment of the entire class by saying: “Georgetown will always feel like home, not just because of the campus, but because of the people we met, the friendships we built, the Zaatar and Zeit wraps we shared, and the countless moments that will forever connect us to this place.”
More About the Graduating Class
Rooted in Qatar, Ready for the World
Inside the EMDIA Experience
Qatar Foundation Excellence Award Winners
At the QF Convocation, two GU-Q students received QF Excellence Awards for their achievements.
Moza bint Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani receiving QF Excellence award from HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser
Abdul Hannan receiving QF Excellence Award
Tropaia Award Winners
Deema Alhashemi receiving Dean’s Medal from Dean Safwan Masri
Hala Eyad Hudaib receiving Dean’s Medal
Awards
Dean’s Medal Winners
- Deema Alhashemi
- Hala Eyad Hudaib
Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali Faculty Award
- Deema Alhashemi
James Reardon-Anderson Memorial Award
- Frances Joy Balani
Amira El-Azhary Sonbol Award for Women’s and Gender Studies
- Rinad Al-Khalifa
Latin Honors
summa cum laude
- Deema Alhashemi
- Hala Eyad Hudaib
magna cum laude
- Rokaiah Aldobashi
- Raed Asad
- John Carlos Burog
- Elene Chkhaidze
- Maryam Daud
- Gaebriel Fairlight Olsen
- Abdul Hannan
- Kiyoun Lee
- Sargis Simonyan
- Yishi Yang
cum laude
- Moza bint Faisal Al-Thani
- Aly Attia
- Maheen Elahi
- Zain Fanik
- Areesha Fatima
- Jood Sheikh
- Obaid Ullah
- Brian Wibowo
Honors in the Majors
Culture and Politics
- John Carlos Burog, honors with distinction
- Hala Hudaib, honors with distinction
International Economics
- Azamat Abdurakhmanov
International Politics
- Sarah Aidarus, honors with distinction
- Waad Al-Maadeed
- Moza bint Faisal Al-Thani, honors with distinction
- Raed Asad, honors with distinction
- Elene Chkhaidze, honors with distinction
- Alannah Felix, honors with distinction
- Abdul Hannan, honors with distinction
- Alexander Sandner, honors with distinction
- Sargis Simonyan
- Maleeha Zehra
Outstanding Students in Majors
Culture and Politics
- Deema Alhashemi
International Economics
- Maheen Elahi
International History
- Natali Fanik
International Politics
- Abdul Hannan
Certificates and Minors
American Studies Certificate
- Raed Asad
- John Carlos Burog*
Arab and Regional Studies Certificate
- Nagla Ahmed Abdelhady
- Maytha Khalid Al-Shrame
- Natali Fanik
- Zain Fanik*
Media and Politics Certificate
- Russell Niglo Adzedu
- Amira Shafek Al-Aswadi
- Aisha Saeed Al Kaabi
- Rinad Al-Khalifa
- Ghanim Rashid Hussain Al-Hussain Al-Kubaisi
- Moza bint Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani
- Frances Joy Balani
- Alannah Felix
- Emilia Pacheco De Larrea
- Santiago Rubio Henao*
- Zahra Hassan Saboorzadeh
- Maya Saqr
- Jood Sheikh
- Zarniso Tolibshoeva Musalloevna
*Outstanding thesis or eportfolio
Honor Societies
Phi Beta Kappa, Academic Honor Society
- Rokaiah Aldobashi
- Deema Alhashemi
- Elene Chkhaidze
- Gaebriel Fairlight Olsen
- Abdul Hannan
- Hala Hudaib
- Kiyoun Lee
- Sargis Simonyan
- Yishi Yang
Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honor Society
- Deema Alhashemi
- Rinad Al-Khalifa
- Moza bint Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani
- Raed Asad
- John Carlos Burog
- Maryam Daud
- Maheen Elahi
- Abdul Hannan
- Hala Hudaib
- Gaebriel Joseph Fairlight-Olsen
- Sargis Simonyan
- Obaid Ullah
- Brian Cody Wibowo
Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society
- Sarah Shaima Aidarus
- Mohammed Ali Al Mesned
- Maytha Khalid Al-Shrame
- Moza bint Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani
- Raed Asad
- Elene Chkhaidze
- Salma Ahmed Darwiche
- Maryam Daud
- Alannah Felix
- Michelle Siyabonga Khethiwe Hadebe
- Abdul Hannan
- Mohammed Ahmad Ali Ahmad Hannoun
- Kiyoun Lee
- Gaebriel Joseph Fairlight-Olsen
- Mizhgona Saidvalieva
- Alexander Fabian Sandner
- Sargis Simonyan
- Maleeha Zehra
Honor Societies
Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society
- Naglaa Ahmed Abdelhady
- Ola Magdi Abdelrahman
- Aisha Saeed Al Kaabi
- Moza Fahad A.H. Al Attiya
- Hend Abdulrahman Al-Delaimi
- Rokaiah Hussein Aldobashi
- Aisha Nasser Al Fadala
- Deema Alhashemi
- Sara Mohammed Alhatou
- Hissa Khalid Al-Hitmi
- Latifa Meshal Al-Hitmi
- Rashid Ali Al-Humaidi
- Al Ghalya Mohammed Al-Jahni
- Shaikha Ibrahim Al Jaidah
- Maya Tamim Al-Kawari
- Rinad Al-Khalifa
- Ghanim Rashid Hussain Al- Hussain Al-Kubaisi
- AlDana Ahmad Mohammed Jassim AlKuwari
- Waad Nasser M Al-Ali Al-Maadeed
- Hind Mubarak K. A. Al-Mohannadi
- Latifa Mahanna Al-Naimi
- Shahad A. AlQassabi
- Maytha Khalid Al-Shrame
- Al Johara Khalifa Ali Al Thani
- Hind Nassir A. A. Al-Thani
- Raed Asad
- Aamna Asim
- Frances Joy Balani
- Abdullah Bin Masood
- John Carlos Burog
- Salma Ahmed Darwiche
- Maryam Daud
- Maheen Elahi
- Samantha Isabel N. Facun
- Natali Fanik
- Zain Fanik
- Areesha Fatima
- Alannah Felix
- Michelle Siyabonga Khethiwe Hadebe
- Mohammed Ahmad Ali Ahmad Hannoun
- Aya Ahmed Sideeg Hassan
- Hala Eyad Hudaib
- Mohammad Yousef Jaski
- Riwaj Khatiwada
- Jamolbi Khushqadamova
- Ghita Laaroussi
- Yaseen Muhammad
- Hafsa Najdan
- Emilia Pacheco De Larrea
- Hafsa Rehman
- Angelica Balmadrid Reyes
- Sakhra Riyaz
- Mizhgona Saidvalieva
- Tala Salim
- Alexander Fabian Sandner
- Maya Saqr
- Beyonce Teta
- Zarniso Tolibshoeva Musalloevna
- Mohammed Ali Usrof
- Maleeha Zehra
Honor Societies
Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics Honor Society
- Azamat Abdurakhmanov
- Philmon Habtom Abraha
- Hissa Khalid Al-Hitmi
- Latifa Meshal Al-Hitmi
- Rashid Ali Al-Humaidi
- Al Ghalya Mohammed Al-Jahni
- Shaikha Ibrahim Al Jaidah
- Maya Tamim Al-Kawari
- Rinad Al-Khalifa
- Hind Mubarak K. A. Al-Mohannadi
- Maytha Khalid Al-Shrame
- Sara Mohammed Alhatou
- Aamna Asim
- Aly Ashraf Attia
- Zainab Ayub
- Mohd Ali Irshad Baqri
- Anastasiia Berseneva
- Abdullah Bin Masood
- Maheen Elahi
- Areesha Fatima
- Ulukbek Kaziyev
- Riwaj Khatiwada
- Ghita Laaroussi
- Leshamta Wangui Maina
- Mohamed Mansour
- Rawan Saeid Ahmad Mohamad
- Yaseen Muhammad
- Angelica Balmadrid Reyes
- Sakhra Riyaz
- Zahra Hassan Saboorzadeh
- Jood Sheikh
- Beyonce Teta
- Obaid Ullah
- Mohammed Ali Usrof
- Brian Cody Wibowo
- Yishi Yang