On March 25, contracted colleagues, staff, faculty, senior leadership and students gathered at the newly named John E. Sexton Square with one goal: to celebrate the “beating heart of our community,” as stated by Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann, in her speech that afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Afaneh.

The Office of Social Responsibility’s 10 Year Celebration commemorates the hard work, continuous dedication and achievements of NYU Abu Dhabi’s contracted colleagues. Food, photo booths and lots of chatter allowed for an afternoon of warmth and gratitude.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Afaneh.

Having been the backbone of the community for a decade, many of whom joined the NYUAD project at its inception in Sama Tower, the support of the contracted colleagues from public safety, SERCO, ADNH Compass, G4S and Global Wings has been integral in forming the institution as we know it. Particularly at the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic, colleagues offered unparalleled contributions to the safety and wellbeing of the NYUAD community.

“We have learned and grown immensely in the past ten years, and we are fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful project,” shared Fathia Omar, Public Safety Officer.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Afaneh.

The event kicked off with a welcome speech by Omar and was followed by speeches by Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann, Associate Vice Chancellor, Global Education and Outreach and Vice Provost Carol Brandt, as well as Director of Public Safety, Robert Titus. Awards were presented to colleagues who have hit a ten year milestone, even celebrating those who have left the NYUAD project, as a small token of appreciation.

Addressing NYUAD’s colleagues in her closing speech, Head of Office of Social Responsibility and Global Outreach, Liria Gjidija, shared: “Each of you has had an uplifting and profound impact on our community. All of you have sustained and supported this institution from the onset.”

The Office of Social Responsibility’s 10 Year Celebration commemorated the hard work, continuous dedication and achievements of NYU Abu Dhabi’s contracted colleagues. Food, photo booths and lots of chatter allowed for an afternoon of warmth and gratitude.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Afaneh.