A Schutz Graduate Influences Millions
Aly El Attal
Nemat Shafik, a Schutz graduate, is currently the Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development, where she manages a fund of 11-15 billion dollars to aid the world’s poorest countries, mainly in Africa and South Asia. Ms. Shafik worked at the World Bank for fifteen years, where she reached the position of Vice President of Private Sector, Infrastructure and Guarantees. She also taught at Georgetown University and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy-League university.
Nemat graduated from Schutz in 1979, a year before Massimo Laterza, the Dean of Students. Massimo recalls that Nemat was a cheerleader, and was “very active and sociable.” She enrolled at the American University in Cairo (AUC) for a year and completed her undergraduate degree in Economics and Politics at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She continued her education by earning a master’s degree from London School of Economics and a doctorate degree from Oxford University.
Minouche, as she is commonly known, was raised in the US and moved to Alexandria as a teenager, where she attended Schutz. This move changed her because it made her become more laidback. She feels that Schutz was a 
“liberating experience” because it was more tolerant than her previous school in the US. Even though she graduated thirty years ago, Nemat vividly remembers Schutz. When asked what she remembers most about it, she said that she remembers everyone playing volleyball and hanging out in front of the school. She also remembers that the school used to have musical performances in which students from all grades participated. She asked whether “the small canteen in the middle of the school” still existed! Ms. Shafik also remembers some people, especially George Meloy, the former headmaster. She recalls that he held weekly school assemblies. Ms. Shafik’s message to Schutz students is to appreciate “the diversity of the students because that is what makes Schutz special.”
“liberating experience” because it was more tolerant than her previous school in the US. Even though she graduated thirty years ago, Nemat vividly remembers Schutz. When asked what she remembers most about it, she said that she remembers everyone playing volleyball and hanging out in front of the school. She also remembers that the school used to have musical performances in which students from all grades participated. She asked whether “the small canteen in the middle of the school” still existed! Ms. Shafik also remembers some people, especially George Meloy, the former headmaster. She recalls that he held weekly school assemblies. Ms. Shafik’s message to Schutz students is to appreciate “the diversity of the students because that is what makes Schutz special.”On a more personal note, Nemat is married with twin six-year-olds, Adam and Nora, and three teenage step children. Ten years from now, Nemat plans to raise her children as teenagers and take a job with less managerial duties. She also wants to focus more on teaching and research. Other than the fact that she worked hard, Nemat credits her good teachers and bosses for her success because she thinks that choosing good teachers and bosses is vital. She is thankful that she worked with “people who challenged her and gave her opportunities.” As a professional person, Nemat is able to evaluate herself. She identifies her strength as being able to work with people and ideas together, while most people can only work with one or the other. She also identifies her weakness as being a little impatient.
Nemat Shafik is a fine example of a person who has succeeded by overcoming cultural barriers and taking on great responsibilities. It gives Schutz students great pride to know that someone who, at one point, was just like them is doing something significant in the world.
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