Virtual 2021 Commencement Ceremony Celebrates 71 Seniors

QF partner Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) recognized 71 students, including 53 women and 18 men, at a virtual commencement ceremony attended by dignitaries, friends, and families on Saturday, May 8, 2021. The 34 Qatari and 37 international and resident students will join a growing community of GU-Q alumni pursuing graduate degrees or working in a diverse range of industries in Qatar and beyond, including education, communications, government, business, banking, and technology.

Graduates of GU-Q earn a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) degree, Georgetown’s globally recognized interdisciplinary program offered in four majors: Culture and Politics, International Economics, International History, and International Politics.

Dr. Ahmad Dallal, Dean of GU-Q, opened the formal ceremonies with a congratulatory message to students, saying: “Your class has demonstrated extraordinary resilience, creativity, and courage in the face of an unprecedented global crisis. Your academic success during these challenging times is especially worth celebrating and demonstrates a commitment to Georgetown University’s core values of excellence and service to humanity. Now more than ever, we need your ideas, your hard work, and your commitment to addressing these challenges to make a better world for generations to come.” 

The ceremony also featured remarks from Dr. John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University. Addressing the students, he said: “This is your day. You joined our community as some of the most extraordinary young people from around our world. While at Georgetown, you have deepened your knowledge and pursued your passions. you have shared with us your talents, your perspectives, and the depth of your capacity to act in service to others. No class of students has been asked to demonstrate this capacity, to care and serve our global community, more than you with the emergence of the pandemic 18 months ago.”

Her Excellency, Lolwah Rashid Al-Khater, Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the esteemed keynote speaker at the ceremony. “It is an honor to be a part of this celebration of a major milestone in your lives,” she said. “As ambitious, global citizens with a commitment to scholarship and service, you represent the best of Qatar’s investment in its human capital, helping to drive Qatar towards its future. Congratulations on your achievements and thank you for the lasting legacy of your many contributions to our community. I look forward to hearing about what you achieve next as Georgetown alumni.” H.E. Al-Khater also serves as a member of the GU-Q joint advisory board.

Prior to the virtual commencement, GU-Q honored major achievements of seniors, as well as faculty and staff, at the annual Tropaia Award Exercises, also held virtually this year. At the ceremony, Dean Dallal sent a special message of gratitude to students’ families whose support during a challenging year was even more critical for student success.

Starting with a student body of 25 students in 2005, GU-Q has now produced 635 highly skilled alumni representing more than 50 countries, and delivers the same internationally ranked curriculum as Georgetown’s campus in Washington, DC. In addition to the four majors, students have the option of expanding their field of study through several minors and certificate  programs, part of a rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum that is taught in a supportive learning environment.