Shafeka Hashash stands out among many alumni. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees through a joint five-year program, graduating in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies and a Master of Arts in Politics (specifically political economics). Prior to graduating, Shafeka was also a finalist in the annual GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge. She made it to the final rounds and took the stage to present her master’s thesis on the fight for civil rights for the physically disabled, her own blindness being a source of inspiration for her work.
Looking back on her master’s program at the Graduate School, Shafeka remembers it being a welcome change from her undergraduate program. Especially with smaller class sizes, she was able to really form personal relationships with each of her professors. She recalls the supportive administration and staff of the department as well, with whom she also built relationships. “I felt that way about a lot of my graduate professors…because the classes were so much smaller, I grew much closer with them.” Shafeka particularly values the way her professors and staff gave her advice about life, next steps to take in her career, and where to go from NYU onward.
Threesis was an important experience during Shafeka’s master’s program. “It was unique and different…win or lose, it was just a good opportunity. It was also very accessible because [Threesis] isn’t just about the visual.” The academic tournament focuses on distilling a master’s thesis, capstone project, and/or other graduate-level coursework and conveying it in language appropriate for a nonspecialized audience. Competitors are allowed one single, static slide to accompany their threeminute presentations. Shafeka recollects how helpful the Threesis staff were as well, making adjustments from visual cues to audible ones. “[Threesis] is really about the person,” she said of the competition’s focus on an individual’s ability to create a comprehensive pitch about their research. “I think just by design, Threesis is very accessible.”
Upon graduating, Shafeka has continued her work around civil rights. She was awarded a fellowship by the International Council on Disability, which allowed her to work with the Women’s Refugee Commission in Washington, D.C. Following the three-month fellowship, Shafeka worked at Cornell Tech on disability equality, with a focus on technology. Most recently, she moved to Atlanta where she hopes to continue working in the field.
See Shafeka’s 2016 Threesis presentation here.
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