University of Michigan-Flint

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, MD, MPH, a medical doctor/psychiatrist and world renowned multi-genre creative writer, political activist, and an advocate for women’s rights has been appointed as the 2012-13 Jack W. Thompson Distinguished Visiting Professor.  Dr. El Saadawi’s writing includes activities as a novelist, short story writer, playwright, and biographer, with over 40 fiction and non-fiction books, her most notable one being, Woman At Point Zero.

Educated in Egypt and the United States (Columbia University, New York), Dr. El Saadawi writes in Arabic and lives in Cairo, Egypt.  She is the recipient of numerous honorary doctorate degrees the world over, Flemish University, Brussels, Belgium; University of Tromso, Norway; La Universidad Nactional Autonoma de Mexico; University of York, United Kingdom; University of Illinois, Chicago, etc.  In addition, Dr. El Saadawi is also the recipient of numerous national and international awards some of which include:  Human Rights Award University of Oslo, Norway; Progressive Women Award, Madrid, Spain; Woman of the Year Award, London, England; and most recently in May, she was awarded the prestigious Stig Dagerman Literary Award bestowed on a renowned writer world-wide for exceptional defense of the freedom of speech.

Dr. El Saadawi has had a fascinating life and coupled with her writing has had a deep effect on successive generations of young women and men over the last five decades.  As a result of her literary and scientific writings she has had to face numerous difficulties, adversity, and dangers in her life, including the loss of her job, being banned by political and religious authorities many times, having magazines that she founded closed down, and even imprisonment; however, she overcame all of these difficulties and won many legal cases, thereby solidifying and strengthening women’s rights.

I am extremely appreciative to Dr. Ernest Emenyonu, Professor of Africana Studies, who nominated Dr. El Saadawi.  He will be working closely with our office in coordinating Dr. El Saadawi’s activities during the Fall Semester.

There is much more to share regarding Dr. El Saadawi’s work that we will be providing throughout her visit.  She will be providing several lectures and facilitating a Faculty Seminar entitled, “The Egyptian Revolution, Creativity and Women.”  Details will be forthcoming.  In addition, because of Dr. El Saadawi’s diverse background, she will be available to provide class lectures/visits in the following disciplines:  nursing, physical therapy, psychology, political science, criminal justice, creative writing, philosophy, African literature, and women’s studies.  Should you be interested in having Dr. El Saadawi visit one of your classes during the Fall Semester, please contact Dr. Ernest Emenyonu, Africana Studies, at 2-3353 or by email at eernest@umflint.edu. 

SAVE THE DATE

~  Public Lecture  ~

Dr. Nawal El Saadawi

The Egyptian Revolution,

Creativity and Women

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Monday, December 3 – 6:30 p.m.

Northbank Ballroom

A reception in Park Place (adjacent to the Ballroom) follows.

• Faculty  Seminar