Our graduating College students will benefit from her insights as they prepare to make their own contributions to our public life.”Īhmed joins a list of distinguished alumni who have served as Class Day speakers, including U.S. “As a New York Times bestselling author, Samira has inspired the imagination of readers of all ages. “Samira’s writing pushes the limits of traditional representation in literature, joining careful research with fresh voices and characters,” said John W. Outside of class, Ahmed was a member of the South Asian Students Association, Muslim Students Association and part of her dorm council. And, despite what the T-shirt says, I had a lot of fun as an undergrad.”ĭuring her time in the College, Ahmed completed her bachelor’s degree in English with a joint MAT English degree while also teaching at Oak Park River Forest High School and doing research for her master’s thesis.

Where I understood the power of cultivating a growth mindset, the cornerstone of being a lifelong learner. “My experience in the College was truly transformative: It was there that I learned the importance of not merely developing a passionate mind, but also a curious one. “It’s an incredible honor to be asked to return to the University of Chicago as the Class Day speaker and celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2022,” Ahmed said. Ahmed also has taught high school English in Chicago and New York City, worked in education nonprofits and served on political campaigns. Her poetry, essays and short stories have appeared in numerous publications, and she is the co-editor of the forthcoming anthology, Magic Has No Borders. The celebration kicks off Convocation weekend and will amplify the accomplishments of graduating students in the College, while underscoring the importance of their resilience during times of uncertainty.Īhmed is the author of Love, Hate & Other Filters Internment Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know Hollow Fires, and the Amira & Hamza series, as well as a Ms. New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed, AB’93, MAT’93, has been named the invited speaker for the University of Chicago's Class Day ceremony on Friday, June 3.

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