Psychology Students Shine on the Global Stage with Prestigious Awards, Research Contributions, and Graduate Success
From competitive research grants to international conference presentations and top-tier graduate admissions, AUC’s Psychology students and alumni continue to make their mark both locally and abroad. This year, several outstanding students and recent graduates have demonstrated remarkable achievement, showcasing the growing impact and excellence of the department.
Breaking Ground: Mahitab Elhelow Receives Prestigious Psi Chi Research Grant
The Psychology Department proudly celebrates Mahitab (Mahi) Elhelow'24, for earning the highly competitive Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant—a major milestone as she becomes the first student in the department to receive this distinguished award.
Supervised by Lameese Eldesouky, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Nour Zaki, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Mahi’s project, Understanding Fear of Loneliness: The Role of Maternal Acceptance-Rejection and Attachment, ranked among the highest-scoring proposals, securing the full $1,500 award.
“This recognition reflects both the strength of Mahi’s work and the growing rigor of undergraduate research in our department, we are incredibly proud of her.” said Eldesouky.
Taking the Next Step: Miriam Wagdy Hanna Admitted to the Oldest PsyD Program in the U.S.
Continuing the department’s tradition of academic excellence, Miriam Wagdy Hanna has been admitted into Widener University’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program for Fall 2025—the oldest accredited PsyD program in the country.
Miriam will pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, with plans to specialize in Children and Adolescents, as well as Biofeedback. Her admission marks a significant step in her professional journey and reinforces AUC Psychology’s strong record of preparing students for advanced clinical training.
Sharing Egyptian Perspectives Globally: Yasmin Hamoud Presents at SAS 2025
In March, Yasmin Hamoud presented her research at the Society of Affective Sciences (SAS) 2025 Conference in Portland, Oregon. Her poster explored how emotional regulation strategies differ when people are lonely versus when they fear loneliness, bringing culturally grounded psychological research to an international audience.
“This was an incredible opportunity to share Egyptian data globally,” Yasmin said. “I learned so much from meeting leading researchers in the field.”
Building Research Networks: Yahia Sallam Showcases Work at SAS Conference
Also representing AUC in Portland, Yahia Sallam presented his poster, Understanding Loneliness Through Relationships, which grew out of his research in Eldesouky’s lab.
Presenting at SAS allowed Yahia to engage directly with leading scholars, exchange ideas, and receive meaningful feedback that will shape his academic path moving forward.
Exploring Student Well-Being: Nelly Abdelwahed & Nour Heikal Present at NCUR 2025
In April, Nelly Abdelwahed and Nour Heikal presented their research, The Effects of the Devaluation of the Egyptian Pound on AUC Student Happiness, at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2025 in Pittsburgh. Their project was also published in AUC’s Undergraduate Research Journal (URJe), highlighting its significance and rigor.
Their work contributes to a growing body of research on well-being among young adults navigating economic uncertainty—an especially timely topic in the Egyptian context.
A Growing Legacy of Excellence
From prestigious grants to national and international conference presentations, these accomplishments reflect the department’s commitment to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and high-impact scholarship. As our students continue to excel, they carry with them a shared dedication to improving psychological understanding across cultures and communities.