After coping with illnesses and a family death while being seven time zones behind his siblings, Ahmed Hussein will not forget the support he received after learning he successfully defended his dissertation in Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies.
“I'm sure I would have had the same feelings if I was by myself in the United States, or it was only me, my wife and my kids,” Hussein said from his home in New Jersey. “But it was a really good time and a very special night to me and to my family.”
Thanks in part to GCU Dissertation Program Chair Dr. Ken Sherman, nearly 40 of Hussein’s family members were able to witness – via Zoom from Cairo, Egypt – a committee telling Hussein that he successfully defended his dissertation.
Family members traveled from various parts of Egypt to Cairo, where the wireless system was strong enough to not cause any pauses or interruptions.
“I'm sure it will help a lot of people around me, my family and my surroundings,” Hussein said of his experiences over the last 20 years in the United States, including the last five pursuing his doctorate at GCU while working various jobs and helping raise five children. “Just to know that it’s not impossible.”
Hussein said he earned his bachelor’s degree in Egypt but had a passion to continue his education in the U.S.
“For anyone who travels to the U.S. or is an immigrant, we always love to work hard for the money but also to seek knowledge,” said Hussein, who is scheduled to participate in commencement ceremonies in October. “A degree from the U.S. is big everywhere. It adds honor and strength to that person as an educated person.”
Hussein, who taught in Egypt, enrolled at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, after he got married, settled in the States and started a family.
He earned his master’s degree in school psychology in 15 months but took his time pursuing a doctorate. First, he had to support a growing family, which includes five children ranging in age from 6 to 14.
Hussein taught for five years, then switched to managing and operating grocery stores for seven years. He ended up running a transportation business that he still operates, but the stress persuaded him to pursue his doctorate.
Hussein researched several universities and could have returned to Rowan, which offers a doctorate in education and is 30 minutes from his home. But his curiosity in GCU swelled after he asked for more information on the university and its online doctoral program.
“What really got me comfortable was a message left for me from (doctoral counselor) Dr. Suhail Ghubril,” Hussein recalled.
Hussein became aware that some members of the college spoke Arabic, fueling his interest.
“Sometimes, especially for immigrants, you feel you want to belong to somebody,” said Hussein, adding that the idea for his dissertation came from the feeling of belonging to a school.
Hussein embarked on his journey for his doctorate in education on Aug. 8, 2019. He changed his dissertation after struggling to collect data from Arabic-speaking doctoral students.
His dissertation prompted 50 participants, and 10 were selected.
But there were speed bumps.
Hussein suspended his studies for two months after losing his oldest brother in Egypt. Hussein’s youngest son, now 6, was hospitalized for three days because of illness two years ago.
Hussein also experienced his own stress that lifted once he successfully defended his dissertation. He hopes it can assist foreigners looking to study in the U.S, from immigration services to preparing for health issues, to making connections.
“That was all in the dissertation,” said Hussein, whose options included returning to the academic field or pursuing a job with the Red Cross or the United Nations.
The five-year odyssey with Hussein was worth the bonding Sherman built with his children on Zoom conference calls.
“We would bring in his children, and I would present myself as his teacher at school, and I'd give them a report card on their father and talk a little bit, too,” Sherman said. “Ahmed’s dissertation defense that was live in Egypt was a brand new experience for me.
“Having a lot of people on that defense call just made it very real for me to see this particular candidate’s family, the enthusiasm, the support that he was getting as well. It was very exciting.”
GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
***
Related content:
GCU News: Twentysomethings roaring through College of Doctoral Studies
GCU News: Persistence pays off for 3,000th doctoral graduate
