Palestinian UF graduate returning home to open clinic for hearing impaired

December 12, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After her commencement ceremony Saturday, a Palestinian University of Florida graduate will return home to make a difference.

After five years of studying at UF, 33-year-old Nadia Abdulhaq will head back to the West Bank as an audiologist with a doctoral degree so she can open a much-needed clinic to help hearing-impaired children.

Abdulhaq, along with 3,481 other students, will graduate from UF during fall commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday.

Born and raised in the West Bank, Abdulhaq earned a bachelor’s degree at Birzeit University in English language and literature and a master’s degree at the University of Jordan in speech pathology. She said she came to UF to learn more about speech and language of the hearing impaired. She will graduate with two doctoral degrees — one in audiology and the other in communication sciences and disorders.

She said this would not have been possible without her mentor, Patricia Kricos, and Scott Griffiths, her dissertation adviser. Abdulhaq received a Fulbright Scholarship as well as the O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship, the UF Grinter Fellowship, the Gibson Dissertation Fellowship and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

“There are very little services for the hearing impaired in Palestine, and my goal is to establish an audiology clinic and to have a center for children with hearing loss,” Abdulhaq said. “The center will provide speech and language help, along with hearing aid maintenance, cochlear implants and family services.”

Abdulhaq also has been involved on the UF campus, as she was responsible for creating the International Student Speakers Bureau. She also helps international students acclimate to the university.

She will be among 485 students receiving doctoral degrees during fall commencement ceremonies. A total of 857 are expected to receive master’s degrees, and 2,140 bachelor’s degrees will be awarded.

Based on the number of caps and gowns reserved through UF bookstores, 1,752 students will participate in the commencement ceremonies held at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

During the ceremonies, the College of Education will recognize five distinguished educators: Jacquelyn H. Cornelius of Duval County, Mindy M. Myers of Collier County, Rosemarie Schaeffer of Hernando County, Kelly Tyler of Citrus County and Sara M. White of Indian River County.

Jon L. Thompson and Norman Todd will be awarded distinguished alumnae awards.

Outstanding Four-Year Scholar awards will be presented to undergraduates Sean M. Donovan, Melissa A. Moukawsher and Joshua C. Gellers. Jeremy D. Niedfeldt will be recognized as an Outstanding Two-Year Scholar.

Stephanie L. Bates and Denise Bird will be awarded Outstanding Female Leader awards. Outstanding Male Leaders Joshua C. Gellers and Justin W. Zumsteg also will be recognized.

For details of this weekend’s commencement, visit the university’s registrar’s Web site at www.registrar.ufl.edu/commencement.