Exceptional MEEI Alumna, Dr. Swar Hassan Asla

We are excited to learn of the news that MEEI alum, Dr. Swar Hassan Asla from Araba, was recently hired as Assistant Professor at the University of California – Santa Cruz!

*Dr. Swar Hassan Asla, born in Araba Batouf city in Upper Galilee, is the daughter of a struggling family, humble and supportive of science, Father Hassan Asla, may God have mercy on him, was a merchant; her mother is a director, a retired teacher and educational consultant; and she has three brothers and sisters: Nardin, the martyr Aseel (Swar lost her brother, Aseel, during the second Intifada. Aseel, also studied at MEEI, left a tremendous void after his death, but his memory is often revived on campus) and Bara.

After graduating from secondary education at Mar Elias College in Ibillin, she studied at Haifa University and received first and second titles with distinction, from the Department of Psychology and Education.

She received her PhD from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. Her doctoral thesis is titled “Together we change the world? The societal motives and psychological barriers to protest action among marginalized groups.”

She further studied at Stanford University, CA and now has been appointed as an Assistant Professor in Social Psychology at UC – Santa Cruz starting next summer 2024.

Dr. Swar’s scientific research field is centered on the psychological research of protest movements, and the relationship of minorities with the majority.

Dr. Swar is married to engineer Mohamed Younes from Arara, an engineer at Apple Company in California, and they have a son, Carmel, and God willing, they are waiting for their daughter to arrive in September.

We are proud of you Dr. Swar and wish you continued success and excellence globally.