– Additional reporting and photos by Athena Ebuen and David Ajtun
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Arab American communities across the country. At CSUN, Arab American students are sharing what heritage means in their daily lives, the campus experiences that have strengthened their confidence and the values they hope to carry into the lives and careers ahead. CSUN Newsroom spoke with Matadors from a range of backgrounds about the moments that shaped them, the future they are building at CSUN and the impact they hope to make in their communities and beyond.
Alexander Chanko, 24. “I am Lebanese American.”
For Chanko, being Lebanese American is closely tied to connection. As he thinks about what he wants to carry forward from his heritage, he pointed to “the aspect of teamwork and not being afraid to get to know another person and make friends.” That sense of connection matters to Chanko, who noted that some Arab American students may feel more reserved because of personal experiences growing up and the weight of what is happening in their countries.
At CSUN, the professors who encouraged him helped turn that outlook into a clearer sense of direction. “All of my professors are a mentor in some way,” the third-year civil engineering student said. One moment from his statistics class especially stayed with him, when his professor offered advice that still resonates: “Make sure in whatever you do, you put your best interest first.” The message pushed him to stay focused, do the work in front of him and grow stronger through the challenge.
That same perspective shapes the kind of engineer Chanko hopes to become. “I hope to impact as many people as I can in a positive way,” he told Newsroom, especially by “working with other engineers in order to make [our world] more accessible because civil engineering is the backbone of society.” For Chanko, that means helping create buildings, roads and public spaces that work better for everyone, including people with disabilities.
During Arab American Heritage Month, Chanko said he is reminded “that I can start the conversation to build more connections.”
Shahad Alsafi, 23. “I am Palestinian American.”
Born and raised in Jordan, Alsafi said being Palestinian American shaped the way she cares for others. It gave her “strong family connections, hospitality and being outgoing,” along with a deep desire to be of service to others. “I want to help people and it also goes back to my culture of helping people,” the senior psychology major told Newsroom. She added that she has “always wanted to help people in my community” because “it feels better when you have someone within your own culture, within your own religion as a therapist.”
At CSUN, that sense of purpose grew stronger through her psychology major. “Learning about people and their different behaviors and mental health, it made me more confident … in myself and in what I want to do in the future,” she said. Alsafi also credited the faculty who encouraged her along the way. “All the psychology professors I’ve had at CSUN, they’ve been amazing.”
The values she most wants to carry forward are the same ones that shaped her from the start. “Caring for others and being there for people whenever they need you,” Alsafi said. “And also, hospitality. I will definitely carry these with me because that’s how I was raised.” She hopes those values guide the way she supports others through empathy and care because, in her culture, “people are very connected to each other and very supportive of one another.”
During Arab American Heritage Month, Alsafi said she is reminded “that I can build a future that honors where I come from and that helps others feel seen.”
David Gadalla, 23. “I am Egyptian Coptic Orthodox American.”
For Gadalla, being Egyptian Coptic Orthodox American is rooted in faith, history and endurance. “The Coptic Orthodox Church traces back to the earliest centuries of Christianity and to Saint Mark in Egypt, making it one of the oldest Christian traditions in the world,” Gadalla said. “Being Coptic also means being part of a minority that has preserved its beliefs, language and traditions despite challenges in a predominantly Muslim society.” Coming to CSUN from Egypt meant adapting to a new environment while still holding onto that identity.
That foundation mattered even more during a difficult chapter at CSUN. Culture and faith helped the senior stay focused after landing on academic probation and having to rebuild. “Being on academic probation and then bouncing back, that experience changed everything,” the entertainment media management major told Newsroom. “It forced me to take accountability, build discipline and really understand what I’m capable of.” Now, graduating with honors, Gadalla said, “I feel like I represent not just myself, but my culture and community.”
The discipline and spiritual resilience rooted in the Coptic Orthodox faith are what Gadalla most wants to carry forward. Practices such as fasting during Lent, prayer and staying committed through challenges taught “self-control, patience and strength” and showed the student how to stay focused when things are difficult. “Whether I go into media or aviation, I want to approach everything with that same level of commitment, work ethic and resilience that comes from my heritage.”
During National Arab American Heritage Month, Gadalla said, “I am reminded that I can carry Egypt with me in everything I do and represent where I come from with pride.”
Alaa Hajji, 20. “I am Tunisian American.”
Hajji said being Tunisian American shapes “a lot of who I really am,” from her beliefs to the way she moves through daily life. It also keeps her parents’ sacrifices close to mind. “It makes me think, I need to continue working hard to not only make them proud, but also for me and my future [family] to not have the same worries,” the psychology sophomore told Newsroom.
One of the moments that most inspired Hajji came on the first day of class, when she realized one of her professors was also Tunisian. “It’s so hard to find [other Tunisians in the] Valley … the only Tunisians I really know are family and friends, and even then it’s just a handful,” she said. Seeing that representation on campus inspired her. “[My professor] is happy, she’s successful … that gives me motivation. A Tunisian sister can do that.” She said that tiny moment sharpened her sense of direction, adding, “My goal is to work hard, focus on my studies.”
She told Newsroom that hospitality is the part of her heritage she most wants to carry forward into her life after college. “We’re very hospitable … the hospitality is very important in our culture and heritage,” Hajji said. She hopes that spirit continues to shape the way she shows up for others by greeting people warmly, inviting them in and carrying kindness into her career. “I hope to do that into my career, helping people who are in need and who are struggling.”
During Arab American Heritage Month, Hajji said the month reminds her “that I can pursue my goals as well as inspire others.”
Abdelrahman Mansour, 19. “I am Egyptian.”
For Mansour, being Egyptian is “a huge part of my identity.” He moved from Egypt when he was 7, and coming to CSUN meant finding ways to stay close to his culture while living farther from home and family. “I’ve tried my best to keep my language going, speaking Arabic as much as I could,” he said. “I’ve met some Arabs at CSUN that do speak Arabic, so it was nice to be able to speak to them in my cultural language.”
That connection has also grown through friendship and food. His friends are “always interested in my culture, about me being Egyptian, about our food,” Mansour said. “I think food has definitely helped me connect with my friends.” Making Arabic dishes for them, including meals his mom would make at home, helped him hold on to that part of himself. “Surrounding myself with people that are interested in my culture has helped me retain my culture,” the mechanical engineering sophomore told Newsroom.
During Arab American Heritage Month, Mansour said he is reminded “that I could carry forward the legacy of Egyptian engineering.”He added, “We have innovations that built the great pyramids of Giza, and I think that I can apply the same creativity and problem-solving to my future in mechanical engineering and be able to make [an] impact in the world.”
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