About Me

I am an architect and researcher with a passion for heritage studies, Islamic art and architecture, and the preservation of historic built environments. My work combines academic research, architectural practice, and community engagement to protect and celebrate cultural heritage.

Education

2025

MS in Architecture - Critical Heritage Studies

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

I pursued an interdisciplinary master’s in Critical Heritage Studies, focusing on the diverse meanings of heritage—especially intangible heritage. My coursework included oral history, museum studies, architectural labs, civil rights memory, GIS, and historic preservation. This experience deepened my understanding of how different fields approach heritage and equipped me with strong research, documentation, and analytical skills.

2024

MA Coursework in Islamic Art and Architecture

The American University in Cairo

I deepened my knowledge of Islamic art and architectural history through courses on Islamic architecture in India, Mamluk art, and the history of protest and dissent in the Middle East.

2021

BSc in Architectural Engineering

Delta University for Science and Technology, Egypt

I completed a five-year program in Architectural Engineering, where I studied design studios, architectural history, construction labs, adaptive reuse, and urban planning. My graduation project focused on designing a Museum of Art and Architectural History, and I graduated top of my class.

Professional Experience

2024-2025

Research Assistant

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Architecture Department

As a research assistant at UNCC, I contributed to a project on Islamic architecture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a focus on the destruction and loss of heritage caused by conflict.

Spring 2024

Teaching Assistant

American University in Cairo, Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations

As a teaching assistant at AUC, I helped design an archival exhibit on al-Tahrir Square at the AUC Cultural Center, developed as part of the Cairo in the Cultural Imaginary course. I also assisted with organizing the course materials and managing the class Canvas page.

2021-2024

Architect

Megawra (Built Environment Collective), Cairo, Egypt

As an architect at Megawra, I worked on heritage conservation and documentation projects. I designed the circulation, display units, and interpretive panels for al-Imam al-Shafi‘i Visitors’ Center, highlighting the site's history and the conservation efforts. I also contributed to the Patterns of Cairo website by documenting and illustrating architectural elements, and participated in the preservation of the Mamluk Complex of Salar and Sanjar through architectural documentation and condition surveys.

2020-2024

Part-time Visual Arts Instructor

Werash Mourad Institution, Cairo, Egypt

I assisted Professor Murad Darwish with his visual arts courses, including still life, portrait, urban sketching, oil and acrylic painting, and contemporary art. Additionally, I developed and led my own workshops—one focused on drawing inspiration from heritage in contemporary art, where we explored Khayamiya techniques, and another on Islamic art, specifically patterns and their application in contemporary contexts.

2023-Present

Co-Founder

Turathiyah Initiative

As a member and a co-founder of Turathiyah Collective, I engaged with the community and collaborated with artists to explore questions about heritage. I moderated live sketching sessions at al-Khalifa Market to celebrate its regeneration and led photo walks and sketching tours across Historic Cairo.

Awards

The Excellence in Architectural History award from UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture, 2025
Fulbright Master’s Scholarship, 2024-2025
Giulio Regeni Memorial Fellowship, 2024