One of Mouhamad Hammami’s favorite places to study on campus is the 奥克兰中心 (OC). Mouhamad, who is in the process of earning his Ph.D. 在医学物理学中, meets up with his study buddy, Abdul, who is pursuing a Ph.D. 教育领导 and happens to be Mouhamad’s father.

The two get together there regularly for coffee and to catch up on their work. While the OC can be a bustling area, it’s a calming escape for Abdul and Mouhamad, who got a new lease on life after retreating from their turbulent home country. 

“We came to the United States in late 2012 to flee the war in Syria,” says Abdul. 

Abdul and his wife, Manal Alnouri, escaped Syria with their one daughter and four sons. Mouhamad, who was 17 at the time of the move, is the second oldest child. He attended Port Huron High School and earned his associate’s degree at St. 克莱尔县社区学院. 

Mouhamad had some friends that attended OU, and heard nothing but good things about the university. It sparked his interest enough to visit the campus and eventually apply. The atmosphere was what attracted Mouhamad to OU and the professors are what kept him here. 

“The way the professors taught the subjects,穆罕默德解释道, “他们的激情, and how much I was able to learn was very influential for me.”

His passion for OU didn’t go unnoticed.

“When Mouhamad joined 奥克兰, he spoke so highly of it,” says Abdul. “All the years he attended, he’d wake up early, be very active and couldn’t wait to get to campus. So, I was wondering, what’s the magic?”

Abdul studied law in Syria right out of high school and traveled to the states in the early 90’s to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science. 当他们搬到美国时.S., he earned a master’s degree from Central Michigan 大学.

Abdul’s drive and passion for education stems from the war in Syria. “There is a whole generation that grew up that doesn’t know anything other than war,” he explains. He is currently the CEO for a non-profit organization that focuses on providing education to those that are deprived of it in turbulent areas. “I know that when I further my education that it will reflect on those refugees that are unable to do it.”