Erbil, Kurdistan Region – On December 7, 2025, the American University of Kurdistan (AUK), in partnership with Salahaddin University, celebrated the graduation of 78 participants from the She Leads Women’s Leadership Certificate Program. The ceremony marked the successful completion of an intensive program designed to empower women across the Kurdistan Region through leadership training, professional skills development, and personal growth.
The She Leads Program, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of State titled “Supporting American-Style Higher Education in Iraq”, has trained over 138 women leaders in Duhok, Zakho, and Erbil since its inception in 2024. Graduates engaged in six core modules covering negotiation, emotional intelligence, communication, conflict resolution, feedback, and work-life balance. Participants also contributed to the second volume of Untold, an anthology capturing their autobiographical stories of resilience and triumph.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Randall Rhodes, President of AUK, “celebrated the accomplishments and great potential of these women from Duhok, Zakho, and Erbil – from university students to alumni to women from the community who see the attributes of leadership as being the necessary pathway for personal and professional success.” He also encouraged those attending to meet the graduates, hear their stories, and support their aspirations.
Keynote addresses were presented by Caitlin Piper, Deputy Consul General of the United States in Erbil, and Keynote speaker Jwan Rojbayani, Assistant Head of Public Relations for the Kurdistan Democratic Party and former head of a parliamentary committee in the Kurdistan Region Parliament, emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in public life.
During the ceremony, Loucine Hayes, Director of AUK’s Center for Academic and Professional Advancement (CAPA), reflected on the program’s impact: “The whole point of this program is to create people who think differently and do something fundamentally new with their lives. These graduates have transformed their personal and professional trajectories and will continue to inspire others in our region.”
Farzad Ali, the program’s trainer and editor of Untold, highlighted the power of storytelling: “For as many women as there are, there will be stories. And for as long as there are stories, there will be hope.”
The She Leads graduation underscores AUK’s commitment to women’s leadership, empowerment, and educational innovation, providing a platform for participants to grow as confident, skilled, and socially responsible leaders.
