Saudi alumni doing great things
We have a special relationship with our friends from Saudi Arabia. Each year, we tend to have multiple students who come to WSU to study various fields, from Special Education, to English Language Learners. Most of the time, they immediately make a huge difference, often in their home countries, helping impact national policy and services for students.
Here we highlight a few of our recent doctoral graduates.
Dr. Saad Yahya Athbah
Vice Dean
College of Education
University of Jeddah
Why did you decide to come to WSU?
Actually, when I was studying English at IALC (Intensive American Language Center at WSU), I decided to continue studying my masters and PhD’s at degrees at WSU because I loved WSU campus, Pullman city and people.
How did higher education differ in the United States than it does in Saudi Arabia?
I think there is a big difference because there in the United States higher education we can find a lot of foreign students of different countries. Also, the higher education system is well established and has verities of majors. Higher education in the United States is focused on how students learn and be well trained and not making the education process difficult to students.
What was your favorite part of studying at WSU?
My favorite part was working with my academic supervisor, Dr. Darcy Miller. She taught me well and step by step how to be a good researcher. She helped me to extend my knowledge of my specific major, Autism. Without her help I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I have done in my academic career.
What was the most beneficial part of studying at WSU?
I think my teaching style now is affected mostly by what I learned at WSU. I now focus in my teaching on how much students learn and not just helping them to get high grades.
What was the biggest challenge you faced at WSU?
I think being away from my home and family and learning the English language were most challenges that I faced during my study at WSU.
Now that you are back in your home country, what are one or two things you learned here that you are trying to implement there?
First, I now try to implement the learning way that I learned from WSU teachers with masters and PhD’s students here. I try to make sure those students learn how to write research paper and be a good researcher and not only seeking high grades.
What do you miss the most from your time here?
I miss working with Dr. Darcy Miller and learning from her how to write good research.
Dr. Norah Alkhateeb
Cahier Department of Special Education
Al Qassim University
Why did you decide to come to WSU?
Good education! Washington State University has the very good special ed program. The faculty care about you’re success which is so important.
How did higher education differ in the United States than it does in Saudi Arabia?
The US education system relies more on individuals actually thinking about the subject matter and learning to extend the information provided by the teacher or texts into other areas, that what effect student when he or she want to research.
Hard sciences in Saudi Arabia are taught a bit more as in the US, but again, independent thinking and critical thinking are not developed.
What was your favorite part of studying at WSU?
The academic environment and the strong sense of community. Meeting people you never would have encountered in your hometown.
Meeting a lots of different and interest people, both professors and students.
Washington State University has a large and very welcoming campus so it is an easy transition for anybody from any background to come in.
What was the most beneficial part of studying at WSU?
The chance to experience different styles of education. By enrolling in a study at WSU, I have the chance to see a side of my major that I am not have been exposed to at KSA.
One of the major beneficial is the opportunity to study a foreign language. Studying at WSU I had the opportunity to completely immerse myself in a new language.
I worked in international teams with international faculty for years, and was acquainted with different cultures and work styles. That’s what gave my job application a competitive edge.
Now that you are back in your home country, what are one or two things you learned here that you are trying to implement there?
I found that completely immersing myself in the education system of US is a great way to really experience and understand the people, its traditions, and its culture.
What do you miss the most from your time here?
My great adviser Dr. Darcy Miller, all my wonderful professors, and all my friends.
Dr. Abdullah Alrubaian
Associate Dean for Educational Academic Affairs
College of Education
Qassim University
Why did you decide to come to WSU?
Washington State University has excellent research programs for many various fields of study and phenomenal special education program. Also, is a great environment with great people who are very united as a big family, the students and faculty have so much pride and are happy to be part of the Cougars family.
How did higher education differ in the United States than it does in Saudi Arabia?
The US education system relies more on individuals actually thinking about the subject matter and learning to extend the information provided by the professors’ texts into other areas. Moreover, the Saudi education system still relies primarily on rote memorization. A student is to learn what the teacher says and only what the teacher says.
What was your favorite part of studying at WSU?
The academic environment and the strong sense of community.
What was the most beneficial part of studying at WSU?
The chance to experience different styles of education. By enrolling in a study at WSU, I have the chance to see a side of my major that I am not have been exposed to at KSA. And, WSU has very good special education PhD program.
What was the biggest challenge you faced at WSU?
The stress of the comprehensive exams and writing my research
Now that you are back in your home country, what are one or two things you learned here that you are trying to implement there?
Train my students to be more effective, respectful of other cultures and political and economic systems
What do you miss the most from your time here?
Everything! My great adviser, my professors, my classmate, and the life of Pullman…
