- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student selected for minority women business owner accelerator program

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:01:12 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been selected for a competitive new entrepreneur accelerator program for early-stage, minority, and women-owned businesses in Arkansas. Nora Bouzihay, a doctoral student in education from Jonesboro, is one of 10 participants in the Arkansas Women’s Business Center and Remix Ideas’ unique program designed to support a segment of entrepreneurs that is often overlooked. A part of Winrock International, the Arkansas Women’s Business Center helps women-owned small businesses start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing quality training, counseling, and access to capital. Momentum, the five-week accelerator program, is unique in that it targets early-stage startups with little to no revenue, some of which have not yet been organized or incorporated. “What we found is that central Arkansas has really developed a pretty robust system of entrepreneur support organizations,” said Chauncey Pettis, director of the Arkansas Women’s Business Center. “However, there is still a disconnect between women in the minority communities and these support organizations. These women have less access to mentorships, training opportunities, and access to capital. Historically, women entrepreneurs are 50 percent less likely to receive capital than their male counterparts.” Bouzihay launched her hijab and scarf company in March 2018 in honor of her grandmother, a strong woman who encouraged her granddaughter to blossom in life. “My company is called Nowara Co,” Bouzihay said. “Nowara was a nickname my grandmother had given me growing up. It means flower in Arabic. My grandmother inspired me to blossom and to grow into a strong woman who could help other women and girls be strong.” Bouzihay’s grandmother passed way in 2017, and she began to plan the start of her company to encompass her grandmother’s legacy. “When my grandmother passed way, I thought, ‘What better way to inspire and empower young women and girls than through scarves?” she said. Nowara Co’s scarves have been sold across the world, including Canada, Germany, and Abu Dhabi. For every three scarves Bouzihay’s company sells, one will go to a refugee overseas. Although refugees receive food, clothes, health supplies, and water, they do not receive scarves, Bouzihay said. As a part of Momentum, Bouzihay and the other participants meet once a week with Pettis for workshops, guest speakers, and mentorship. “They give us hands-on teaching on how to be a business owner,” Bouzihay said. “We are learning how to manage our finances, how to write business plans, how to use marketing tools, and how to pitch your business to investors. Being a part of Momentum is an honor that was not expected. I am very humble and thankful to be a part of it. It’s been a great experience.” Pettis said Bouzihay was chosen for the program because of her excellent application, unique business model, and passion for entrepreneurship. “Nora is a very passionate participant who is coachable. We believe in what she is doing and believe with a little bit of assistance she can be very successful,” Pettis said. “She’s been invaluable to the class and has been a full participant that has soaked up our knowledge and grown as an entrepreneur. At AWBC, we look forward to staying in touch with Nora as she grows past Momentum. We hope to keep Nora as a client and keep her involved in our programming and help her continue to grow.” Bouzihay is also thankful for the opportunity to become a part of a strong network of business owners who understand what the unique challenges of being a woman business owner as well as member of a minority group. “It’s very, very empowering to be around a group of women who are genuine and push each other to be successful,” Bouzihay said. “It’s very powerful to be around people who really want you to be successful and understand the struggle of being a female minority business owner in Arkansas.” With the one-year anniversary of her business coming up, Bouzihay is planning to celebrate by raising money for a cause she is passionate about. She will hold a gala event at the Great Hall in the Clinton Library on March 2 to raise money for Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar living on the border of Bangladesh. An estimated nearly 700,000 refugees, more than half of them children, are living in Bangladesh,. “I am very interested in a variety of humanitarian issues,” she said. “This one in particular hasn’t had as much media attention, and I thought what better way to bring its attention through a huge fundraiser for them here in Arkansas. This is a first for the Natural State,” she said. The gala will feature a “Muslims of the World” book tour stop. “Muslims of the World” tells the diverse stories of Muslims living in the U.S. and around the world. Illustrated throughout with moving photographs, each chapter focuses on different aspects of the Islamic faith and the many varying cultures it encompasses, offering tales of love, family, and faith while empowering Muslim women, refugees, and people of color. The event will also feature local youth performing songs and spoken word poetry, a live band, and cultural performances. Tickets for the gala can be At the conclusion of the five-week program, Bouzihay and the other participants will receive $500 in technical assistance that can be used toward the development of their businesses. Additionally, the Arkansas Women’s Business Center has found five generous vendors that have offered services, such as web development, legal counsel, graphic design, and brand consulting, to the participants at a discounted rate. Remix Ideas will also host a pitch challenge for some of the Momentum participants on Feb. 22 at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

Student entrepreneur honored with Rising Star Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:15:39 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been honored as an entrepreneur with a startup that is making a difference. Nora Bouzihay, who is pursuing a Doctor of Education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, was a recipient of the Rising Star Award at A Celebration of Startups, presented by Remix Ideas, in December. In March 2018, Bouzihay launched her own hijab/scarf company, Nowara, which means “flower” in Arabic, was the nickname given to her by her Moroccan grandmother. “Nowara Co. was a continuation of my grandmother’s legacy to instill in and empower young girls and women to embrace their natural beauty,” Bouzihay said. “I am very thankful to have been recognized for the work behind Nowara Co. It’s an amazing feeling having others see the vision behind my grandmother’s legacy. I am truly humbled for such an honor and am looking forward to 2019 and what it has in store for Nowara Co.” Nowara Co’s scarves have been sold across the world, including Canada, Germany, and Abu Dhabi. For every three scarves Bouzihay’s company sells, one will go to a refugee in the Middle East. Although refugees receive food, clothes, health supplies, and water, they do not receive scarves, Bouzihay said. In the spring, Bouzihay plans to visit refugee camps to deliver the donated scarves. The first female in her family to graduate from high school as well as college, Bouzihay is a graduate assistant in academic advising and a first-year experience instructor at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. She also serves as the director of North Little Rock Works and a tutor in the Little Rock School District. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2015 and her Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service in 2017. As a doctoral student, she studies higher education leadership within women in the Middle East and North Africa regions.

First-generation college student builds legacy through education

Jenny Lambert — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:00:54 +0000

Nora Bouzihay, a doctoral student of education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, became the influence that she wanted to see. She was the first female in her family to graduate from high school, attend college, obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree, and pursue a doctorate.

Bouzihay’s parents had always stressed to her and her siblings the importance of getting an education. They traveled from Morocco, a country in North Africa, to the United States as a young couple to provide a better life for themselves and the children they planned to someday have. From the start, they realized education would be the key to their children’s success.

“Go to school, get an education, the more knowledge the better,” Bouzihay recited. “That’s always been ingrained in my mind.”

‘I had to do everything on my own’

When Bouzihay completed her tenth-grade year at Nettleton High School, she made a decision that would put her educational pursuit into overdrive. She was accepted into and attended the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

“[ASMSA] was really amazing,” she said. “I got a lot of exposure to and preparation for college. In fact, I did my senior thesis on diabetic research here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in the chemistry department.”

Once Bouzihay became a freshman at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she was more than confident in her ability to succeed in higher education because of her pre-college experience at ASMSA. Bouzihay understood that she would encounter challenges that were unique to her, so she did everything in her power to ensure that none of those obstacles slowed her stride.

“It was tough because I had to do everything on my own like explore, network, and figure out what I needed to do to become successful,” Bouzihay said, “but I received endless support from my parents who continued to push me.”

Finding her passion

While weaving her web of connections and opportunities, Bouzihay stumbled across a program that changed the course of her quest as a future scientific researcher. Although she’d enjoyed being a part of the Donaghey and Science Scholars programs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, it was the National Model Arab League that resonated with her inner self.

The National Model Arab League is a student leadership development program designed to give students a taste of life as international diplomats. Once Bouzihay graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with her bachelor’s in biology, she took her talents to the Clinton School of Public Service where she learned the ins and outs of diplomacy through public service.

Life in Dubai

Photo by Ben Krain — Photo composite of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate student, Nora Bouzihay, who studied in Dubai

As a requirement of the master’s program at the Clinton School, Bouzihay was tasked with choosing an international location for her public service abroad. Bouzihay was cleared to study in Dubai and spent eight months working with the country’s U.S. Department of State and United Arab Emirates.

Once again, Bouzihay was on her own. This time, however, she found herself in need. Nine days after she arrived in Dubai, Bouzihay’s appendix ruptured.

“I had to have emergency surgery,” Bouzihay said. “It got so bad that the doctor said if I didn’t have surgery right away I would die because of the rupture.”

Bouzihay’s mother rushed to the Middle East to be by her daughter’s side and helped nurse Bouzihay back to health. Once Bouzihay was able to work, she did so non stop, so much so that she was asked to extend her semester-long stay in Dubai to work on other projects, as well as projects in Morocco.

This time allowed Bouzihay to reconnect with her roots and visit her family. Her grandmother in Morocco had fallen ill and was hospitalized, so Bouzihay felt joy, comfort, and security being by her side, helping care for her grandmother.

“My grandmother always told me to finish school,” Bouzihay said. “She wasn’t traditionally educated, but she was educated through life’s experiences. She never knew how to read and write, but she had wisdom.”

Bouzihay’s grandmother passed away last spring, and to honor her legacy, Bouzihay dedicated her master’s degree to her.

Can’t stop, won’t stop

Following her experience in Dubai, Bouzihay was sure of what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Rather than becoming a medical doctor/biomedical researcher as she’d once imagined, Bouzihay longed to work with women and children in the Middle East and North Africa to create a pathway for their future.

To turn this dream into a reality, Bouzihay started the trek to obtaining her doctoral degree. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, while serving as a graduate assistant for undergraduate academic advising and working with first-generation college students and minorities.

“It’s been a goal of mine to not stop until I get to the end,” Bouzihay said. “In the field that I want to work in, the more degrees, the more competitive you are. My parents sacrificed so much, so I can’t stop until I’m done.”

Nowara Co.

Although Bouzihay has a load of responsibilities on her shoulders, she’s made room for one more. She recently launched her own hijab/scarf company, Nowara Co. Nowara, which means “flower,” was the nickname given to her by her grandmother.

“Nowara Co. was a continuation of my grandmother’s legacy to instill in and empower young girls and women to embrace their natural [beauty],” Bouzihay said.

For every three scarves Bouzihay’s company sells, one will go to a refugee in the Middle East. Although refugees receive, food, clothes, health supplies, and water, Bouzihay says they do not receive scarves.

Freedom in the hijab

About a year and half ago, Bouzihay committed to wearing the hijab daily. Although she was first uneasy of the looks and backlash she would receive from people outside of the Muslim faith, she felt fulfilled in making that decision and wanted other women to feel free and proud, just as she did, when wearing the scarf.

“I was terrified because the political era that we were in at that time was hard,” Bouzihay explained. “Everyday, it’s hard to walk outside wearing a hijab. As soon as someone sees you, they know you’re a Muslim so they already have that image of you. I knew that my life was going to change 180 degrees, and that’s very terrifying because you don’t know how it’s going to be. God blessed me with the respect from people of all corners of life. You get the people who say racial slurs every once in a while, but it all comes down to faith.” Bouzihay has been more than an inspiration to her friends and family. She’s established a legacy through education, diligence, dedication, and resilience. After graduating from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for a second time, this time with her Ph.D in 2022, she plans to take and pass her foreign service exam, head to the Middle East, and do the work that she loves.

High school students to participate in Model Arab League

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 15:00:12 +0000

More than 150 Arkansas high school students will participate in an annual international leadership program that gives students a taste of life as an international diplomat. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host the High School Model Arab League conference on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24. The Model Arab League is a student leadership development program created by the. It is a simulation of an international organization, the League of Arab States, which represents 22 countries. “The Middle East is an area of critical importance to international politics,” said Dr. Rebecca Glazier, director of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Model Arab League and associate professor in the School of Public Affairs. “Many of the issues there — from religious extremism to water shortages to gender inequality — are issues that matter for the whole world. Thinking through potential solutions to these problems is a great way for students to get engaged and feel hopeful about the future of the Middle East and the world,” she said. During the two-day event, high school students from across the state will serve as delegates on committees. The conference will be run by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students, who will chair committees, organize awards, and serve in key roles, such as secretary general. A new exercise in this year’s conference will be a joint crisis simulation from 9-11 a.m. on Feb. 24 in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall, where all 150 students will work together to respond to an international crisis in the Arab World. Nora Bouzihay, a first-year doctoral student at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and former president of the Muslim Student Association, who will give the keynote address at noon on Feb. 24 in Donaghey Student Center Ledbetter Hall about her work with the U.S. Department of State and refugees and her new business, NowaraCo, which makes headscarves and donates a portion of the proceeds to make headscarves for refugees. Bouzihay is from Jonesboro, Arkansas. She is a first-generation college student who graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2015 and earned her master’s degree in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service in 2017. She spent the majority of her master’s thesis research abroad working with the U.S. Department of State in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, serving as a graduate assistant for undergraduate academic advising and working with first-generation college students and minorities. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hosted the Model Arab League since 2008. The event is sponsored by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program, the League of Arab States Information Office, and the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations. For more information, contact Dr. Rebecca Glazier, raglazier@ualr.edu, or visit the Model Arab League.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students celebrate World Hijab Day

Jenny Lambert — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:46:36 +0000

University of Arkansas at Little Rock students came out in droves to support the Muslim Student Association’s second annual World Hijab Day event on Thursday, Feb. 1. “I started this event last year because I felt that a lot of people were being discriminated against during this political climate,” said Nora Bouzihay, first-year doctoral student and former president of the Muslim Student Association. “I wanted people to come together as one to support one another regardless of sexual orientation, race, culture, or religion.” During the two-hour event, participants were permitted to select a garment from a table of over 400 scarfs donated by Muslim women in the Little Rock community. Once a scarf was chosen, a member of the Muslim Student Associationwould wrap the hijab around a student or faculty member’s head and escort him or her to a mirror. Afterward, the pair would take a photo using props labeled #EndDiscrimination. Each participant who wore the hijab was allowed to keep the scarf. The nearly 400 students who attended the event were visibly intrigued by the hijabs and were able to engage in thoughtful conversations about Muslim culture with members of the Muslim Student Association. Numerous hugs were exchanged at the conclusion of dialogue, and smiles were plastered across the faces of nearly every person present. Following the adornment of scarves, the organization conducted a balloon release on behalf of victims of discrimination. Students wrote names of friends and family members on the balloons, as well as events or interactions that personally affected them. “The balloon release was designed to let go of those memories and to come together as one,” Bouzihay said. “It was so empowering and an emotional time for many people.” Bouzihay said she hopes to host the event again next year and looks forward to seeing how it grows.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock student selected for minority women business owner accelerator program