Omani ambassador speaks at College of Nursing Convocation

VILLANOVA, Pa., May 22, 2007 — “You have earned a distinctive credential,” said H.E. Hunaina Al-Mughairy, the ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the United States in congratulating the Class of 2007, “Your graduation will translate into improved quality of care as well as greater accessibility to health care for many, many people.” The College of Nursing welcomed her as its May 19 Convocation speaker.

“You as nurses and as leaders in your field should be actively
involved in sharing knowledge of effective strategies in global health
improvement…Collaboration can be in sharing resources to address
health problems, promoting good health, and preventing various
diseases affecting our communities worldwide,” noted H.E. Hunaina
Al-Mughairy, the ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the United
States for the Class of 2007 which included 18 B.S.N. completion
and five M.S.N. students from Oman.

Ambassador Al-Mughairy was appointed in 2005 by H.M. Sultan Qaboos. She helped negotiate the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Implementation Act that President George Bush signed in 2006. The FTA enhances the bilateral relationship between these strategic friends and allies and promotes economic growth and prosperity for both nations. It is seen as a significant step in implementing the president’s plan for a broader Middle East free trade area.

Ambassador Al-Mughairy earned a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Politechnical Institute in Cairo, Egypt and a master’s degree in economics from New York University. Her previous positions include representative of the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development in New York City and she was the Center’s director general for investment promotion, as well as advisor to the undersecretary for industry at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. She was also assistant to the economic advisor to H.M. the Sultan of Oman.

Convocation, which recognizes the undergraduate and graduate degree candidates, including the Omani students gathered with Ambassador Hunaina Al-Mughairy, was held in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the University campus.

Given her achievements and leadership positions, the Ambassador is a role model. As such, she encouraged the graduates. “If you believe in your dreams and believe in yourself, you can aspire to heights that you never thought possible. I stand here before you as an example of a woman who has become the first female ambassador from an Arab country to the United States. I am here to tell you it is possible,” noted the Ambassador. She is the first female ambassador to the U.S. from an Arab country and the second female ambassador from Oman to a foreign country.

In her remarks, Ambassador Al-Mughairy thanked Connelly Endowed Dean M. Louise Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN “who has been instrumental in establishing this beneficial relationship” between Oman’s Ministry of Health and the College of Nursing over the last 12 years. She went on to acknowledge
the important future role of the graduates in international health, “As a nurse, you will play a unique role in the delivery of health services. You will bear the responsibility of bringing health care to communities…We should always have a vision beyond our community, as our world has become one big village…the causes and effects of many health problems are increasingly global in nature. Many infectious, environmental, and behavioral health problems can have major implications not only locally but also across borders. Therefore, addressing global health issues is very important.”