Presidential Associate

PRESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

The American University in Cairo
 

The Program:

Established in 1981, the Presidential Associates Program at The American University in Cairo (AUC) provides recent university graduates the opportunity to spend a full calendar year working at the highest levels of an international university. They will have the opportunity to learn Arabic, network with experts in the MENA region, and experience life in Egypt. This program provides recent graduates with the unique opportunity to begin their professional careers while abroad.

Work and Available Offices:

Associates will serve full-time for one year in the available office for FY2027 (starting September 2026). There is currently an open position in the Office of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs. A detailed description of the office and position can be found on our website.

Benefits:

Program benefits include a monthly living stipend, furnished faculty housing, private Arabic tutoring, access to AUC faculty and staff programs, health insurance, ability to audit courses, community-based personal development, subsidized trips around Cairo and Egypt, and more. 

Following completion of the Presidential Associates Program, associates may receive a full waiver of graduate study tuition at AUC, if accepted while enrolling, upon applying for a position and becoming a full-time employee at the University. You must be working full-time every semester for your tuition to be waived.

Application:

We look for a diverse array of applicants from a wide range of American universities, including students with no background in Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies. The application will include a writing sample, a personal statement (1 page), resume, unofficial transcript, and two letters of recommendation. Potential applicants should visit our website for more information on the program and application instructions. 

Instructions for the writing sample: Interview a fellow student at your university on a significant event/experience they had during their time at university and how it has impacted them. This could be an activity, course or study-abroad experience. The story should be:

• 500 to 800 words.
• No Q&As
• Must be written in story format with quotes

Eligibility:

This position is available to American citizens or permanent residents who are university seniors, graduating in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.

Information Session:

We will be hosting an information session on February 23rd at 12 pm EST. To sign-up for the information session, please follow this link. If you are unable to attend the information session, you can request a recording from associates@aucegypt.edu after the session has concluded.

To contact us with any further questions, please email us at associates@aucegypt.edu.

The application is due Sunday, March 15th, 2026.

Office of Marketing Communication and Public Affairs - Communication

The Office of Marketing Communication and Public Affairs serves as a conduit between AUC and the public. As such, the presidential associate in communication assists in maintaining and enhancing the branding and positioning of AUC’s image. 

• Produce and send out AUC's weekly newsletter, News@AUC, using an email marketing platform (MailChimp)
• Research, interview sources and write articles for News@AUC, AUC's website and other University channels in line with AUC’s positioning, main messages and content pillars
• Research, interview sources and write feature-length stories for AUCToday (University magazine) in line with AUC’s positioning, main messages and content pillars
• Manage AUC story webpages, including publishing stories and photo galleries
• Research best practices of newsletters, stories, videos and other university content
• Attend select University events for coverage in AUC channels or to get quotes and information to be featured in the University newsletter
• Take photos and conduct interviews around campus for articles and videos
• Produce midyear and annual readership and viewership reports for stories and videos, with recommendations and the way forward
• Research and provide fresh ideas for content and/or enhancements to the newsletter within AUC's branding guidelines
• Help create marketing brochures, campaigns and content when needed
• Assist in surveys and research for the University newsletter and stories, videos and content
• Assist in producing video stories, alongside written ones, to be used in newsletters and AUC’s social media channels
• Take part in communication-unit wide initiatives and events

One aspect of the associateship is that this presidential associate will be the main delegate in charge of creating written, visual and multimedia content for the University newsletter and magazine. This translates to a fairly heavy workload and the management of many projects at once.

Job Requirements

The presidential associate should be adept in conducting interviews with students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni and sometimes special guests to the University; be able to write well and be experienced in conducting research. The presidential associate must be able to deal effectively and diplomatically with the public and have a talent for organizing and coordinating several projects at once, each with pressing deadlines. Excellent writing skills are required. Internet-savvy; knowledge of social media, AP style guide, MailChimp, Drupal, WordPress and web design software, as well as some photography and videography experience, are highly desirable.