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February 22, 2007
The Woman Behind the Title
Get to know your new student regent.
Written by Gretchen Pressley
No one can say that Texas Tech University’s new student regent isn’t committed to her university.
Ebtesam Attaya Islam completed both her undergraduate and graduate educations at Texas Tech and is currently a second year medical student at the Health Sciences Center. Now she can add one more item to her long list of ways she is involved on campus.
Attaya Islam’s one year term, which expires February 2008, will give her the chance to represent students on both the general academic campus and at the Heath Sciences Center. She will serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Regents and will keep the other members updated on student needs and opinions.
“I’m excited about representing Tech because it’s a great school,” Attaya Islam says. “I’m really excited about doing some good for the school.”
A Family Tradition at Texas Tech
Attaya Islam started her bachelor’s degree in biology at Texas Tech in 1997, and has been a part of the university community ever since. She received her doctoral degree in cell and molecular biology from the Health Sciences Center.
“My family’s here for one,” Attaya Islam says in regard to why she decided to pursue her multiple degrees at Texas Tech. “For graduate school, I discovered the anatomy program at the Health Sciences Center and thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to continue my graduate career. Medical school just kind of followed.”
And staying close to her family is a strong reason for her to stay in Lubbock. Attaya Islam enjoys a very close relationship with the rest of her family, who celebrate a proud Egyptian heritage.
The Attaya family’s involvement with Texas Tech does not stop with Ebtesam. Her younger sister graduated from the TTUHSC medical school in 2005, her younger brother is a third-year medical student in El Paso, one of her other younger brothers is completing his first year at the Health Sciences Center and the youngest brother is a senior on the general campus. He will be starting his studies at the Health Sciences Center in August.
So where do the multitudes of successful Attayas get their encouragement to succeed? For Ebtesam, the answer is easy. The biggest influences in her life are her parents.
Attaya Islam’s parents are Nabil Attaya, a local cardiologist, and Adila Attaya, who was the first person to receive a master’s degree in architecture from the College of Architecture at Texas Tech.
“My parents always encourage me to be the best I can be,” Attaya says. “They always tell me that nothing can stop me. They are the source of my inspiration and always give me great advice. Both my parents have helped me and supported me so much. They always encouraged us to be whatever we wanted to be.”
Interests and Activities
Attaya Islam’s parents aren’t her only source of support these days. Attaya married Sameer Islam, a third year medical student, in June 2005. Attaya describes him as “very supportive, funny, smart and a good man.” Also she is not letting marriage get in the way of her medical school career.
“If anything, being married keeps you more focused,” Attaya Islam says. “You waste less time. You always have someone there to support you. You make time for the important things, and you piddle less.”
Between having fun with her family and cramming for her medical school exams, Attaya Islam doesn’t have much free time these days. But she is still active in several organizations at the Health Sciences Center. Attaya Islam is the vice president of the Medical Biotechnology Organization and a former co-president of the Graduate Student Association. She is a member of the American Medical Association and was co-editor of the trainee pages for the American Society of Andrology Journal.
“It’s important to combine the basic sciences and medicine,” Attaya Islam says.
Attaya Islam’s other interests include working out, watching a good movie and reading novels. Her favorite authors are Jose Saramago and Paulo Coelho, author of “The Alchemist.”
Being a Voice for the Students
Attaya Islam says one of the most important things she wants to do for Texas Tech and the Health Sciences Center is to show others the benefits and spread the word about the universities.
“Tech provides an excellent opportunity to develop a solid education and excel in life,” Attaya Islam says. “Tech is a wonderful university. We have fantastic professors, great teachers, terrific programs. It’s an excellent education. I want to put Tech’s name out there.”
As part of her student regent position, Attaya Islam will be meeting with the presidents of each student government association to find out what students need. For that reason, it is important that every student contacts his or her student government association with his or her opinions, Attaya Islam says.
“I want to represent the students,” Attaya Islam says. “I want their voices to be heard. Tech is a great school. We have a very supportive community, a family community. With the support of our students, we can rank ourselves higher than ever before.”
Learn more about Ebtasam Attaya Islam
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Photo by Artie Limmer
Web layout by Gretchen Pressley