AUIS Capstone Panel: Highlighting Kurdish Women’s Resistance and Family Dynamics
Photo by Rebaz Hasan.
The Departments of Social Sciences and English Literature at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS), organized a literary capstone panel where undergraduate students presented their final capstone projects to faculty and peers. Students participated, shared their work with the audience and received feedback from professors and students. Social Sciences students were supervised by Dr. Lynn Rose from the AUIS Social Sciences Department, and three students were supervised by Dr. Isaac Cowell from the Department of English Literature. These faculty members oversaw the capstone projects and worked closely with the students. The event took place on the evening of May 15, 2025, with students and professors from several departments attending the presentations.
“This is a common practice elsewhere. Other AUIS departments have poster exhibits for their capstone projects, but English and IS run it as a presentation conference featuring academic 20-minute papers. English has been doing this every year since 2021, and it occurs most years,” said Ali Chetwynd, Chair of the English Department.
One of the IS presenters was Nwa Abubakar, a senior student in International Studies. Her capstone was titled “Art as Resistance: Ecofeminist Expression in the Work of Zehra Doğan.” Nwa’s presentation focused on how the Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan, while imprisoned, used natural materials such as mud and menstrual blood to create art as a form of feminist and ecological resistance.
Hewa Farman, also a senior student from the International Studies Department, presented her capstone titled “Generational Influence: Conversations with Syrian Mothers and Daughters.” Hewa said: “My study explores how Kurdish Syrian mothers internalize societal pressures and pass down traditional gender expectations, often imposing stricter academic and behavioral standards on daughters than on sons. It examines the emotional and cultural factors behind this pattern, offering a deeper look into family dynamics and the reproduction of gender norms.”
Following the presentations, the audience—comprising students and professors—engaged in a question-and-answer session and offered constructive suggestions. This open discussion fostered a strong academic environment and provided valuable feedback that both students appreciated.
Speaking to AUIS Voice about her experience, Hewa noted that her study is ongoing and that the presentation helped clarify and support her ideas. Nwa shared similar thoughts, stating, “Presenting my work-in-progress helped me organize my ideas more effectively and identify areas for revision. The feedback from students and professors was very helpful for my academic growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my capstone.”
The IS capstones attracted interest beyond their department, with English faculty also engaging with the presentations. Dr. Ali Chetwynd, Head of the Department of English, posed thoughtful questions and offered constructive feedback during the presentations. He expressed satisfaction with the work, noting, “Both Nwa and Hewa have identified important gaps in scholarly research, whether related to Kurdish art or Kurdish-Syrian family culture. Their topics, focusing on art, culture, and ideology, complemented the literature panel well, making the event a coherent and successful cross-department collaboration.”
Daleen Farhad, a student in the Department of English Literature, described the event as successful and enjoyable. “It was my first time attending a Social Science student capstone presentation. I appreciated hearing about women and their roles from both capstones,” Daleen said.
At the end of the seminar, the participating students thanked the audience for their feedback and expressed their intention to continue refining their capstone projects throughout the remainder of the semester.
- Rebaz Hasan