Duke shaped who I am – not just as an Olympic medalist but as an advocate for change. It’s where cultures, ideologies and identities converge, reflecting our global community. As the only woman in hijab on campus, I balanced belonging and standing apart. Duke instilled in me the confidence to pursue excellence and the understanding that education and athletics could be powerful vehicles for transformation.
I’ve competed globally, representing the U.S. at the highest levels of sport. As a visibly Muslim woman in fencing, I have faced unique barriers. Each competition tested not just my athletic ability but also my mental strength. Being visibly different in elite spaces instilled in me not only the resilience to persevere but the vision to create pathways where none had existed before.
The Olympic medal I earned wasn’t just for me – it was for every little brown girl who never saw herself represented, who was told there wasn’t room for her faith and athletic ambitions to coexist.
Recently, I discovered a profound connection to Duke’s legacy of breaking barriers. My relative, Donald T. Moore, M.D., was the first African American fellow in the Duke School of Medicine. Despite facing systemic obstacles, he pioneered improvements in women’s and minority health care in the Durham community and at Duke. Learning about his commitment to creating change within institutional walls resonated deeply with my own journey. Today, whether working with organizations like the Qatar Foundation and Special Olympics, or advocating globally for equity and the importance of sport, I carry forward the legacy of breaking barriers that both Dr. Moore and Duke instilled in me. My journey from campus in Durham to international platforms demonstrates the power of education combined with purpose. Sport has been my medium, but change has always been my message.