KU News Release

Law graduate to study in Egypt on Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

Ambereen Shaffie

LAWRENCE – A University of Kansas law student slated for May graduation will continue her studies in Egypt with the help of a Rotary Club Ambassadorial Scholarship.

Ambereen Shaffie was admitted to the Ibrahim Shihata Memorial LL.M. Program in International and Comparative Law at American University-Cairo, where she plans to complete her master’s degree by May 2009. Shaffie will concentrate her LL.M. in international trade law and policy, with a focus on trade justice. The scholarship will cover all tuition and living expenses.

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people from different countries and geographical areas. While abroad, scholars design a humanitarian project, serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations to local Rotary clubs. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others their experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.

Shaffie’s interest in international law originates from growing up in the American Midwest as the daughter of Muslim Pakistani immigrants.

“My parents raised my two brothers and me to use our education and privilege to contribute to our communities,” she said. “I think the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship draws upon this same value of solving systemic global problems through direct-service learning.”

Shaffie believes there is great potential in Egypt to create entrepreneurship-friendly policies that will attract foreign investment and stimulate economic development.

“The Rotary scholarship allows me the freedom to test this theory and to apply my legal skills in a practical setting,” she said.

At the KU School of Law, Shaffie is president and founder of the Muslim Law Students Association and a member of the Black Law Students Association and the International Law Society. She is an executive board member of the National Muslim Law Students Association and a founding board member of the Kansas City Worker Justice Center. She speaks English, Arabic, Spanish and Urdu.

Shaffie grew up in Overland Park and graduated from Blue Valley High School. She earned a bachelor’s in economics and international studies at the University of Kansas. She is the daughter of Mohammed Shaffie and Sheba Khalid.

Ambassadorial Scholarships, the Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. In 2006-07, 822 scholars from 50 countries studied in 80 countries; program awards were $13.9 million. Rotary International is the world's first service club organization. Its more than 1.2 million members volunteer their time and talent to further the Rotary motto, “Service above self.”

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