The Egyptian parliament confirmed a University of Maryland alumna as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism on Jan. 14.
Rania Al-Mashat, the first woman to hold this position, earned her master’s and doctorate in economics from this university in 1998 and 2001, respectively. She specializes in international economics, applied macroeconomics and monetary policy, according to News@AUC, a site from The American University in Cairo, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1995.
“Every international and domestic post or recognition along my career path better equips me to competently serve my country. That’s my lifelong goal,” Al-Mashat told News@AUC.
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Al-Mashat was previously an economist at the International Monetary Fund. When she started at the IMF in June 2001 at age 25, she was the youngest person to work at the organization, Daily News Egypt reported. She worked there until July 2005.
Al-Mashat worked at the Central Bank of Egypt from August 2005 to May 2016, when she returned to the IMF, according to Daily News Egypt. While at the Central Bank, she served as the Sub-Governor for Monetary Policy. After Egypt’s 2011 revolution, Al-Mashat helped construct and present the Government of Egypt’s Economic Program, according to her profile on the World Economic Forum.
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“There are six female ministers in Dubai and it was time for Egyptian female ministers to catch up,” Chairwoman of Alliance of Arab Women Hoda Badran told the Egypt Independent.
Egypt’s cabinet now has six female ministers, Egypt Independent reported.
