Alumni Spotlight: Hiba Elhag ‘11
(April 26, 2019) - A member of the new Clayton State Young Alumni Council, alumna Hiba Elhag ’11 knows the importance of being involved and giving back. When she first became involved in the Alumni Association, it was because of this desire to continue to see improvement and positive change in her alma mater.
“I wanted to see change; I want our Alumni Association to grow, give back, and impact the Clayton State community.” She continues, “Other alumni should get involved in the Alumni Association to build on the legacy they started or contribute to and be the change they want to see.”
Arriving at Clayton State as a Pre-Engineering student with plans to transfer to Georgia Tech, Hiba quickly fell in love with Clayton State, the campus, and the family-oriented environment. Her pride was so much that she decided to stay and pursue her degree in Technology Management.
In addition to her coursework, Hiba stayed active within the student body. She was involved with Student Government Association, African Student Association, Student Financial Advisory Board, University Housing, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She says her experience as a student would not have been the same without her extensive campus involvement.
Hiba describes her experience by stating, “That involvement didn’t only keep me busy and on my toes, it taught me lifelong skills and lessons. It helped shape my leadership, communication, and organizational skills, which are all skills I use on a daily basis now.”
After working at a different organization for five years, Hiba is now an Information Security Analyst for the Georgia Department of Public Health. In this role, she is responsible for the security of Personal Health Information (PHI) for the citizens of Georgia. Hiba notes that while she is in a high-demand field and there are job opportunities available, she has had a Clayton State connection with both jobs.
Hiba began serving as a volunteer for the Alumni Association in 2016 as a part of a group of young alumni asked to provide feedback on Homecoming. This previous iteration of the Young Alumni Council was developed to keep younger alumni interested and involved. She is looking forward to serving again as a member of the Council to execute some of the great ideas and goals that were previously discussed. Additionally, she hopes to reconnect all young alumni by organizing programs that will enhance the engagement of recent graduates.
“I believe with the right group of alumni, the Young Alumni Council has the potential to become the face of involvement for all young alumni,” Hiba declares.