The Remarkable Student-Athletes of Morehouse & Colgate: Noha Shahba
Introduction
Archer’s Raiders is an organization that seeks to unify politically progressive fans, students, and alumni of Colgate University & Morehouse College through the passionate support of our sports programs. The namesake of this organization is Samuel “Big Boy” Archer Sr., one of the first Black football players to play for Colgate University and Morehouse College’s 5th President.
What follows this introduction is the eighth of many interviews I plan to host that are designed to showcase the nuance and intellect of current and former Colgate and Morehouse student-athletes. People often have the misconception that athletes are one dimensional; lacking the range to speak on different important issues facing the country today. But the fact is that pro and college level athletes are often intimately connected to their communities and the challenges facing them. These athletes have a unique platform to speak on these challenges and raise awareness about a host of important political issues.
Through these interviews and profiles, you will find that Colgate and Morehouse student athletes all have remarkable stories — and that each of them represents the values that our schools stand for in their own unique ways. Hopefully, the Colgate and Morehouse communities enjoy reading the profiles and watching the interviews as much as I enjoy putting them together.
Noha Shahba
The United States of America is a country built on the backs of African slaves, immigrants, and their descendants. Indeed, the statement “America is a country of immigrants” has been uttered over and again by politicians and activists since time immemorial. Unfortunately, throughout American history, most attempts at “immigration reform” from policy makers have been restrictive in nature. And, while the educational and occupational opportunities America affords immigrants are substantial — they are commensurate with those offered by many developed countries in the world.
The fact of the matter is that immigrants often have a rough go of it in this country, facing countless challenges — both overt, and subtle. Low-income first generation immigrants cannot access essential parts of the social safety net that provide a buffer from absolute poverty for many native born citizens, and foreigners that overcome the odds to excel academically in their home countries must compete against other aspiring Americans from around the world for a limited number of spots in American colleges and universities while American citizens are only in competition with one another. Then, of course, there is the racism.
From unsubstantiated claims of immigrants taking jobs from Americans, to nativist lies about immigrants bringing crime and disorder to American cities — immigrants, especially immigrants of color, must always profess their appreciation for being here, express loyalty to the country, and prove their value to the economy. But, despite the challenges laid at their feet and the obstacles placed in their path, immigrants persevere. In fact, all of the available data shows that immigrants benefit America in every way imaginable. Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens, more likely to start businesses than native born citizens, and have children that are more upwardly mobile than those of native born citizens. They are extremely patriotic, industrious, and hard-working. They form the foundation of several essential skilled and unskilled industries in America, and have consistently produced innovations that have made America a better place to live.
And so, it must be said that the immigrant experience in America is one of trial and triumph. After all, the data doesn’t lie. But the experiences of the individuals and families that incur massive risks to leave what they know in the embrace of a bright, but uncertain future, cannot be captured on a spreadsheet. Indeed, to experience the fruits of the American dream; the trials these people are faced with often exact a heavy toll. The struggle is real — but there is beauty in the struggle.
“Beautiful struggle” is, perhaps, the best phrase to describe the trials and triumphs of one Noha Shahba. Noha is a first-generation Egyptian-American daughter of Egyptian immigrants. On paper, her family’s immigration story tracks perfectly with what the data would predict — Noha comes from humble beginnings, she achieved great success academically through hard-work and dedication, and; as a function of the sacrifices made by her family, she will have many more opportunities in adulthood than those afforded to her immigrant parents. But, as is the case with many children of immigrants, Noha’s story is far more complex than a reductive “rags to riches” trope — it is a story marked by hope, disappointment, trauma, growth; and, finally, peace. It is also a story that begins long before Noha was born — for to truly understand the experiences that shaped her into the remarkable woman she is today, one must first know the remarkable stories of her parents.
Sahar Habib and Mohamed Shahba were each born in 1965 to Egyptian families of distinctly different backgrounds. Sahar belonged to an accomplished, prestigious family in the cosmopolitan city of Cairo. Her father was a lawyer, while her mother was a homemaker. She attended private schools her whole life — schools that only the privileged in Egypt had access to. A student of the highest order, Sahar excelled in school, then, after graduating from Cairo University and finding employment as an electrical engineer with the Egyptian Electricity Authority, she excelled professionally as well. Through the Egyptian Electricity Authority, she worked directly with the United Nations for almost a decade; and, through her work with the United Nations, she received an opportunity to do similar work in America with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) USA.
Born to a fellahi (peasant) family in rural Tanta, Mohamed’s life growing up could not have been further apart from Sahar’s. His family was poor, and, in a society wrought with colorism, his skin was dark. Unlike Sahar, he did not have access to the established, well-funded private schools that the elites of Egyptian society attended. Instead, he was relegated to the Egyptian public school system — a system that is acutely underfunded and understaffed.
Expectations of public school children in Egypt are low — achieving a basic level of literacy is sufficient — and most students don’t stay in school for more than a couple of years, preferring instead to enter the workforce and earn a wage to help their families. And yet, despite the considerable odds against him, through the consistent and diligent application of his intellectual gifts, Mohamed not only graduated from primary and secondary school — a remarkable accomplishment for any Egyptian public school student — but he went on to graduate with high marks from Cairo University. Upon graduation, he earned a position on the faculty of his alma mater, teaching in the institute of African Research & Studies, and the Department of Natural Resources. An astute student of horticulture, Mohamed’s focus was plant ecophysiology. After about a decade of plying his trade at Cairo, Mohamed took advantage of an offer from Colorado State in 1997 to move to America and work towards his PhD.
…
In 1999 Mohamed Shahba and Sahar Habib met in Fort Collins at Colorado State University. Sahar was deciding whether or not to attend the University in pursuit of her masters, and, while touring the campus, she met Mohamed at an International House for international students. At the time, Mohamed was president of the Egyptian Students’ Association, and it just so happened that Sahar was wearing a keychain with an Egyptian flag on it. Mohamed introduced himself, and, as the saying goes, the rest is history.
After a short courtship of 6 months, Mohamed and Sahar were married, and, 9 months after that, they had their first of three children — a baby girl named Noha. A mere 15 months after meeting one another, and only a few years after settling in America, Mohamed and Sahar found themselves in a long-term committed relationship and saddled with the massive responsibilities of parenthood — it all happened so fast. Perhaps too fast — years into their relationship they both maintain that the other was different, presumably better, before the marriage. Neither was financially, or emotionally, stable — and how could they be? The challenges facing first generation immigrants are well documented: insufficient money, insufficient time, lack of a familial support system, and an overwhelming sense of stress. At any rate, whether a result of unfortunate circumstances, personal failings, or, most likely, a combination of both, Mohamed and Sahar’s marriage was, from its hopeful beginning to its inevitable end, an unmitigated disaster.
Mohamed is a strict, stern man — not particularly emotional, and not particularly affectionate. In contrast, Sahar is a sweet, well-meaning woman with a gentle demeanor who cares deeply for her children. She also, unfortunately, lives on the extremes of the emotional spectrum — she is either very happy, or dreadfully miserable. Together, they had the chemistry of oil and water. Mohamed and Sahar always fought, typically about money, and sometimes things escalated to physical violence. In the evenings, they engaged in shouting matches in their basement that could go on for hours. For Noha, these fights were unavoidable for two reasons — first, the basement was her bedroom, and second, her parents often involved her in their fights, imploring her to choose one side over the other. When they weren’t fighting, they would speak badly about one another to Noha behind the other’s back.
Always exhausted from constantly fighting with one another, and from the pressures of their respective jobs and financial burdens, Mohamed and Sahar had little energy to appropriately address the social and emotional needs of their children. Lacking time, lacking patience, and always stressed, Noha’s parents never really developed a relationship with her during her childhood. Indeed, when their interactions didn’t involve bad-mouthing their spouse, they almost always involved direct, harsh criticism and discipline.
Mohamed and Sahar never truly understood Noha during her youth, and, to add insult to injury, they never tried to. As is typical of first generation immigrants, both of Noha’s parents are products of socially conservative upbringings. And so, they did everything in their power to surveil young Noha in an effort to make sure that she was not breaking the societal norms from which they came. Mohamed, in particular, went to great lengths to ensure that Noha did not have a boyfriend — or even a boy-friend, for that matter. Indeed, Noha recalls several occasions in which he intentionally embarrassed her in front of male acquaintances when picking her up from school; so as to dissuade boys from having any desire to speak with her in any capacity.
Perhaps most damaging to Noha, more than the constant fighting and surveillance, was her parents’ dismissive attitude towards her mental health issues — issues she likely developed as a result of the trauma she endured while growing up in a chaotic, toxic household. Anticipating a harsh response from her mother and father, young Noha never proactively told them about her depression — but, as a result of their surveillance, they eventually found out. Instead of responding with concern or empathy one would expect from their parents, they responded with anger founded in ignorance. If there was a concern about her condition, it was that, were she to commit suicide, it would be a grave sin in Islam — a sin that would bring shame on the Shahba family name.
In spite of the many challenges Noha faced at home, she was an excellent student — just as her parents were in their younger years. Unfortunately, however, academic success did not translate to social acceptance.
The Poudre District Public school system reflects the unique diversity of Fort Collins and Wellington, Colorado. On the whole, Fort Collins is a liberal city that brings together three distinctly different communities. Southeast Fort Collins is wealthy, moderately conservative and very white. It is, in fact, so white that it is commonly referred to by people in the know as “Vanilla Valley”. West Fort Collins is liberal and more racially diverse, and North Fort Collins is predominantly Hispanic and poor. The part of Wellington that the Poudre School District draws from is extremely politically conservative, very rural, and very white.
Noha was born and raised in Aggie Village. When the Shahba family lived there, it was a small, predominantly immigrant residential community located in West Fort Collins — but, like much of America, it has since lost some of its unique character to gentrification. Their neighbors were kind enough; but, as the only Muslim and Egyptian girl living there (save for her younger sister, Doha), Noha never really fit in. Growing up, she recalls being frequently made to feel different from the other children. And, although the actions that engendered these feelings were not intentionally malicious, they hurt all the same. In 5th Grade, for example, when Noha began wearing a hijab (a headscarf that some Muslim women wear to satisfy the Islamic requirement of modest dress), her friends snatched it off her head during recess and ran around the playground with it, keeping it away from her. Embarrassed and humiliated, she would not wear a hijab again until the 8th grade.
Elementary school was not all bad though — for, in 1st grade, Noha had the fortune of being placed in a class with a teacher whom she regards as the most influential person in her life. Lisa Gimlett was a fixture in the community of Fort Collins. Her passion for early childhood education was unmatched, and the love and empathy she had for her students knew no bounds. To Noha, Ms. Gimlett was a second mother-figure. Well aware of the tumultuous home environment Noha belonged to, Ms. Gimlett was always supportive, caring, and understanding. Her classroom was very inclusive, and the community she fostered with her students made them feel like family. Each year, she bought a new puppet for the classroom that she would give a different ethnic name to make minority students feel welcomed and seen. Noha had her Egyptian heritage honored twice; first with a monkey puppet named Magdy, then with a narwhal puppet named after her.
As a toddler, Noha was plagued with frequent night-terrors that robbed her of sleep — likely a result of the chaotic home in which she was raised. When Noha revealed this to Ms. Gimlett, she responded by having the class make her a dream-catcher. Not only was the sentiment a powerful display of love and support, but the dream-catcher actually worked and Noha stopped having nightmares.
When Ms. Gimlett tragically died in 2019 from early onset alzheimers, the whole of Fort Collins mourned her passing. She was revered by everyone, including Noha’s parents. In fact, they loved her so much that when Mohamed found out that Noha had gotten a narwhal tattoo in Ms. Gimlett’s honor, he completely supported the tribute despite his strict traditional beliefs.
Socially, things did not get easier for Noha in secondary school. Indeed, Middle and High school brought added responsibility for young Noha — she began wearing a hijab again in 8th grade, and she struggled with her identity throughout her teenage years. And, understandably so. Being a visibly Muslim girl in a community in which you are *the only one* comes with a unique set of challenges. On the one hand, you are immediately viewed through the lens of pathology — either as a potential threat to be mistrusted, or as a tragic victim of oppression in need of the liberating forces of western culture. As a result of these stereotypes, there’s always a nagging subconscious need to prove someone wrong — to show the broader society that their assumptions are founded in ignorance; that Muslims are not a monolith, but complex, nuanced individuals like every other demographic group. Alas, these efforts are often in vain; or, when they are successful, the judged individual is viewed as different from the rest of their lot — an exception to the rule. “Of course, most Muslim women are products of a socially backwards and morally bankrupt culture”, so goes the thinking, “…but Noha is different from the others — she’s cool.” As one can imagine, being seen as an exception is no better than being reduced to a stereotype.
It is hard to put into words the heavy toll this can take on a young girl who is trying to find her place in the world. The long-term effects this treatment can have are extremely damaging. It is, unfortunately, not uncommon to find impressionable teenagers who are embarrassed about their culture, religion, and family. Instead of embracing what ought to be a source of pride, they reject the people, practices, and beliefs that make them who they are. What is remarkable about Noha is that, without anyone to guide her through these troubled times, she has grown into a woman that is immensely appreciative and grateful for her Egyptian culture and Islamic upbringing. Indeed, the same things that she was made to feel embarrassed about in her youth, she now takes great pride in.
For Noha Shahba loves everything about Egyptian culture — from the weddings and social gatherings, to the food and holidays. When Egyptian women congregate in social settings, the atmosphere is always festive, the sisterhood is strong, and fun times are had by all. And, just as she has grown to wholly embrace her Egyptian heritage, she has developed a healthy relationship with Islam.
While some non-Muslims view the requirement of modest dress that Islam places on its followers as restrictive, Noha firmly believes that it is liberating. In a society obsessed by physical appearance, Noha’s hijab shifts the focus to the things that truly matter — her brilliant mind, unwavering sense of justice, and strong moral compass.
Despite the substantial challenges she faced throughout her adolescent and teenage years, Noha remained an exceptional student and engaged civil servant of her community. At Poudre High School — an institution marked by high rates of poverty, low rates of graduation, and degenerative social strife brought about by tensions between the conservative white and liberal hispanic populations — Noha earned consistently high marks as a member of the rigorous International Baccalaureate program.
When she wasn’t occupied with her studies, she was working at a local retirement home, either as a waitress, or as a program advisor who helped design fun activities for senior citizens. And, when she wasn’t working at the retirement home, she was involved with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver — an organization that provides valuable programming for girls from elementary school through college. These programs are designed to provide girls and women with foundational knowledge and networking opportunities to help them lead healthy and sustainable lives. The organization hosts sports activities, STEM camps, and financial literacy education. Noha was selected to be on the leadership council during the summer after her junior year of high school, and remains involved with Girls Inc. to this day.
Noha’s extraordinary accomplishments in and out of the classroom during her time at Poudre earned her an award as a Questbridge Finalist, and acceptance into the prestigious Benton Scholars program at Colgate University. Benton Scholars are chosen for their leadership qualities and intellectual creativity — qualities that are identified by the Benton Scholars Board via students’ college applications. Prior to COVID, each year’s Benton Scholars cohort was required to take a specific course consistent with the theme of the year — the theme of Noha’s year was colonialism — and receive funding to do international travel with their Benton cohort to learn more about the theme firsthand during the summer after their freshman years. Unfortunately for Noha’s cohort, they lost out on the summer research opportunity as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. But they did get to take the dedicated course together — and, it was through this course that Noha found her passion for feminism.
Before taking “Challenges of Modernity” Noha was unfamiliar with Women’s Studies. That changed when she met professor Danny Barreto, the man tasked with teaching “Challenges of Modernity” in the 1st semester of the 2019–2020 school year. Through Professor Barreto’s iteration of the course, students learned how social constructs, morality, class, and identity shape how people think and act in the 21st century. Professor Barreto’s approach to “Challenges of Modernity” spoke to two of Noha’s primary passions — social justice and activism. Inspired by the course and her professor, she chose Women’s Studies as one of her two majors. Her third passion — providing direct services to improve the lives of marginalized communities — was satisfied by her 2nd major at Colgate: Neuroscience.
Throughout her teenage years, Noha was always self-conscious about her weight. And, although she never committed significant time to organized athletics, she worked out intensely and consistently — often pushing her body past the point of failure. While her training allowed her to build considerable strength and athleticism, the weight just wouldn’t come off. When she sought additional counsel from her doctor, his response was exasperating — the reason she wouldn’t lose weight was simple: she needed to eat less and workout more. But that was impossible, she was already eating at a significant caloric deficit and she was already training as much as her body could take. Bereft of ideas, she continued dieting and working out to no avail — her situation appeared hopeless. Then, in 2018, she met a Physician Assistant who would change her life.
When Noha first met Kathryn Lovoi at the Wellness Clinic in Fort Collins, she had all but given up hope on losing weight and making progress towards her fitness and physique goals. So, when she explained her situation to Katy, she expected the same response she had been given many times before — her condition was the result of a lack of effort and desire; in effect, she simply didn’t want it enough. But, to Noha’s surprise, Katy offered to run hormone tests in an effort to find an underlying issue that might be at the root of Noha’s problems. And, as it would turn out, Katy’s hypothesis was correct — Noha’s inability to lose weight was due to a pre-existing thyroid condition, Hashimoto’s Disease. After explaining the situation to her, Katy prescribed the appropriate medications and Noha’s problems were solved — it was that easy.
This episode taught Noha two important lessons: first, she realized that many male doctors are ignorant to the unique issues plaguing women’s bodies, and second, she learned the transformative impact women healthcare workers can have on the lives of women patients. Inspired by the impact Katy Lovoi had on her life, Noha seeks to have a similar effect on the lives of women through the ethical application of neuroscience.
Rowing is a sport that has historically been reserved for those belonging to the highest social and economic classes in America. Most schools don’t offer it, and most Americans don’t even know it exists. So, given the exclusive nature of the sport, it is unsurprising that Noha did not have the opportunity to row in high school. It is also unsurprising that, upon arriving at Colgate, she had no intention of rowing in college. That all changed when Edi Dukesherer, a fellow Benton scholar and close friend, invited her to try out for the rowing team with her.
From the moment she joined the team and began preparing for competition, Noha loved rowing. Her coach, Jessica Deitrick, is a phenomenal teacher and leader — intense, but caring. Her teammates foster a supportive environment and familial atmosphere. And speeding through the water is one of the best feelings imaginable; both therapeutic and liberating. She even loves the exhaustive training sessions that rowing athletes must endure to prepare themselves for the immense physical toll of rowing through the water with pace.
After requiring a surgery that prevented her from participating in competition during the 2022–23 season, Noha focused on a different, non-athletic role with the team, a role she assumed during her sophomore year — career ambassador. As career ambassador, she serves as a liaison between Colgate’s robust career services department and the rowing team. Through this role, she created the first Colgate Rowing LinkedIn page to connect current students with rowing alumni.
In recognition of the leadership qualities she exemplified as a student and athlete, the Colgate Athletics department nominated her to represent the school, and the Patriot League selected her to represent the conference, at the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Forum in Houston during November of 2021. The forum was a great experience for Noha, as she had the opportunity to attend workshops to further develop her leadership skills, and hear accomplished, inspirational keynote speakers who excelled in their respective sports collegiately, and in a variety of different fields professionally.
Through the gifts she inherited from her parents — intellect, industry, resolve, and determination — and the difficult lessons she learned from their personal failings, Noha Shahba has endured, overcome, and accomplished more at the age of 22 than most people will in their entire lives. Now, with a myriad of experiences that range from tragic to spectacular behind her, the journey ahead is clear, and she is at peace. Her relationship with her parents, now separated, is stable; the pride she has for her culture and religion is immense; and her ambitions can be measured only by the size of her heart and the strength of her will — both of which are limitless.
Over the course of two days, Noha and I spoke for around 6 hours. I can confidently state that she is an amazing person; one who is destined to have a profound, positive impact on the lives of everyone she encounters. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to get to know her, and to *try* to capture some of what makes her such a remarkable woman. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the world after she graduates. I hope you enjoyed this piece, and I hope you find our conversation engaging!
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For the first profile and interview of this series featuring Morehouse College basketball legend James Walker, click here.
For the second profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Jeff Woodward, click here.
For the third profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Oliver Lynch-Daniels, click here.
For the fourth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Max Edelstein, click here.
For the fifth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Bobby Foose, click here.
For the sixth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Alejandro Coury, click here.
For the seventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Mason Pahule, click here.
For the ninth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University rugby player Tommy McHale, click here.
For the tenth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Cason Stafford, click here.
For the eleventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Rory Brookhart, click here.
