Know your WUD Leader: Adan Abu-Hakmeh
Our life experiences shape each and every one of us. They help us understand who we are and what we want to accomplish in our lives.
This is especially true for Adan Abu-Hakmeh, the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) vice president of internal relations, whose incredible life experiences have brought her here to Wisconsin, while the rest of her family remains in Palestine.
Abu-Hakmeh was born in Palestine, but, when she was three, her family moved to Milwaukee, Wis., where her siblings were born. Abu-Hakmeh attended high school at the University School of Milwaukee before being admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison).
Upon her arrival to the UW-Madison campus, the rest of her family moved back to Palestine to be close to family there. Abu-Hakmeh, a junior studying legal studies with a minor in metals foundry and sculpture, travels to Palestine to visit her family often.
She says her unique upbringing and travels have helped shape her identity greatly.
“The main component of our life there is that my mother was born in Nazareth, so she has an Israeli citizenship, and, through her, my brother, sister and I all do, as well,” Abu-Hakmeh said.
However, since her dad was born in Palestine, he does not share this citizenship, which means he cannot cross the border with the rest of the family. Instead, he must apply for day passes in order to visit his wife’s family in Nazareth.
During her travels abroad, Abu-Hakmeh has dealt with the stress of crossing the border amid escalating political tensions.
“You kind of learn to go with the flow, keep your cool and rely on what you know,” Abu-Hakmeh said.
Abu-Hakmeh uses her experiences to shape her role as WUD vice president of internal relations. She focuses on making sure everyone’s experiences at WUD are positive, inclusive and safe.
“I really want people to feel as though their work matters and they’re being recognized for it,” Abu-Hakmeh said.
For her role, she works closely with both the WUD president and the vice president of external relations. She makes sure that all of the different WUD committees function properly and have all the internal and external resources that they need to succeed.
Abu-Hakmeh also coordinates WUD events that include all committees to allow committee members to develop relationships and exchange ideas. In addition, she serves as a liaison for Wheelhouse Studios, the Willis L. Jones Leadership Center, the Memorial Union Building Association and the Memorial Union Reinvestment construction team.
To learn more about the WUD and its many leaders, please visit union.wisc.edu/get-involved/wud/.
