Methodist University senior Fadhl Al-Names ’24 has never taken his education for granted, and now his determination is paying off as he prepares to graduate. But to understand why Al-Names is grateful for his opportunity at Methodist University, it is important to understand where he came from. Al-Names grew up almost 7,500 miles away in Aden, Yemen – a place he holds near to his heart despite many life-altering events.
The following story was featured in the Fayetteville Observer.
Methodist University senior Fadhl Al-Names ’24 has never taken his education for granted, and now his determination is paying off as he prepares to graduate.
“Everything in my life has given me an entirely different perspective about education,” said Al-Names.
But to understand why Al-Names is grateful for his opportunity at Methodist University, it is important to understand where he came from. Al-Names grew up almost 7,500 miles away in Aden, Yemen – a place he holds near to his heart despite many life-altering events.
“Starting in 2015, the war situation became worse with bombs and shootings. I escaped death three different times before even coming here,” Al-Names said. “The first was a car bombing on the same street I was passing through, the second was a bombing of a police station nearby while I was sleeping, and the third was a missile launch at an airport next to a restaurant that my family and I were eating at.”
In the midst of the troubles, Al-Names always had his eyes set on improving his life – even if that meant leaving Yemen. He was fortunate enough to join the United World College’s International Baccalaureate program in India – a two-year educational program primarily for teenage international students.
“I arrived in India a month later than everyone else and I didn’t speak English at the time,” he said. “It was really difficult to catch up, and I almost gave up.”
But his father, who lived in India for several years himself, gave timely and critical advice that changed the trajectory of Al-Names’ life.
“He told me, ‘If you give up and come back home, your life is going to be destroyed, and you won’t have any opportunities.’ I really needed to hear that at that time,” Al-Names added.
Al-Names pushed forward and graduated from the program in 2020 and started thinking about college. For him, the choice was easy.
“When I was searching, I wanted to find a university with a small population and small class sizes. Two big reasons I chose Methodist University were the 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and the fact that it is a tight-knit community,” he added.
Even when the decision to attend MU was made, the trouble did not stop for Al-Names. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Al-Names returned to Yemen – complicating his pursuit of a U.S. visa just months before starting class in Fayetteville. Since the country does not have a U.S. embassy, Al-Names had to work tirelessly to set up a visa appointment in Djibouti, in eastern Africa. Fortunately, it ended with Al-Names receiving his visa and being able to attend MU.
“I would have swum to Methodist University if I had to,” said Al-Names. “There was no way I was going to waste this opportunity.”
Although he was admittedly shy at first, Al-Names slowly became more comfortable as a Methodist University student – in and out of the classroom.
Al-Names decided to double major in Business Analytics and Financial Economics with a minor in Business Administration. In his four years, Al-Names has consistently appeared on the University’s Dean’s List, which honors students with a 3.5 or better GPA.
“The Reeves School of Business & Economics is wonderful,” he said. “There’s wonderful faculty and wonderful facilities. Dr. Matt Dobra (Chair, Accounting & Financial Economics) helped me decide to pursue Business Analytics, which was a great decision. Professor Oz Hamzah (Assistant Professor of Business Administration) helped me better understand the professional side of the world. But the entire faculty is incredible.”
Academically, Al-Names also credited numerous faculty and staff for his growth: Dr. Quincy Malloy (Chief Diversity Officer), Minnu Paul (Director, Global Education Office), and Rebecca King (Director, Academic Support).
“I’ve had the privilege of watching Fadhl grow into a confident, engaged, and accomplished individual,” said King. “During his time at Methodist University, he was made remarkable contributions. Despite the challenges in his home country, Fadhl remains one of the most positive and determined individuals I’ve ever met. He is a loyal and kind friend, and his presence enriches the lives of those around him.”
Al-Names also quickly found a way to enhance the Methodist University community by volunteering his time with multiple groups including the Student Government Association (international senator) and the International Club (member and president).
“One of my favorite experiences on campus was organizing Pangea in 2023,” Al-Names said. “We won best event of the year and it’s something I’m so proud of. I also loved that we started the Global Café series, which invites the entire MU community to try out some of the international students’ favorite foods.”
Al-Names also had a chance to co-organize two separate TedX events on campus, including most recently in April during Methodist University’s CRC Symposium Week.
After four years of success, Al-Names will graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Methodist University this December – a moment he still can’t quite comprehend.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been very lucky,” he said. “I’ve been luckier than many of my peers, and I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
The immediate future is bright for Al-Names, who already has a full-time job lined up after graduating as a licensed platform associate with First Citizens Bank. While he’s nervous for what is ahead, Al-Names will always be grateful for his time as a Monarch.
“Methodist University has been my home for the past four years,” said Al-Names. “I’m very thankful for all of the faculty and staff who’ve helped along the way. I’m very thankful for Methodist University. Not only did it provide an education for me, but it gave me a sense of home. I will forever be grateful to Methodist University for saving my life.”
Methodist University’s renowned Reeves School of Business & Economics houses seven undergraduate academic programs: Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Financial Economics, Management, Marketing, and Sport Management. Students can also concentrate in Health Care Administration, PGA Golf Management, Professional Tennis Management, and Sport Management. The school also features four fully-online programs: Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, and the Master of Business Administration. Visit any of the program pages to learn more or apply today.