Integrated design grad earns degree 12 years after starting college

Asmaa Althami is happiest when creating art. Vibrant shades of yellow, pink, blue and purple pop up in her work as a recent graduate of the integrated design program at Fresno State. 

Her art is bright — cheerful. 

But for a time in her life, Althami couldn’t practice art. When she first pursued her undergraduate degree 12 years ago at the International University of Technology Twintech in Yemen, war broke out and forced the university to close. She was one year away from graduating. 

Althami turned to writing. She captured her feelings and her experience living through war in a digital diary on her phone.

“When I have bad feelings, I like to write,” Althami said. “When I have good feelings, I like to make art.”

Those words turned into a self-published book that Althami wrote as part of an independent study course at Fresno State when recent world events stirred up the emotions that she worked hard to put behind her. The somber-looking black and red book, titled “The War You Think I Survived,” was displayed next to her colorful product packaging designs at her senior design show in April.

Althami said someone attending the show flipped through the book and said to her, “Wow, your book is so sad and your designs are so bright and happy.”

“I’ve always been drawn to bright, lively colors in my work, but having someone else notice that, especially in contrast to the content of my book, really gave me a new perspective on myself,” Althami said. “This reflection brought me to a deeper understanding of myself as an artist and made me realize that design is my coping mechanism.”

Althami was born in the United States and moved with her family to the Middle East when she was 4, eventually settling in Yemen. She studied multimedia design at International University and loved it, but her studies were cut short. She got up one day, grabbed the car keys and her father asked her where she was going. The war had started.

The situation was bleak: there was no electricity or water and her family’s basic needs were not met. After about three months, the family tried to leave the country by crossing the border between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. After two days of no food and sitting in the sweltering desert at the border, they returned home. When the airport reopened nine months after the start of the war, the family bought tickets to fly to Egypt.

The university lost its accreditation during the war, so Althami had to start all over. She tried many times, but the trauma of living through the war paralyzed her for three years. But other aspects of life continued. Althami got married, and with her husband, moved to Sacramento while her family stayed behind in Egypt.

Once settled, she finally returned to school. Althami went to American River Community College where it took her four years to earn her associate’s degree in arts-new media. During that time, she took time off to have a baby. Then, she transferred to Sacramento State where she took classes for three semesters before her husband’s job brought them to Fresno and Althami to Fresno State.

The faculty were helpful and encouraging as they reviewed Althami’s work and experience, helping to guide her through the program so she could complete high quality work and graduate quickly, she said. The transfer process from Sacramento State involved a lengthy course evaluation. Althami said she was especially appreciative of professors Dr. Laura Huisinga and Virginia Patterson, who both motivated and encouraged her through this journey.

“It felt like a dream. I’m glad I’m done now,” said Althami, who hopes to work for a marketing agency. “I’m older than an average student, so it was hard to manage all of this stuff … I studied three times over. Every time, I learned something new. You’re going to meet different kinds of people, be exposed to different experiences, but do your best, never stop, don’t compare yourself to others. Even though your process is slower than other people, it doesn’t matter. You’ll look back at yourself and thank yourself for doing it.”