This month marks ten years since the untimely loss of Nina Brekelmans, a beloved member of the CCAS community and a 2015 graduate of the MA in Arab Studies (MAAS) program. Nina is remembered not only for her academic excellence and warmth of spirit, but also for the clarity of purpose with which she lived her life. Through her academic and volunteer work, she found meaningful ways to unite her passions—distance running, the Arabic-speaking world, and the empowerment of women and girls—into a larger mission of public service. In the decade since her passing, Nina’s legacy has lived on through initiatives that reflect the very causes she championed: a foundation and scholarship established in her name have continued to shape the lives of girls in the Middle East and support students committed to advancing gender equity in the region.
Nina was born in Ohio then spent most of her childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, where she excelled as both an athlete and a language learner. She chose to finish high school in Mexico to deepen her Spanish fluency, a decision that reflected her early passion for learning about other cultures. At Dartmouth College, Nina majored in Arabic and pursued further language training in Egypt and through Middlebury College’s intensive summer programs—eventually becoming a language drill instructor for beginner students at Dartmouth. It was also at Dartmouth that Nina discovered her love of distance running. She competed on the college’s varsity team and volunteered with Girls on the Run, an organization that fosters confidence in young girls through physical activity.
At Georgetown, where Nina began the MAAS program in 2012, Nina stood out for both her kindness and sharp intellect. Remembering Nina, Professor Fida Adely recalled, “Nina was always interested in expanding her knowledge and in thinking through how she could best channel her knowledge for the benefit of others. She was determined to make a mark on the world, and her loss was a great tragedy for all who knew her.”
During her graduate studies, Nina was awarded a prestigious David L. Boren Scholarship to study Arabic language and culture in Amman, Jordan—an experience that deepened her ties to the region. While in Jordan, she volunteered with Reclaim Childhood, an NGO supporting refugee girls through sport, and won first place among female participants in the 2014 Dead Sea Ultra Marathon 21 km race. She returned to Georgetown with a clear vision: to explore how running could be a pathway for women’s empowerment in Jordan. Shortly after graduation, she was preparing to return to the country on a Fulbright Fellowship to research the experiences of female distance runners—a project that brought together all of her passions.
After Nina’s sudden passing just weeks after graduation, her family and friends established the Nina Brekelmans Memorial Foundation to honor her life and carry her vision forward. Rooted in Nina’s belief in sport as a force for empowerment, the foundation has supported several initiatives in Jordan, including the Nina Brekelmans Running Camp for Girls, which provided weekly training, leadership programming, and a supportive environment for children and youth, and culminated in an annual community race. Over time, the initiative expanded through partnerships with local NGOs such as Reclaim Childhood and Sawiyan, reaching girls from diverse backgrounds across Jordan.
At Georgetown, the Brekelmans family partnered with CCAS to establish the Nina Brekelmans Memorial Endowed Scholarship, awarded annually to a MAAS student with a demonstrated interest in promoting women’s empowerment in the Middle East. The fund was kicked off in 2016 with the Nina Brekelmans Memorial Scholarship 5K Run, organized in collaboration with the Georgetown Running Club—of which Nina had been an active and cherished member. Many of Nina’s former classmates, along with members of the larger CCAS community, ran or walked the course—which started and ended on Georgetown’s campus—as a fitting tribute to her memory. Between the 5K fundraiser and a generous donation from the Cooper Standard Foundation, the fundraising goal for the scholarship endowment was reached and the first scholarship was awarded the following year—and has continued to be awarded annually.
A decade after her passing, Nina’s legacy continues. The scholarship and programs created in her memory have opened doors, built confidence, and nurtured the values she championed—leaving a lasting impact in both the Middle East and the U.S. If you wish to give to the Nina Brekelmans Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund, please use Georgetown University’s online giving form. On the form, please select “Other” and enter the following text in the box: Nina Brekelmans, EG202362.