Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

International student graduate Laith Hassan Dababneh turns PCC experience into global opportunity

Story by Misty Bouse, photos by Ric Getter

Laith Hassan Dababneh of Sherwood, Oregon, arrived at Portland Community College from Amman, Jordan, with a belief in the power of higher education and a goal of serving his home country.

Two years later, the economics and political science student graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average, President’s List honors and membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. This fall, he plans to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, War and Defense.

For Dababneh, PCC’s Sylvania Campus became a launchpad for an academic path aimed at diplomacy, public service and international impact.

“PCC has given me a great foundation to transfer to top-tier schools that will open the doors for a future serving Jordan’s interests,” Dababneh said. “Without PCC, I would have never imagined being able to transfer to some of the United States’ top universities. It quite literally transformed my path in a way I could have never expected.”

Dababneh, who attended Amman Baptist School in Jordan, speaks Arabic, English and French. His family has always stressed the importance of higher education, though some initially questioned his decision to attend a community college in the United States.

“The benefits and support that PCC provided built my family’s confidence in this institution,” Dababneh said.

As an international student, Dababneh said he found community through PCC and the Office of International Student Services.

“I was able to build amazing rapport with other students,” he said. “PCC and OISS have been great supports.”

At PCC, Dababneh also found opportunities tied directly to his long-term goals. Passionate about diplomacy, he participated in PCC’s West Coast Model European Union with faculty adviser Robert Asaadi.

“Laith distinguished himself in my Political Science courses through exceptional academic performance, intellectual maturity, and a sustained, thoughtful engagement with political theory and international affairs,” said Asaadi. “He brought that same combination of preparation, analytical skill, and poise to the West Coast Model European Union, where he excelled in negotiation, coalition-building, and rapid policy analysis. His ability to connect rigorous academic thinking with the practical skills of diplomacy is what makes his accomplishments particularly impressive.”

Dababneh also shared his ultimate goals.

“I strive to become a diplomat in Jordan, hoping to eventually serve as a minister of foreign affairs or similar independent work,” Dababneh said. “Professor Asaadi’s guidance was invaluable. Alongside my Jordanian peers, I hope to institute positive change in my country.”

His academic interests are closely connected to his home and hopes of public service.

“I chose this path because I want to understand how my region of the Middle East came to the state it is in today, and what factors led to it,” Dababneh said. “Through this study, I have been able to position myself to help propel the region in the direction it deserves.”

Dababneh said PCC faculty, staff and advisers helped him build confidence, navigate academic expectations and pursue meaningful opportunities. That support also helped him land two internships during his time at PCC: one in Washington, D.C., and another at the Oregon State Legislature.

“The greatest support was the professors and advisers at PCC,” he said. “I was able to build close relationships with a lot of the staff I met here.”

Dababneh said PCC’s smaller class sizes, individual attention and transfer support quickly proved its value. He has often summed up his experience with one phrase: “If PCC had a four-year program, I would be the first to sign up for it.”

As he prepares for his next step, Dababneh said persistence has been central to his success.

“If you ask my close mentor Dr. Marwan Muasher (Vice President for Studies at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Middle East Program) and an inner circle of friends and family,  they would say that I am deeply committed to this work; and I won’t stop until I reach goals that end up benefitting my country,” said Dababneh.  Smiling, he added, “If you ask my friends, they would say my best personality trait is the ability to mess around all day long.”