Issue date: 7/1/09 Section: Features

Petroleum engineering graduate student Husameddin AlMadani says one of his most important priorities as the new president of the Graduate Student Council is to increase communication between Graduate Student Council representatives and their graduate student constituents. [Click to enlarge]

Saudi Arabia native and father of two Husameddin AlMadani is pursuing a master's degree in petroleum engineering and conducting research on uncoventional gas reservoirs at A&M. [Click to enlarge]

As Graduate Student Council president, a proud parent and petroleum engineering student, Saudi Arabia native Husameddin AlMadani knows the meaning of hard work, and its rewards.

When AlMadani came to the U.S., he quickly exhibited the characteristics of a leader - dedication, and having a significant organizational capacity, said Mark Algren, associate director of the Applied English Center at the University of Kansas.

"He is one of those people who is a natural-born leader,"said Algren, who taught AlMadani English when he came to the U.S.

The Graduate Student Council is committed in achieving its goals, AlMadani said.

"The GSC serves as the student government for Texas A&M University's graduate and professional students," he said. "We are a council of graduate students representing all Texas A&M graduate students with a purpose to improve graduate students' academic, living and social experiences."

AlMadani was born in Saudi Arabia and came to America in 1999. He received his undergraduate degree in computer science in 2003 at Kansas. He worked for Saudi Aramco, a leading oil company based in Saudi Arabia.

"From 2004 to 2008, I worked as a petroleum engineering systems analyst, working on and leading various projects for the development and implementation of reservoir simulation and well testing applications," AlMadani said.

His future showed promise from the beginning, Algren said. He was one of 25 students selected for an exclusive program at Saudi Aramco. He was sent to Kansas to learn English and pursue an undergraduate degree at a U.S. institution.

AlMadani said one of his greatest accomplishments while working for Saudi Aramco was receiving the 2008 Society of Petroleum Engineering International Young Member Outstanding Services Award.

It made him stand out because it is given to a small number of recipients worldwide every year, said Stephen Holditch, head of the petroleum engineering department at A&M.

AlMadani also served as chairman of the Young Professionals and Students Outreach Committee in the SPE Saudi Arabia Section in 2007, and was the chairman of the 2008 SPE Young Professionals Technical Symposium, Saudi Arabia Section.

"He just seems to rise above the crowd wherever he is," Holditch said.

AlMadani is pursuing a master's degree in petroleum engineering and conducting research on unconventional gas reservoirs at A&M.

"He just started working with me earlier this year," Holditch said. "He's just now getting ramped up on the work he is doing."

When Saudi Aramco approved AlMadani to pursue an advanced degree, he said he knew coming to A&M was the obvious decision because of A&M's reputation as an outstanding research institute with top-notch faculty and research projects within the oil and gas industry.

Although success was common for AlMadani, he encountered difficulty in one of his endeavors: starting a small business.

"I used to work from 7 in the morning to midnight every day, for about four months," AlMadani said. "The result was unbelievable with the inauguration of the business."

AlMadani said having a wife and two children is his greatest accomplishment in life.

After graduation, AlMadani is still unsure what he wants to do in the long term.

"My short-term plan, after graduation, is to join Saudi Aramco as a petroleum engineer and work in reservoir management for the next few years," AlMadani said. "I will also put some efforts in growing my small business along the way. My philosophy is to always try to do the job at hand well, growing personally and professionally along the way.

"My aspiration is to be in a position where I can work with great people, create more productive and healthy work environments and participate in and create opportunities for young people to tap into their potential, and ultimately become good citizens in our society."

1 What do you love most about being an Aggie? The unmatched sense of service and unity. I have been to many schools and never have I experienced a student body that held those values
dear to their heart like Aggies.



2 If you had three hours of free time, what would you do with it? I would go fishing with my son for two hours and 55 minutes, then check my Blackberry for e-mails for five minutes.



3 When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a doctor. However, when I think about it now, I realize that I wanted to be a doctor because doctors have direct impact on people's lives. I guess this drives my desire to volunteer and work on community projects.

4 What are your goals for after graduation? My short-term plan, after graduation, is to join Saudi Aramco as a petroleum engineer and work in reservoir management for the next few years. I will also put my efforts into growing my small business along the way.

5 What is your favorite memory made at Aggieland so far? One of my favorite memories is Feb. 23, when I took my family to watch the Aggie women's basketball team win against Oklahoma 57-56. Muster in April was also an exceptional one that I will always remember.

President of the Graduate Student Council

Husameddin AlMadani
graduate petroleum engineering student

former chairman of the Young Professionals and Students Outreach Committee in Saudi Arabia

former chairman of the SPE Young Professionals Technical Symposium in Saudi Arabia

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools