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Co-Directors of IAAB: Narges Bajoghli is a fourth year undergraduate studying International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley College. She has traveled to Iran extensively, the last being in December 2003. During that trip, Narges spent time conducting interviews and research for her thesis which deals with the role of the women’s press in post-Revolutionary Iran and the manner in which this press is a bridge for the unlikely cooperation between Muslim and secular women. She is the founder and president of the Persian Students’ Society at both Wellesley College and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where she studied for one year. She has organized and led discussion forums on current political trends in Iran at both Wellesley College and SOAS. Narges is the co-founder of IAAB with Nikoo.
Nikoo Paydar is a fourth year undergraduate studying History of Art at Tufts University with a focus on twentieth century non-Western art. As a Citizenship and Public Service Scholar, Nikoo organized and led a discussion group in Shiraz, Iran, on American and Iranian issues. She toured the country extensively, developing material for a photographic essay on the lifestyle and culture of the peoples of Iran, which was presented in the Slater Concourse Gallery of Tufts Aidekman Arts Center, at the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and is invited to be presented at the University of Texas, Austin later this year. Nikoo is co-founder and vice president of the Persian Students Association at Tufts. Like Narges, she studied one year in the SOAS, University of London. Nikoo is the co-founder of IAAB with Narges.
Regional Coordinators: Boston/New England area: Ramin Bajoghli is a sophomore at Boston University. He is currently studying philosophy and political science. He is actively involved in Global Learning, an international non-profit organization in Central America and the U.S. In summer 2003, Ramin worked with the organization in San Jorge, Nicaragua teaching various lessons in five schools. Ramin will return this summer to Nicaragua as a coordinator of the program. He would eventually like to go to law school, but his dream is to be a film director. Ramin is the New England area Regional Coordinator for IAAB.
Washington, DC, metropolitan area: Leyla Pope, born in Tehran in 1975, has an Iranian mother and English father. She lived in Iran until the age of five and then moved to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia before moving to London at the age of ten. She has an undergraduate degree from Cambridge University in Persian and French literature. As part of her studies she lived in Iran for a year, where she climbed Damavand and organized a joint expedition of British and Iranian women to climb Alam Kuh, Iran’s second highest mountain. In 2003 Leyla completed a MA in Film and Anthropology of the Middle East at London University, SOAS and is currently in Washington DC with her husband. Leyla is the Washington, DC area Regional Coordinator for IAAB as well as the Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee.
New York City area: Amy P. Malek is a first year Master's candidate at New York University in the Program for Near Eastern Studies. Her undergraduate thesis, "Identities in Transition: The Evolution of Iranian National Identity," earned her Highest Honors from Emory University, where she graduated in 2003 with a double major in Middle Eastern Studies and International Studies, and a minor in Persian language and literature. Amy grew up in Atlanta, misses warm weather in April, and is the New York City Regional Coordinator for IAAB.
Committee Chairs: Bahiyyih J. Khelghati was born in Togo, West Africa to an Iranian father and African-American mother. She is a junior at Wellesley College majoring in Neuroscience and Art History. Bahiyyih is one of the founding members of the Wellesley Persian Students’ Association, and she is IAAB’s Entertainment and Cultural Events Coordinator. Taraneh Matin is a first year
at Wellesley College, planning on majoring in International Relations with a
focus on the Middle East. She is the head researcher of the Resource Guide
and Internship Committee for IAAB, as well as the treasurer of the Wellesley
Persian Students' Association.
Sogole Moin grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire and is a junior at Wellesley College. She is one of the founding members and the current president of the Wellesley Persian Students' Association. Sogole is the Hospitality and Logistical Coordinator of IAAB. She is majoring in Biology and hopes to attend dental school once she graduates.
Ramin Ostadhosseini is a sophomore at George Mason University studying Biochemistry. He is the Funding Board Governor in College Government and has founded the Tele-Connect Wireless Service Company. Ramin is the Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee with Leyla.
Shiveh Roxana Reed, a
first-year student at Wellesley College, has an American father and an
Iranian mother. She has spent time traveling throughout Iran and is
academically interested in the history and culture of Middle Eastern
countries, especially Iran. Shiveh is the Coordinator of Publicity for IAAB,
as well as the Social Chair of the Wellesley Persian Students' Association.
**Special Thanks to Darab Shabahang for designing this page**
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