SUA History, Goals and Accomplishment

 

Shiraz University Association (SUA) was established in July 2001, during our first conference/reunion in San Diego , California . The conference/reunion was organized with the help of Dr. F. Hojabri, a retired colleague of ours from Sharif University , Dr. H. Ronaghy, former professor of Shiraz University and Dr. A. Katbab, a Shiraz University alumnus together with colleagues and alumni of Shiraz/Pahlavi University. This conference/reunion was in conjunction with the conferences/reunions of Sharif University and the Fanni School of Tehran University. We had a very successful gathering of over 300 friends affiliated with Shiraz/Pahlavi University. It was very gratifying to see so many after years of separation. In that meeting we formed the Shiraz University Association and elected 14 members to serve as the SUA Board of Directors. Dr. Khosrow Nasr was elected as the President and Dr. Farrokh Zandi was elected the Treasurer of the Board. The purpose of this organization as stated in the organization's By-laws is “to facilitate, enhance and promote cooperation and contact between Members and Shiraz University in all academic and professional spheres, including the scientific, cultural and humanitarian”. I would like very much to encourage all of our graduates and colleagues to actively engage in the affairs of the SUA so that we may be able to give a helping hand to students or colleagues of our university and its affiliates. I urge all of you, if you have not already done so, to become a member by filling out the membership form which can be downloaded from our website and submitting a nominal membership fee. In addition, please begin giving a small fraction of your time and effort to help SUA accomplish its mission in any way you can. Our objectives include the formation of committees within SUA to be responsible for giving scholarships to needy students in Iran , helping some Shiraz University students and colleagues in their research and arranging for the exchange of speakers. Other suggestions for additional needed activities are always welcome.

Our second conference/reunion was held in Shiraz in October of 2003 in which more than 600 people participated. This was arranged jointly by the Shiraz University Alumni Association (SUAA) in Iran and our SUA. The Board Members of the SUAA, specifically with the able hand of its president, Mr. A. Ayvazian, as well as a number of our SUA Board Members including Dr. Nasr, Dr. Rastegar and myself were involved in the organization of the meeting. At the joint conference/reunion held at the University Club, we had a series of stimulating academic talks and panel discussions on a variety of issues, and valuable work-shops as well as a number of enjoyable social gatherings and site-seeing trips. Overall, it was a great conference/reunion. Our third conference/reunion was held in July of 2004 in Los Angeles . In addition to a number of very interesting talks on a variety of subjects we honored a number of distinguished individuals who were instrumental in making Shiraz/Pahlavi University an outstanding institution as well as a number of our very successful and distinguished graduates our University (please see biographies of our Honorees and pictures in the related section of this website). Our next joint conference/reunion with SUAA will be held in Shiraz next May, 2006 (Ordibehesht, 1385) the exact date of which will be announced shortly. It will be held concurrently with the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of the Shiraz University . It will be a great celebration during the beautiful springtime in Shiraz , and I hope that many of you will plan ahead to participate in both conference/reunion and the celebration. Our 2006 conference/reunion will be held in the city of Las Vegas in the fall (the dates will be announced) and we are hoping to see many of you including friends from all over the globe and especially from Iran . We have plenty of time to organize a successful and an enjoyable conference/reunion. Las Vegas was chosen by our Board because of its centrality to many of our members, the ease of making affordable travel arrangements and because it offers a variety of opportunities for conventions and family vacations. As you know it has become a center for many scientific and professional conventions.

The following is a summary of the past and present activities of the SUA Board, the Association and its members. In addition to organizing the conferences/reunions we have:

1) Drafted the SUA By-laws which were approved by the membership in 2004. (This was a painstaking task for which many thanks go to Dr. Nasr.)

2) Completed and filed extensive paperwork with the IRS of the State of California for SUA to become a Tax-Exempt, Non-profit Organization (thanks to the efforts of Dr. Attaran our secretary an Dr. Zandi).

3) Arranged talks and work-shops which were given at a number of universities in Iran by some of our members.

4) Been actively involved in collecting funds (several members including myself) and giving help to the Bam's Earthquake victims (with special thanks to Drs. Rastegar and Khatami and others).

5) Arranged for Iranian students to get university admissions and assistantships to come to USA for their studies.
(I, myself, have helped more than 20 students and I am sure others have done the same.)

6) Helped students and colleagues of Shiraz University in their research by advising and sending materials.

These are few examples of past and on-going activities our organization and/or members. I am sure there have been other contributions which our other members have made of which I am not aware. Thank you and please let us know of your related activities.

My hope, which I am sure is shared by all, is to be even better organized in our efforts in the future and extend our help much more in the coming years.

Finally, I would like to thank Mrs. Zohreh Amoozgar an alumnus of SU and a graduate student at Ball State University for spending many hours to type and prepare the materials for the Website and also Dr. Vadiee, Mr. Payam Azarian and Mr. Farbod Shafiei for preparing the Website.

I wish all of you a joyful time and good health. If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please contact me.

Thank you for future participation in our worthy association.