DR. MANUCHEHR VESSAL

August, 2007

 

Dr. Manuchehr Vessal, a well-known mathematician and scholar, is a retired professor of Tehran and Shiraz Universities. During an outstanding career of 62 years, he served his country in a variety of educational positions with dedication and honesty. He was a model professor in promoting the importance of education and hard-work for students in Iran. As a teacher, he was demanding and set high but fair standards. As the provost of Shiraz/Pahlavi University, he was instrumental in establishing merit based criteria for the evaluation of faculty. This peer evaluation of scholarly activities was unique in the country. This evaluation method as well as the overall system of education of Shiraz/Pahlavi University became a model which other universities and colleges in Iran followed. Born in Tehran, Dr. Vessal received his elementary and secondary education there and graduated at the top of his class from Franco-Persian High School. In 1933, he was selected and sent by Iranian Government to Paris, France for the continuation of his studies. Graduating with a bachelor degree in mathematics from the University of Sorbonne in 1937, Dr. Vessal received his doctorate in mathematics with a minor in astronomy from University of Geneva in 1940. Following an internship at Zurich Observatory, he returned to Iran and was appointed as an associate professor of mathematics at the University of Tehran. In 1941 he became the director of the Tehran University Faculty of Sciences Library and later with the scholarship from UNESCO, went to Paris and studied Library Sciences. In 1962, he was appointed the chair and the only professor of the Department of Mathematics at Shiraz University. Subsequently he recruited a number of talented mathematicians and built a strong department. Dr. Vessal was the Founder/Dean of the School of Engineering which quickly became one of the finest engineering Schools in the country. He served as the provost of the university from 1965 to 2969. His greatest accomplishment as the provost was to create a student friendly institution which valued excellent teaching as well as excellent research. He was an adamant believer in the necessity of original research to maintain faculty excellence. During his tenure, masters program were initiated, books were made available to students at low cost and a library science program was established. He also served as the director of the university libraries until 1979. From 1981 until his retirement in 2003, he served in the Iran University Press at the Ministry of Science and Higher education.