The Journey of Kindness > With an initial interest in industrial engineering, Dr. Mafi chose to study management at Marshall because her first choice program was not offered. As a student, she looked forward to attending Dr. Alexander’s lectures. “Dr. Robert (Bob) Alexander was a mentor to me. He encouraged me to pursue my Master of Business Administration. He was such a great storyteller and I always looked forward to his lectures,” said Dr. Mafi. A proud two-time alumna of Marshall University, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 1977 and Master of Business Administration in 1979. Dr. Mafi was the recipient of the Foreign Students’ Scholarship for three out of four years during her undergraduate studies and worked as a teaching assistant for a tuition stipend during her graduate program. One of her favorite places on the Huntington Campus is the timeless staple, Old Main. The first time she went there to enroll in classes, she met her now husband, Shahrokh Mafi. Upon graduation, the couple married and moved from Huntington to Reading, Pennsylvania. She started her career in insurance administration, then became a management consultant with Gilbert Commonwealth. “We decided to start a family. Our first, John, was born in Reading, then I decided to leave the job market to raise him,” Dr. Mafi said. “Shortly after, we moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where my husband was on the design team for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. We stayed there for four years, and when our second son, Nicholas, was born, we moved to Columbus, Ohio, where we have lived since.” Dr. Mafi re-entered the workforce at Otterbein University in 1986 and decided to concomitantly pursue a doctoral degree at the Ohio State University, where she graduated in December of 2000. She still teaches at Otterbein today as a professor of management in the Department of Business, Accounting and Economics. As a former scholarship recipient, and now as a professor, Dr. Mafi can attest to the difference scholarships make in the lives of students. Pairing that with her admiration of her uncle, she and her husband recently established the “Dr. Hassan Vaziri Memorial Scholarship” at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. This scholarship will assist students with financial need with first preference to students born outside the United States. “My husband and I and most of our immediate family members either graduated from Marshall or attended it for a period of time…. We owe Marshall a great debt of gratitude. This was our way of giving back to Marshall and future students of Marshall,” she explained, adding that they never imagined Marshall’s Huntington campus would grow to be as it is today. She believes Marshall is central to the City of Huntington’s growth, and is excited about the opportunities and diversity that come with expansion. Her advice for today’s students is to be kind, something that made her journey at Marshall so memorable. “Be open-minded and unafraid of people or thoughts that may appear different. It’s important that they (today’s students) realize the world is much older and larger than just Huntington, West Virginia, or even the United States of America. Their decisions either directly or indirectly have an impact on their community and the world. They should utilize their education for the good of the public. They should foster the type of world they want to live in and leave for future generations.” Contributions to the Dr. Hassan Vaziri Memorial Scholarship fund may be made by visiting www.marshall.edu/donate and including the scholarship name in the comments box. A Message from the Chief Executive Officer of the Marshall University Foundation When students arrive at Marshall, their journey is just beginning. Over the course of four years, they will be fortunate enough to meet some of the most compassionate, encouraging and generous individuals who will ultimately help them arrive at their career destination. Our students are rising to meet their full potential, growing personally and professionally and discovering new strengths and weaknesses. They falter and persevere. They know that this life adventure would not be possible without your support. As the creators of scholarships and professorships, the supporters of programs and facilities, you are assisting Marshall students as they travel through their education. First, you are providing the funds that give life to dreams. Through scholarships, you are allowing the student who never thought they could afford this undertaking to actually obtain a degree. Because of professorships, you are rewarding the dedication of professors who are passionate about their work and encouraging them to continue instilling a zest in the next generation so that they can influence their field of study. You are supporting programs monetarily, but also through guest lectureships. By sharing the adversity you have faced and how your Marshall journey helped prepare you to endure the struggles, you are showing students that they have an entire Marshall Family, a support system of more than 91,000, who believes in their capabilities. Through the expansion and renovation of facilities, you are helping students learn how to apply textbook concepts in a hands-on method. Your support in these types of environments builds students’ confidence so that when they arrive at their destination, they can impress their employer with their skillset and the significance of a Marshall education. Your generosity is providing a map for each student’s journey at Marshall. We are thankful that, through your example, they know no matter where they roam, they will always be one of the Herd. With gratitude, Ronald G. Area Chief Executive Officer, Marshall University Foundation The Dr. Hassan Vaziri Memorial Scholarship was established to help students born outside the United States who are attending the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.