Researcher Highlights: Dr. Cheri Shakiban
Dr. Cheri Shakiban received an honorary doctorate degree from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland for her lifelong achievements and contributions to mathematics. She is the first Iranian woman to become a full professor of mathematics.
You can view the graduation ceremony on YouTube. Dr. Shakiban's speech begins at 37:22. This is a fascinating speech that discusses the challenges she faced accessing education as a Baha'i woman in Iran, challenges that women and those of the Baha'i faith continue to encounter in Iran where it is not permitted for members of the Baha'i faith to attend university. The weight of her message is alleviated by moments of light humor, such as a nod to Taylor Swift and Swifties. Threaded throughout the profound and lighter moments of her speech, is a message of inspiration for all women.
Dr. Shakiban received her bachelor's degree in 1973 from the National University in Iran, her master's degree in 1975 from Harvard University, and her PhD in 1979 from Brown University. In 1983, she taught mathematics for St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota and served as the department chair from 1996 to 2004. She has also taught at the University of Minnesota, Oxford University, and the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. In addition to her role as professor, Dr. Shakiban has also served as the associate director at the National Science Foundation-funded Institute for Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) at the University of Minnesota (2006-2015), supporting under-represented women in mathematics. She has been the recipient of several awards including the University of St. Thomas Award for Undergraduate Research and Collaborative Scholarship (2005) and the Distinguished Educator Award (2016) for her work mentoring students.
Dr. Shakiban is currently serving as Senior Fellow at the University of St. Thomas and is a member on the board of the Minnesota Chapter of the Fulbright Association.
Image of Dr. Shakiban holding her honorary doctorate degree from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland
Original Post: Mon, 07/29/2024 - 12:23