Iranian American Women Receive Women’s Global Leadership Award

September 30, 2009, New York– The Institute of International Education held its 90th Anniversary Gala at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City on September 23, 2009. Amongst the honorees at the gala were Laya Khadjavi, Roya Khadjavi-Heidari and Nazgol Saati, who were awarded the first ever  Women’s Global Leadership Award.

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a non-profit organization and the world’s largest and most experienced international education training organization. The mission of the IIE is to promote closer educational relations between the people of the U.S. and other countries, advance academic freedom, build leadership skills and enhance the capacity of organizations and individuals to address challenges.

The institute presented the IIE Women’s Global Learning Award to Laya Khadjavi, Roya Khadjavi-Heidari, and Nazgol Saati for the many ways in which they and their philanthropy have helped to involve the Iranian community in the U.S. in improving cultural and educational relations between Iran and the United States. The Iran Opportunities Fund, established by these three remarkable women alongside IIE Trustee Maryam Parnahy Ansary, is a unique public-private partnership dedicated to fostering mutual understanding between the U.S. and Iran through international exchange.

Click here to learn more about the Institute of International Education