Abbas Atrvash was born in Abadan, in 1938, where he finished his high school and joined Iranian Airways, which afterwards was nationalized and called Iran National Airlines (Iran Air). He obtained his BA in English literature from Shiraz University. For most of his career he served airline industry in locations such as Abadan, Shiraz, Lebanon, Pakistan, United Kingdom and Greece. He returned to the Iran Air's Head Office in Tehran, in 1975. He left Iran in 1983, and has been residing in Toronto since 1986.
His Persian book - The history of Iranian commercial aviation - the only book written on this subject, is under publication.
April Aguirre is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at Mount St. Mary's College, an all women's university in West Los Angeles. She actively writes for school publications like the annual literary magazine, Mount Voices. April's writings draw heavily from personal circumstances and often integrate issues of culture, identity and human relations. Aside from writing, April has enlisted learning new languages and travel as life goals since her five month experience this past year in Rome, Italy has left quite a mark. Upon graduating in December of 2004, April hopes that writing will not take a back seat to school loan payments and, on the contrary, anticipates that writing will be the key in getting those loans paid off. 
The Persian-born filmmaker began her higher education in Paris, majoring in French Literature at La Sorbonne, prior to receiving her degree from L? Institut Des Hautes Etudes cinematographiques in Film Production and Editing. She started work as a documentary editor in France, continuing in Iran, where she received the ABU Award for editing THE EMIGRANT BIRDS and worked with major award-winning Iranian and European filmmakers, including the two times Oscar winner French director, Albert Lamorisse.
She was also Associate Professor at the Institute of Film and Television Higher Studies in Tehran where she taught Montage de Film
In 1978, Ms. Farshad moved to the United States and continued film studies at U.S.C. She joined the Editors Guild of America (I.A.T.S.E ) and worked in post-production at major studios, including MGM and Columbia Pictures, while developing her own documentary projects.MYSTIC IRAN: THE UNSEEN WORLD is Aryana Farshad's first full-length documentary. 
Azadeh is a doctoral candidate in the UCLA Department of Film and Television, where she is also employed as a teaching associate. She holds a Master's degree in cinema studies and a Bachelor's degree in philosophy. With an increasing passion for making documentaries, Azadeh has recently completed a short documentary, A Diary of Grief, about the renowned Persian poet Ahmad Shamlou, who recently passed away. This film had its world premiere in the International Exile Film Festival in Sweden in October of 2001. Azadeh has also been writing poetry for over ten years in both English and Persian. Selected excerpts from her poems have been published in various anthologies and journals, including the recent A World Between (1999). She is currently editing and preparing a collection of her poems for publication. 
Dr. Bita Rahbar is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles-Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital. Dr. Rahbar received her training in eating disorders at UCLA. She was the Associate Director of the UCLA Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorders Program from 1994 through 2000. She is also in private practice in the Los Angeles Area.
My name is Brian Hanson Appleton. My mother is Norwegian and my father was a Russian Jew. 
Cyrus Mowlavi, is a regular contributor and commentator. He is the principal at Spectrum Technology Co., a management consulting firm in Thousand Oaks, CA. He has graduate degrees in Industrial Engineering and Business dministration from University of Washington and Pepperdine University. 
Darius is a cosmopolitan freelance journalist born to a French mother and Persian father. Drawn by a passion for films from a very young age thanks to many Hollywood films seen on Iranian TV before the revolution, he has written extensively in the Iranian media on the subject. He holds a degree in physical chemistry and film history from the universities of Strasbourg and Montpellier France.
Davood N. Rahni lives in New York where he serves as a professor of chemistry and maintains adjunct professorships in environmental law and dermatology. In tandem with his prolific scientific publications, he has also endeavored to produce a substantial number of articles that deal with history and culture of Iran, the integration of Iranian-Americans in American life and the challenges they face, and current affairs. His latest book, Bioimaging in Neurodegeneration, will soon follow by the next book, FROM NATANZ TO NEW YORK: The Odyssey of an Ordinary Iranian (Persian) Wanderer. 
Davoud is one of the leading figures in Iran's caricature art movement. His introduction and fascination with Iran 's modern movement in caricature was at the tender age of 13 after visiting an Ardeshir Mohasses exhibition in Tehran . This was beginning of a fascination that soon expanded to Europe's modern art movement and its impact on caricature). By age seventeen his personal style _black humor_ was shaped.
From there on he began publishing his work which for last forty years has been appearing in some of the most credible Iranian media. Over the years his black humor style has evolved to address philosophical questions engaged with human tragedy beyond time and space.
Davoud has an MS in architecture from University of Tehran with professional studies at Boston Architectural Center.
Etrat holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Journalism. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degrees in philosophy & child development from the University of Tehran. She was the Editor-in-Chief for the Home Economics sections of Sepid-o-Siah and Tehran Mossavar magazines in Iran. She is a contributor to Encyclopedia Iranica, where she has done extensive research on Persian cooking and the origins of Persian dishes. She is also the co-owner of The Nutty Cookie, an online gift basket and cookie company established in 1984. She currently resides in Northern California.
Fahimeh was born in Teheran. She worked as a journalist and literary critic in Iran for Kayhan newspaper. After the 1979 Revolution she imigrated to Germany (1983), where she continued her work as a literary critic and journalist for the German-Newspapers. She published 5 books, Novels and short stories, written in German. 
Farhad Nadim is a Senior Environmental Engineer at VeruTEK Technologies Inc. in Bloomfield Connecticut and an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut.
Farhad Nadim was born and raised in Tehran Iran. He has studied different fields of engineering. His first degree in engineering is a Masters of Architectural Engineering from Tehran University. He received a Post Graduate Diploma in Hydraulic Engineering from the International Institute of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering in Delft, the Netherlands in 1986. He received a Master of Environmental Engineering from the University of New Haven in Connecticut and received a Master and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. His research interests are in-situ remediation of sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals and recalcitrant compounds, numerical simulation of the flow of groundwater and transport of organic pollutants in the subsurface environment, management of watersheds and water resources, regional and international environmental laws and planning.
His hobbies include but are not limited to hiking, skiing, swimming, playing basketball, classic guitar and reading.
Fari Bradley is a journalist, radio presenter, producer and sound designer. She also performs regularly as a sound artist and musician, released on several compilations including "Women Take Back the Noise". 
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ms. Enteshari immigrated first to Germany, and then to the USA as a teen. She completed her M.A. degree in German at the University of Southern California with specialties in linguistics and multi-media. She received B.S. degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Düsseldorf in Germany and Mississippi State University. Over the past seven years, Ms. Enteshari has studied Rumi’s masterpiece, Mathnavi, a six-volume poem, in its original Persian text, with internationally renowned Rumi scholars. Ms. Enteshari has lectured on women’s spirituality, Rumi's teachings, and women in Islam. She has conducted numerous Rumi seminars and workshops, including “Women Experiencing Islamic Prayer,” “A Sufi Journey toward Light,” and “Wings of the Soul.” Ms. Enteshari was a featured speaker at the Rumi 2000 Conference, an international event for Rumi scholars from around the world. In March 2000, Ms. Enteshari opened the Rumi Educational Center for “Rumi lovers and lovers of the Universe.”
Fariba earned her Ph.D. in French literature from the University of Southern California, with an emphasis on 20th century literature and feminist theory. She has taught French literature and women’s studies. Her publications include articles in Zan magazine, Jense Dovvom, jaam va jaan and Forough, of which she is co-creator and co-editor, and many translations to Persian . Ms. Rofougaran has studied both Eastern philosophies, in theory and in practice, as well as Western self-realization. She has led seminars in self-realization in Iran. Currently she lives in Southern California where she teaches Kundalini Yoga, leads workshops in Jnana Yoga or yoga of the mind, and also teaches tanbur, the spiritual stringed instrument of Ahle Hagh as meditation. Her vision is to teach Nada yoga to musicians, adding the healing power to their art. For more information
Dr. Farideh Seihoun obtained her B.A. degree in Persian and Arabic literature from the University of Tehran in 1963; an M.S. in secondary school curriculum from Dominican College, San Rafael, California in 1966; and a Ph.D. in foundations of teacher education from the University of Massachusetts in 1972. She completed several postdoctoral courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has over thirty years of experience as an academic, both in Iran and the USA. She is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Education at Framingham State College; and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Staff Development, and Director of Bilingual Education, TBE, ESL and Chapter 622 Equity for Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts. In addition, Ms. Seihoun has served as a member of curriculum frameworks development team for Massachusetts' Education Reform Act of 1993; as an adviser to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education in the areas of mathematics, science and technology; and as a member of the State Assessment Committee for the development of statewide tests for K-12 students in Massachusetts. She holds eight certificates, has published two books and fourteen articles, and has completed two translations. She is fluent in Persian, Arabic, English, French and Turkish.
Fatema Soudavar Farmanfarmaian was born in Tehran in 1940. She studied in Iran and Switzerland. Married in 1965 to Farmanfarmaian and widowed on 1973. Resident in Geneva since 1979, combined with London since 1993. Extensive travels, including research trips throughout the Silk Road. Since 2001, active trustee of the Soudavar Memorial Foundation, which funds and promotes the study of Iranian history and Persian culture in its different aspects. Has written and given talks in Persian (including an edited book on the environment) and in English (academic journals and online sites), primarily on themes relating to Persian culture in its wider historical application]. 
Dr. Foojan Zeine is an International Speaker, Author, Psychotherapist and successful Clinical Supervisor. She has her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. She has a large private practice in Tarzana, California. She is an expert in the area of Intimate Relationship and Addiction and has extensive experience treating Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and Domestic Violence. She is the founder and the CEO for Personal Growth Institute, a not for profit organization that offers psychotherapy service to the multi-cultural and multi-lingual population. Foojan has been elected as the President of Iranian-American Mental Health Association. Foojan presents nationally and is an expert on Online Therapy, conducts experiential and interactive seminars that focus on Addiction, Couples’ Communication, self improvement, and organizational skills for the public, psychotherapists and the corporate world. Foojan colaborate with IranDokht regularly by writing articles and providing 
Dr. Mahak has about thirty years of experience with a wide range of expertise. As a consultant she has fourteen years of experience, teaching programs and training client facilitators nationwide in a range of management skills: business and technical communication, coaching skills, meeting facilitation, conflict and stress. As a curriculum developer and training designer, she designed training materials in business writing, presentations, coaching skills, and interactive training skills. In addition, she has developed foreign-language instructional materials. She also has extensive experience as a translator, editor and interpreter. She has interpreted and produced materials in French, English, and Persian, in business and technical areas, as well as in education and literature. Dr. Mahak’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Middle East studies (Persian)from the University of Utah (1986), an M.A. degree in linguistics from the University of Tehran (1976), and a B.A. degree in Russian from Wellesley College (1972). She also obtained a Baccalauréat on philosophie - letters in Paris, France (1968). She has native fluency in French, English, and Persian, as well as an extensive background in Spanish, Russian, Italian, and Arabic.
Gissou Azarnia is a 2003 graduate of the University of CA - Los Angeles where she majored in Political Science and minored in Anthropology. Pursuing her goal for a career in international law has taken her many places -literally and figuratively. A New Jersey native, Gissou moved to the West Coast at the tender age of 17 and involved herself in a host of jobs, internships, and community service activities during the course of her four years at UCLA. She has worked for Stop Prisoner Rape - an LA-based humanitarian organization - and has done public relations work for the ACLU and events planning for HRW. Most recently, Gissou completed a six-month long internship program at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. where she frequently met with former ambassadors and government officials in her research on drug trafficking in Afghanistan and the Central Asian region. Gissou is currently in her first-year of studies at the Rutgers-Camden School of Law, Class of 2006. She has been awarded the prestigious Rutgers Dean's Scholarship for the 2003-04 academic year and was elected secretary of the International Law Society at the law school. Gissou hopes to intern at the United Nations' ICTR in Arusha, Tanzania for the summer of 2004. 
Dr. Hirmand has been in private practice since 1999 in New York and is a member of the plastic surgery departments of the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Surgery, and Lenox Hill Hospital. She is also Assistant Professor of Surgery at Cornell Medical College. She is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Aesthetic Surgery by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for her clinical research in the surgical management of the prominent eye (2000). Dr. Hirmand volunteers as attending plastic surgeon at the NYU-Downtown plastic surgery clinic, treating the indigent population. She has also been invited to travel to Mexico several times on reconstructive missions as part of the national health development project of the government of Mexico. She has served as the Chairperson of the health committee of the National Council of Women and is an active member of Physicians for Human Rights in Caspia Sea, Iran. Her educational background includes valedictorian in molecular biology at the University of California (1984), medical degree at Harvard Medical School (1990), and a master’s degree in public administration at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She trained at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in surgery, and was a surgical research fellow at Cornell Medical College and Rockefeller University, and a visiting scholar at Oxford University. She resumed her plastic surgery training at the New York Hospital in 1995, and pursued sub-specialty fellowships in eyelid and aesthetic surgery in Atlanta, followed by a second cranio-facial and aesthetic fellowship in Paris.
Heather has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Women's Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently a staff writer and web assistant for IranDokht. She has worked for the Los Angeles Times and the J. Paul Getty Research Institute. Besides writing for IranDokht, she also writes poetry and short stories in her spare time.
Julia Harm grew up in San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA, splitting her time between two homes. She attended and graduated with Honors from California State University, Los Angeles, where she worked as a reported and copy editor for the school paper. Julia is currently working on a novel set in West LA about a young group of characters struggling with contemporary social issues. She has written for the Daily News, The Billings Gazette, Eclectic Woman and now IranianDohkt.com
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology, an M.A. in philosophy, and a B.A. in History. She is a nationally certified counselor, licensed in the state of Illinois. Dr. Bakhtiar has been practicing Islam for over 30 years. She is co-author of A Sense of Unity and author of many books including: Sufi Expressions of the Mystic Quest, three volumes of God’s Will Be Done, Muhammad’s Companions, The Encyclopedia of Islamic Law, Ramadan: Motivating Believers to Action, and Sufi Women of America: Angels in the Making (Kazi Publications). She has also translated over 30 books on Islam and the Islamic movement into English. She has lectured extensively in both religious and academic institutions. Through the works on psychology she has become the leading authority on the Sufi origins of the Enneagram. She is an expert in the psychology of spiritual chivalry (futuwwa, javanmardi). She directs her work towards Muslim women and youth. She is presently Director of the Institute of Traditional Psychology and In-House Scholar at Kazi Publications. She is on the advisory board of the Center for Religion and the Media, jointly established by the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University and the Garett Evangelical Theological Seminary, is a Trustee of the Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions and teaches Islam at the University of Chicago. She has a computer-based training program on the Internet at www.sufienneagram.com 
Lilly was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended the University of Michigan, completing a degree in English Literature, but dabbling in everything from economics and biology to Congolese dance and medieval French literature. She is in her last year at UCLA’s School of Law. Lilly hasn’t decided exactly what she will pursue next, but she knows that it will be exciting and educational, and she regards her participation in IranDokht as a huge step in the right direction… 
Ms. Ayman received her education in Iran, Europe, and the USA in the field of education. Ms. Ayman was the founding member of the Children's Book Council of Iran, and served on the board of the International Books for Young People from 1974 to 1978.The elementary readers in Persian that she wrote and editedwere used in Iranian schools for two decades, up to 1980.
In 1979 she moved abroad and since then she has been active in encouraging Persian families to teach their children the Persian language. She was a lecturer at the University of Chicago from 1998-2000, teaching Persian. Her books include Shadmaneh Kudakaneh and Farsi Beyamuzim, which are used in Persian communities around the world. Her Mankind is My Family, prepared during the International Year of Peace, was translated and published in German and Russian. She was a member of the national task force for preparing the curriculum for Parent Facilitator Program within the Baha'i Education Core Curriculum framework, and a faculty member at the Louhelen National Baha'i Teacher Training Center in the area of parenting.
Mahasti is a journalist, theater critic and storyteller. She was born in Malayer,Iran in September 1956. She spent her elementary and high school years in Tehran and graduated from the Fine Art University of Tehran with a degree in theater arts. In the fall of 1984 she emigrated to France and continued her education in variety of fields, including educational technology, study of ancient Iran, and comparative literature. She earned her Ph.D. in literature at the Sorbonne. Many of her articles have been published in artistic and literary magazines inside and outside of the country. Her popular novel, A Shawl as Long as the Silk Road (Baran Publication, Sweden, 1999), attracted critical attention, and Cactus magazine (published in the U.S.) devoted its third publication to this novel. Ms. Shahrokhi currently resides in Paris.
Mahdokht Sanati studied for Ph.D. in early childhood education at Illinois University. She received her M.S. in social and psychological counseling from Tehran University. She was awarded the Best Children’s Book of the Year in 1969 for The Bird and the People, an illustrated book for children. She also won the title of Best Translation for a Children’s Science Book in 1972. In addition, Ms. Sanati has published numerous articles, book reviews, short stories for newspapers, and Jomjomak Barg-e Khazoon (a collection of nursery rhymes). Her latest publication is Letters, Writings, and Remembrances, a three -volume work on the life of Sedigheh Dolatabadi. Ms. Sanati was the co-founder of the Children's Book Council in Iran 37 years ago and co-founded the Society for the Protecting the Rights of the Child in Iran 6 years ago. She has held many positions throughout her life. Some of these community services include: Director of Organization for Rural Women’s Education in Iran, Director of Orchard Downs Student Counseling group, Director of Association In Support of Children’s Rights In Iran, and a Member of the Board of irectors, Iranian Children’s Right Society. 
Born and raised in Iran, Mahvash completed her studies in theatre at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Tehran, Iran. Her interest in musical theatre took her to England where she completed her post graduate degree in Musical Theatre from Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, in London. After returning to Iran, Mahvash began teaching Acting courses at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts and Faculty of Fine Arts of University of Tehran. Currently, Mahvash is living in San Diego, California. Her dedication and love of theatre ensured continuous activity and participation in theatrical activities in San Diego. Mahvash has performed Iranian Folk and contemporary music throughout California. She has also participated in several American Musical festivals and events in California. Even with her demanding performance schedule, Mahvash has managed to earn her master's degree in Educational Technology and is currently working as the services coordinator for the San Diego Regional Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Manouchehr Saadat Noury, known as Manny Noury, was born in Tehran, Iran. Currently, he is residing in Montreal, Canada. He holds a BA degree in Journalism from Tehran University, a MS degree in Human Nutrition from Columbia University (USA), a DVM degree from Tehran University, and a PhD degree in Humanities with a project on Literature from Vanderbilt University (USA).
He is an independent writer who does not subscribe to any political party. He started writing poetry as a teenager and has many publications in numerous International and Iranian periodicals. He is also the author of several scientific books such as "Human Nutrition", "Experimental Nutrition", and many articles published by Tehran University between 1968 and 1986. He was the founder & editor of the cultural and scientific Journal of Farm (Mazra'eh) in 1980. The Journal, which was also bilingual (Persian & English) survived only until 1985. Some of his works can be viewed on the Internet. An excerpt from his memoir, "Missing Moments", is also available online. "Wish & Hope" is the title of his anthology of 40 poems, which was published in October 2004. 
Dr. Malek has received her degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from United States International University in San Diego. Her dissertation and research focus were on emotional intelligence and conflict management in the workplace.
Dr. Malek has over 15 years of business and management experience with IBM and XEROX corporations.
As an IBM instructor, Ms. Malek developed and implemented the curricula for IBM’s National Marketing Training Center in Atlanta Georgia. She also was in charge of delivering the “Transformational Leadership” training in the Southern California, Hawaii and Arizona.
She is co-founder and principal of the Center for Applied Emotional Intelligence headquartered in Irvine, California. She has been the president of Corporate Development Consulting since 1995 providing customized training in professional development and leadership.
Dr. Malek is an adjunct professor at UCI’s HR Management program as well as Pepperdine and Chapman’s Masters program in Organizational Leadership. She is a frequent guest speaker and holds seminars at various universities and colleges and businesses discussing topics such as leadership, emotional intelligence, stress management, salary negotiation, and conflict management.
She has been serving on the Board of ASTD’s Orange County Chapter as the Program Director and also serves on the Board of Alumni for United States International University in San Diego. 
Mehrangiz Kar is an attorney, writer, and activist working toward progress within the framework of the Islamic legal system of Iran as it has developed since the revolution in 1979. Born in southern Iran in 1944, Kar has dedicated her life to political and feminist activism. As a young adult, she moved to Tehran to attend the College of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran, worked for the Sazman-e Ta?min-e Ejtemaii, or Institute of Social Security. She has been active as a public defender in Iran's civil and criminal courts and has published regularly before and after revolution in several influential and independent Iranian journals, lending her voice to over 100 articles and more than 14 books. Some of her writings include, Children of Addiction: Social and Legal Position of the Children of Addicted Parents in Iran (1990), Quest for Identity: the Image of Iranian Women in Prehistory and History Vol.1 and 11, which she co-edited with Shahla Lahiji, Iran's first woman publisher, Angel of Justice and Patches of Hell, a collection of essays which look at the status and position of women in pre- and post-revolutionary Iran, Women in the Iranian Labor Market (1994), Violence Against Women in Iran, and Legal Structure of the Family System in Iran.
Mehrnoosh was born in Tehran, Iran. She graduated from the Business School of Tehran in 1976. In November 1979, she moved to California to continue her higher education. She has lived and worked in Los Angeles since then. Currently she is working as an independent computer consultant. Between 1989 and 1991 she founded and edited Forough, a Persian literary women's magazine that was the first Iranian magazine dedicated to women's literature. Mehrnoosh has published two short story collections in Persian. Borideh Hay e Nour (Streaks of Light) in 1992 and Clara va Man (Clara and I) in 1998. She also has translated one collection of one-woman plays by Dario Fo. She has a new collection of short stories under publication called Khakestary (Gray) and she is currently working on a novel. Mernoosh’s stories have been published in Iranian magazines inside and outside of Iran. Her stories also have been translated to English, German and Dutch. “The Agonizing Tale of a Horrible Murder”, along with another story of hers, were among the top 100 stories chosen in the Writer’s Digest competition in 1997.
Michelle Shahrzad Davis was born in the United States to an Iranian
mother and American father. Currently she is a graduating senior at
UC Berkeley, finishing with a Bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies. 
Mozhgan is president and founder of the World Political Action Committee and political editor of Iran Today.
She leads grass root movements against sanctions, fingerprinting, racial profiling and unreasonable search and seizure of Americans of Iranian heritage in the US. She is also an advisor to the Persian Watching Center (PWC), the Iranian-American anti-discrimination center. Her publications and periodicals have appeared in the Iranian media, and she has been on TV and radio shows in the US as a political analyst and as an expert in US-Iran relations. Her writings have been published in the Los Angeles Times, New Republic, the Maiden News, and Pacifica News Agency. Mozhgan’s educational background includes a B.Sc. in physical therapy from Tehran University (1988). She has been practicing physical therapy since 1991, when she immigrated to the US. She started her own business in physical therapy in 1994 and has expanded her horizons to elder care and real estate as well. She also islicensed by the Department of Social Services in the state of California. Her political interest and expertise come through self-education and her family background, and direct experience ofIran's Revolution of 1979, and eight years of the Iran-Iraq war and its aftermath.
Diana was born in Burma, but spent most of her life in Singapore. She came to California in 2001 and graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is currently is a staff writer and web assistant for IranDokht, and hopes to pursue a Master of Arts in Asian Studies in the near future. Diana has a keen interest in social work and her ultimate goal would be to return to Burma one day and work among her people. 
Nayereh Tohidi is an Associate Professor of Women's Studies at California State University, Northridge. She is directing a new program in Islamic Community Studies at CSUN and is also a Research Associate at the Center for Near Eastern Studies of UCLA. She earned her Ph.D. and MA degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has received several grants and research awards including a year of Fulbright lectureship and research at the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan (1991-92); post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard University; the Hoover Institute of Stanford University; and the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She has taught at Universities of Iowa, Minnesota, Harvard, USC and UCLA and has been a consultant for the United Nations on projects concerning women, gender and development in the Middle East and post-Soviet Eurasia. She represented women NGOs at both the third and fourth World Conferences on Women in Nairobi (1985) and in Beijing (1995). 
Niloofar is a theatre director and stage writer. After graduating in 1994 in with degrees in German literature and theatre, she wrote eight plays. Women are the central theme of all of her plays. She has written many articles about the modern theatre and about the role of women in theatre. She has performed and written more than 180 plays in many European countries. She usually works and writes in Persian and German.
Dr. Niloofar Farnoody-Zahiri has been a faculty member of the Psychology Department at Santa Monica Community College since 2001. Trained as a clinical and developmental psychologist, Dr. Farnoody has a strong interest in the supporting resilience in youth, especially in educational settings. Her clinical and research interests are in the area of childhood disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), cultural psychology, academic engagement of immigrant children, cross-cultural competency, and systems needs assessment and empowerment. She specializes in the use of play therapy and filial interventions with children and families with abuse, trauma, and attachment-related problems. Dr. Niloofar Farnoody has presented workshops and training programs at conferences such as the Cultural Competency and Mental Health Summit, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and other centers on topics such as the impact of trauma on identity and self-construal, the role of culture and attachment with identity achievement, parent training, occupational gender-role stereotyping and leadership, and the analysis of bi-cultural identity among Iranian-Americans. Dr. Farnoody has earned degrees from the University of California in San Diego (UCSD), and Pacific Graduate School of Psychology/Stanford University. She completed the American Psychological Association doctoral internship at Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health in child psychology, and has been providing psychological services at West Coast Psychological Institute, in West Los Angeles.
Recently, Dr. Farnoodi gave birth to a twin and here is her thoughts on that:
Nooushin Ehsan was born in Iran. She received Bachelor‘s
degrees in architecture from Tehran University and Ecole des Beaux-arts in Paris. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in interior design from Tehran University and a Master’s degree in
architecture and urban design from UCLA. Ms. Ehsan has served as the President of Accessible Architecture in New York, and as managing principal of B.E.B. Consultants in New York, London, and Tehran. She also worked as a consultant for the New York State Planning Department in Albany. Ms. Ehsan is actively involved in 14 organizations, including the American Institute ofArchitects (AIA) and the European Baha’i Business Ethics Forum (EBBF). She is also New York City's mayoral representative to the United Nations.
Pari Esfandiari is a social entrepreneur and internet pioneer. She founded IranDokht in 2002 as the first online media platform designed to connect the global community to Iranian women. It is a powerful and insuppressible medium that reflects the diverse lifestyles, complex perspectives, experiences and accomplishments of women of Iran.
Dr. Sabahat was born and raised in Mashhad. She moved to Tehran in order to attend the Teachers Training School, and then began working as a high school teacher. She received her degree in English language from the University of Tehran. She pursued her passion for painting upon her immigration to the US in 1979 by attending classes. For the last fifteen years she has taught painting on silk fabrics and china. Her frustration with violence during and after the Iranian revolution triggered an interest in metaphysics, which led to her Ph.D. She values this experience as shedding light on how to learn and she is looking forward to sharing her knowledge with you. 
An Iranian poet and literary critic, Partow Nooriala was born in Tehran, Iran. She received her Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and her Master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Tehran in 1978. Her first book of poems, The Share of the Years, was printed and ready for distribution when she was 22 but was banned by the Shah’s regime for seven years. This book was finally published in Iran in 1978, during the revolution. Nooriala came to the U.S. in 1986 and published her second collection of poems, From the Eyes of the Wind, in California. This book reflects the hopeful experiences of the revolutionary period and the disappointing social events that followed. Her third book, My Earth Altered, was also published in California in 1993. Nooriala’s fourth book of poems, A Chain on the Hands in the Constellation of Prosperity, will soon be published. Nooriala is also a literary critic. Her works on modern Persian fiction and film have been published in Persian literary journals both in and outside of Iran since the 1970’s. One collection ofreviews, Two Critiques, was published in 1986. The second collection of her critiques, Literature and Awareness, will also be published soon. Nooriala was awarded first prize for Best Critical Review in 1994 by Nahr-e-Baran Publications in Sweden.
Parvin’s special interest is spiritual astrology. Her philosophy is “know yourself and your destiny with astrology, and elevate and empower yourself and your life with the power of yoga and meditation and healing arts.” She has studied and practiced different yoga and meditation techniques with several masters. She currently practices Buddhism and teaches astrology at the Carroll Righter Astrological Foundation in Hollywood, California. As an engineer, Parvin is very aware of the universal laws, and she sees much truth in astrological forces and laws. Throughout history, the ruling classes in ancient Persia, Greece, India, Egypt, and Europe have used astrological forces. Now, in the computer age, this science is available to everybody all over the globe. Parvin believes everybody should learn about herself through this ancient science. 
He was born in 1968. He has obtained M.Sc. degree in "Environmental Management" (1996). He has been involved in several environmental studies as project manager. Since 2002, he has worked as managing director of a consulting engineers Co. in Tehran. 
Dr. Karim was born in California to immigrant parents--her father is from Iran, her mother from France. After experiencing the media coverage from the Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis, she felt an interest in exploring her Iranian heritage. In 1990, she entered graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin in Middle Eastern studies and Persian language and literature. In 1998, she completed her Ph.D. and edited A World Between: Poems, Short Stories, and Essays by Iranian-Americans (George Braziller, 1999). Since 1999, she has been an Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature at San Jose State University, where she teaches world literature, comparative literature, American ethnic literature, and creative writing.
Pirayeh Yaghmaii
Ms. Valipour was born in 1971 and has lived in France since age thirteen. She has a B.A. degree in English literature and an M.A. from the Sorbonne University in American civilization. Her final thesis subject was on the US and Iran's foreign policy under Clinton's administration. She is the youngest executive at an international company, the President and Chairman of which is Iranian. She is responsible for public relations and for promoting Iranian contemporary artists. She likes international politics, jazz music, plastic arts and literature and travels to Iran quite often, both for professional and personal reasons.
Rudabeh Shahbazi was born in Germany to an Iranian father and Canadian mother. She grew up in Oregon and was educated in California, England and Costa Rica. She studied journalism and sociology at Pepperdine University, where she wrote and edited for "The Graphic" and "Currents Magazine," and interned for National Geographic. Her passion for travel has taken her through dozens of countries on four continents, including Iran, where she spends her summers. Shahbazi has studied Polynesian and Middle Eastern dance for 13 years and is active in the homeless, elderly and prison communities of Los Angeles. She hopes to continue her education in Middle Eastern studies, international journalism or documentary making. 
I was born in 1957 in Mashhad, Iran. Spent the high school years in Orumia, and studied in Tabriz University, Persian literature in the department of Persian Literature& Humane sciences for years. Before I complete my B.A though, as a result of cultural cleansings on 1980, 81, I was one of the expelled students. I worked with the Tudeh Parties women branch, women's organization of the Tudeh party. At the time of the well known nation-wide hunt for the participants in the party, I crossed mountains to Turkey with my then-husband, and baby. Lived my refugee life there for some 5 & half before we were accepted in Canada as immigrants. I lived in Toronto since. Got divorced. Published my first collection of poetry, of lies, on 1998, by Afra publication. The second, and the whore is the savior came out on 1998. Saghi Ghahraman. That's all was published on 2003. My collection of short fiction, but it's painful to be a cow when you're lonely also came out on 2003. financially I've supported myself mostly holding odd jobs from selling ice creams to pizza making, to office administer, marketer, also, edited for Sepidar weekly, and Sepidar monthly, translated and wrote articles. At the moment I am not employed, and work on a novel, and share a bit of life and parts of an apartment with the artist Shapour Shahidi. 
Since childhood, Shahed Fakhari has worked in numerous journalistic mediums, pursuing passions and causes of great interest to her. At the age of 12, she co-hosted a weekly kids radio show on Radio Tehran. In high school, through her work as a student leader with Human Rights Watch, Shahed met human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, who has since been awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Shahed completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she obtained a joint bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science. While in college, her involvement with television, radio, and print media in both the campus community and the international Iranian community helped develop and define her writing style. Shahed spent the fall of 2002 at the University of Barcelona, studying Spain’s sociology, political science and economics. She has also held competitive internship positions with KABC-TV and Universal Records.
Shahed currently attends Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. where she is pursuing interests in international law, civil litigation, and media law.
I was pulled out of my mother's womb
in Houston, Texas. I lived there for ten years then unwillingly moved to
Tehran, Iran. I coped there for six years and eventually moved to Irvine,
CA, completely flummoxed and disoriented. I slithered lethargically at
University High School trying to conform and "fit in." By the end of high
school I was completely lost and didn't know what to do, so I applied to
UCI, where I currently study biology. (I am only cynical when it comes to
decisions I never had a hand in.)
I guess beyond all labels, which I believe depreciates humans, and
descriptions (such as movie buff and book enthusiast, or agnostic), I can
say that I seek awareness of every moment and ultimately enlightenment, if
such a possibility exists. I hold on steadfastly to my principles even if
they change tomorrow.
I spend most of my day reading and the rest of it watching movies, or
doubting God's existence.
You can mock now. 
Composer and pedagogue, Sheila Bazleh began piano lessons at the age of 7. She advanced her piano studies with Mario Terimo of the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, and composition at USC School of Music. Her chamber works have been performed at the Wattis Room of Davis Symphony Hall in San Francisco amongst other places. Her CD, ‘A Hidden Path to a Persian Garden’ has had national and international distribution. Sheila is also an accomplished fine artist and designer with extensive background working with children on multi-dimensional artistic programs. She has appeared as guest on a number of television programs such the Health Network’s 1, 2, 3...Grow! - in a half and hour children’s show dedicated to Synergo’s Classical Music for Children program. She has also appeared on various radio programs, such as the PBS San Francisco, the BBC International, Radio France International, Voice of America, and others. She was a featured artist in the documentary Women of Iran - part of the series Women of the World, produced and directed by the Oscar-winning producer, Victor Stoloff, in 1976. Sheila Bazleh is currently involved in presenting Classical Music for Children - an interactive music program of mental and emotional development through classical music, at the Creative Kids in Los Angeles. This is one of 4 Synergo Music Method programs - an innovative system of teaching music as a language, created and founded by her husband, Alexei Reznick and herself. They are now working on creating a special program of Music and Fine Arts: A Program of Synesthetic Development, which they hope to publicize in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Shirin Bazleh's list of credits as an editor include a number of award-winning documentaries: American Revolutionary War, a six-part series for Discovery Channel that won a Cable Ace Award; Iran, Behind the Veil, a two-hour special for CNN/TBS that earned a Gold Medal at the New York International Film and Video Festival. She also edited Paradise of Martyrs for ABC Australia, which won the Best Documentary Award by the Australian Film Commission. Ms. Bazleh has also edited three seasons of L.A. Detectives and numerous Investigative Reports specials for A&E; specials for Lifetime, including the award-winning Hidden Victims, Children of Domestic Violence; programs for such PBS programs as NOVA and Frontline, and many independent film and television projects. Ms. Bazleh is also a documentary producer and director; her Intimate Portrait Special on Mother Teresa earned her a Gracie Award. 
Academy Award Nominee Shoreh Aghdashloo, nominated for her work in House of Sand and Fog (2003), was the first Iranian and Middle Eastern actress to be nominated for an Oscar in a Best Supporting Actress category. Born in Tehran in 1952 to an intellectual, creative family, Aghdashloo was drawn to the theater at an early age, and, by her twenties, was performing in various cutting-edge performance groups. She has over twenty years of experience in the Iranian media and art scene, and holds a B.A. in International Relations. An actress whose strong political beliefs almost led her to a career as a journalist, Shohreh decided instead that she could reach more people by working in film and theater. She has been the lead actress in more than 20 movies and plays, some of which have been featured in international film festivals. She has worked closely with Kia Rostami, Shirin Neshat, and other noted directors. She is also an experienced TV commentator on social, political, and cultural issues. 
Sima developed a passion for Persian classical and folk musicas a young child. In high school, Sima participated in nationwide school talent contests in two different categories - voice and classical guitar - and was awarded first prize in each category. She pursued her musical talent by studying treasured Persian classical songs, learning the techniques of the masters and combining them with her rare creativity. She studied the Persian Vocal Radeef and has benefited from the teaching and support of many masters of Persian classical music as well as international artists. Sima plays guitar, setar, and daf. She is also exceedingly established in American ballad and folk music and has been recognized and appreciated for her achievements as a writer and a performer. Her creativity expands to other areas, namely sketching and design. Her credits include lyrics both in Persian and English, music compositions, voice training, movie soundtracks, musical arrangements, and set designs for her own nationwide live performances. Throughout the years, with total dedication to music, Sima continued with her academic studies and received her B.S. in civil engineering. Sima currently resides in Los Angeles and has kept her promise to maintain her ties with classical music.
Sima Ranjbar was born in Persia and educated in a French Boarding School. She obtained a Master of Art in European Studies from France and returned home to Lecture French Literature at National University. Later she joined the corps diplomatic of the French Embassy based in Tehran, before returning to Europe. Once in Paris, she took on a new venture and studied Beauty and Skin care in the Fashion House of "Christian Dior" and soon became their representative in United Kingdom. In the second half of the 80's she changed career and made quite a success as a financial adviser in London and Manchester.
Today, she uses the fruits of her journey to create a better Interior by Design. Sima is Certified interior designer in Interior Designers Institute in Newport Beach and is a certified Master Feng Shui trained by Master Nate Batoon. Spoken words Artist/Author, and an award winning poet , Sima’s articles, poems and translations in three languages, have been published since she was 14 years of age in 3 continents.
Irvine Valley College is host to Sima's lectures on: " When God was a woman", "History of Art" and " The impressionist painters of France". Active in her community also in causes that evolves the awareness of women at the global level, Sima is an organizer in the Southern California chapter of G.T.W. Global Matrix. Recently, with the help of O.C. friends, Sima created a support group for women called" Les Pepins de l'Orange".
Soheila has received her Ph.D from University of California, Los Angeles UCLA. Her fields of study are French and Francophone Literature, Post-Colonial and Women Studies. Soheila has presented and published many papers in this field.
She is tremendously interested in the issues of immigration, multiculturalism and identity crises. Presently Soheila teaches at the University of Irvine, California (UCI) and Chapman University in Orange. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Dr. Marzvaan is a graduate of Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry, in Loma Linda, CA. She is amongst the 2% of all dentists worldwide, who has been trained in the art and science of Neuromuscular Dentistry. This specialty capacitates her to treat patients who suffer from chronic head, neck, and TMJ pain through the non-surgical approach of correctly positioning teeth, and also head and neck muscles.
Dr. Marzvaan has received certification in Master in Aesthetic Dentistry, from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. In addition, she obtained a certification in Master of Mandibular & Myocentric in August 2001. She stays at the cutting edge of technology by undergoing 135 hours of postgraduate training every year. She also attends and lectures at seminars, study clubs, and continuing education courses. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Arizona Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Marzvaan’s practices at Pinnacle Dental Arts, located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here she practices cosmetic neuromuscular dentistry.
Sonia Gaemi is a registered dietician who completed an internship at UC Berkeley. She holds B.S., B.A., and M.A. degrees in nutrition and dietetics, and a doctorate from the University of San Francisco in international multicultural education, with an emphasis on nutritional psychology. She is recognized worldwide for her pioneering research and epistemology studies of 5000 women and children in many countries. She is the founder of Women for Cultural Wisdom and its new millennium model, One-Day Healing with Food (acknowledged by the UN as a foremost nutrition plan). She has been chairwoman for Women’s Nutrition/2000 (UN-US-Berkeley). She is a faculty advisor to the statewide Women’s Health Leadership program. Dr. Gaemi is a lecturer at several universities, noted health spas, and HMOs, and a newspaper food/health columnist.
I was born in Iran where I received a BSc and MSc in Agriculture with the major in Agronomy. I began my career by teaching genetics to the medical vet and biology students at University of Urumia-Rezaieh. I moved to Australia in 1993 to obtain a PhD, however, I became fascinated with the fundamental differences in behaviours and communication modes between Iranians and Australians. The serious consequences of these cultural clashes manifested in high divorce rate, substance abuse, domestic violence and family break ups among migrants; and the lack of understanding of the causes of these problems amongst immigrant themselves led me to divert my focus of attention to study Iranian culture and social behaviour.
I spent seven years on observing, comparing, analysing, and collecting data by communicating to people. “Ma Chera Chenin Shodim” is the essence of this study published in August 2000 in Sydney. Even though the copies of the book were limited it received good exposure and was reviewed in various Iranian media outlets in Australia and USA. The book initiated a debate among Iranian readers. Over last four years, the nature of the debate and the attitudes expressed towards me for writing the book, made me to realize that there were issues that were overlooked in the first edition. My new book entitled “Imprisoned by Culture” is my attempt to accommodate these new findings; the book is under publication in Iran. Currently, I am in the process of expanding the scope of my study to cover similar cultures and communities, mainly non-democratic countries. This would be the theme for my next book that I am hoping to publish in English to reach wider audiences. Meanwhile you will hear my voice in articles published in selected Iranian media outlets such as IranDokht.
Dr. Parhisgar came to the U.S. in 1976. She has an M.A. in education and a Ph.D. in human behavior and leadership. She holds certificates in early childhood education and psychology. Ms. Parhizgar has served as Chairperson of the Education Department (1969-1972), educational expert in the state Department of International Relations (1972-1973), educational expert in the state Department of Fine Arts and Music, and Deputy Director of the state Department of Education. In the U.S., she has held various teaching positions at the university level in anthropology, sociology, philosophy of education, psychology, and English as a Second Language. In 1984, while in San Diego, she collaborated with Radio Vatan. In 1996, in Orange County, she conducted two sessions per week for the Iranian 24-hour radio station. The first focused on Iranian history (in English), and the second was a talk show on family and children’s issues. Her literary works and translations include: Khayam & the Best of Persian Poetry, I Wanna Grow Up at Once, and Naggalee of Shahnameh-Ferdowsi. Dr. Parhizgar speaks English, Persian, French and Arabic.
Born: 1952, Gorgan
Graduated: Comuter Engineering from Umea University (Sweden)
Cartoonist, Illustrator and Art critical for different magazines & Newspapers
Dr. Zohreh Khazai was born in Khorasan, Iran. She studied dentistry at Ferdowsi University and specialized in pediatric dentistry at London University, England. After one year of directing the children’s department at Pahlavi University inShiraz, she moved to the U.S. in 1975 to marry Gary Ghahremani Ghajar. She was on the faculty at Northwestern University in Chicago for 25 years while also running her private practice in Evanston, IL. She now lives in California. Although Zohreh has retired from the dental field, she is by no means "retired". Her first book, Shareeke Gham, has earned many positive reviews, and has helped Iranians deal with grief. She is currently working on her second book. She is an active antique dealer, writer, poet, painter and mother of three children. She welcomes the opportunity to work with IranDokht.
Dr. Sullivan has been a professor of English at the University of Illinois since 1972. She has also taught at Webster College in St. Louis, Mo., and at Damavand College in Tehran, Iran.. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in l971, and a B.A. from Western College, Oxford, Ohio in l962. Her publications include many articles on colonial, postcolonial, and English literature, on pedagogy, and on alternate modernities in Iran; and three books - Narratives of Empire: the Fictions of Rudyard Kipling (Cambridge, Cambridge UP: l993), the Norton Critical Edition of Rudyard Kipling's Kim (New York, Norton: 2001); and Exiled Memories: Stories of Iranian Diaspora (Philadelphia, Temple UP: 2001 