SFSU Alumna Neda Nobari Funds Major Expansion of Presidential Scholars Program for STEM Students
In honor of the late Maryam Mirzakhani, a pioneering Iranian mathematician and the first woman to win the Fields Medal, philanthropist Neda Nobari endows inclusionary scholarships for outstanding first-generation, low-income STEM students.
LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking move to support first-generation, low-income STEM students, philanthropist and San Francisco State University (SFSU) alumna Neda Nobari has announced the expansion of the Presidential Scholars Program with the introduction of the Maryam Mirzakhani Presidential Scholarships. Named after the late Iranian mathematician and first female recipient of the Fields Medal, these scholarships will provide 30 full-ride awards, covering tuition, housing, books, and essential costs for four years.
This expansion more than doubles the program's size and underscores Nobari's commitment to the transformative power of education. At a time when public university funding and student inclusion efforts are under threat, Nobari's philanthropic leadership demonstrates a flexible, student-first approach that prioritizes tangible impact over rigid endowment structures.
"Education is a fundamental human right and the key to unlocking all others," says Neda Nobari, founder of MOZAIK Philanthropy and former Chair of the SFSU Foundation Board. "Forty-two years ago, I was one of the few women in my Computer Science cohort at SFSU. My experience as an immigrant and student during the Iran-Iraq War shaped my belief in making education accessible. Ensuring financial access isn't just a privilege—it's a necessity."
Nobari's philanthropic contributions to SFSU have been significant. In 2016, she donated $5 million to establish the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, followed by another $1 million in subsequent years. Recognizing the urgent need for direct student support, she made the strategic decision to repurpose these funds to ensure that high-need students receive guaranteed full-ride scholarships to complete their degrees.
As the national higher education sector, the CSU, and SFSU navigate the combined challenges of budgetary pressures, demographic shifts, and wavering public confidence in the value of higher education, the imperative to lower the cost of attendance for students at SFSU is more crucial than ever.
Beyond this latest investment, Nobari's support for SFSU students has been visionary across multiple disciplines. Named the SFSU Alumna of the Year in 2020 and inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame, she has played a vital role in advancing student success. Her contributions include supporting the SF State Guardian Scholars Program, which helps former and current foster youth stay in college and graduate, as well as founding the Student Sustainable Investment Fund, which provides hands-on experience in sustainable investing while funding scholarships for participating students. In 2022, she further extended her impact by establishing the Azar Hatefi Graduate Student Fellowship in Iranian Diaspora Studies, honoring her late mother's legacy.
This latest expansion of the Presidential Scholars Program solidifies Nobari's legacy of democratizing access to education, a commitment she hopes other institutional donors will model at their own universities. By reimagining how philanthropy can eliminate financial barriers, she is shaping a more equitable academic landscape at SFSU—one where every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed.
Media Contact:
Keely Badger
MOZAIK Philanthropy
keely@mozaikphilanthropy.org
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SOURCE MOZAIK Philanthropy