Nahid Haghayegh

Nahid Haghayegh believes the ripple effects of social change begin with education.

During her undergraduate career, Nahid studied abroad in the Czech Republic. There, she worked with organizations focused on stopping human trafficking, social welfare, HIV/AIDS prevention and education for incarcerated individuals. Her time in Prague inspired her to get a certification for teaching English as a foreign language. She lived in Chile for a year-and-a-half to teach and counsel youth. While there, she developed a “Human Rights in English” curriculum, teaching students about sexual injustice, the Holocaust and race relations. Back in the states, she worked with the nonprofit organization Three Stands to coordinate a 5K that raised money for trafficked victims in Cambodia.

Her desire to study education through a global lens made her a perfect match for a master’s in international and intercultural education. She has presented at different conferences regarding human trafficking. As an active member of the campus charter of Amnesty International, she’s facilitated workshops focused on gender-related violence.

Nahid is a first-generation college graduate who credits Associate Professor Maria Lovett, Adjunct Professor Fernanda Pineda, and assistant professors Emily Anderson and Elizabeth Anderson for inspiring her through their own passions. After commencement, she plans to pursue her Ph.D. in sociology. She also hopes to write a book to educate others on human rights and social justice.

By Giselle M. Cancio
Social Media Manager, College of Arts, Sciences & Education