wings of change: my fulbright award · wings of change: my fulbright award prof. dr najma najam,...
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Wings of Change: My
Fulbright award
Prof. dr Najma Najam, Fulbright-
hayes 1975-80,senior fulbright
1995-96
Transformation begins: The
Journey• Fulbright Hayes grant competing in
1974- did not think will get it ( constant
theme of my life).
• Grant successfully awarded 1975-
placed at BGSU Ohio ( where?) for
MA and PHD in Psychology
• Arrived through blizzards and
snowstorms in Dec airports and flights
closed. First test of resilience!
BGSU: Hard Science
• Department of Psychology and the
J.P. Scott Center for Neuroscience,
Mind, and Behavior, Basic
Neuroscience and Cognition,
Neuroethology, Behavioral Ecology,
and Psychopharmacology ( What?-
from High School level physiology,
quite a leap!)
1975-1980• 5 years of sloshing through snow,
working with most exacting supervisor,
of courses and grad students (majority
male)- who through women in the East
walked behind their men!
• Quite a cultural shock for both ( them
and me!)
• Learning to stand up and defend my
point of view
• Learning how the HE system work (
Grad school)
• Learning different cultures as active
member of the world student
organization
• And strong problem solving and life
skills
1980• Introduced and developed courses
Behavioral Neurosciences ( now taught in all
Psychology programs)
Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology, and
Research Methods ( advanced level)
1995-96
• Senior Fulbright Fellowship at Uni of
Pitt School of Medicien. Spent one
year at CEDAR and WPIC. Learnt new
skills of Neuropscyh Assesment.
• Introduced new tests at PU upon
return
• Question? Why do I keep doing this to
myself?
FJWU• Selected as first Founding Female VC
of Punjab and 2nd in the history of the
country
• Challenge to start university classes
within 3 weeks of appointment ( no
courses, no faculty, no furniture) only
the beautiful building and promises
• Exciting as given a template to work
on my vision of university! Fulbright
gave me the exposure and
experience. Innovate,
innocate,innovate
• Courses on women in development!
Computers, Language and Research
Methods! first semester
1998- revolution
Fatima Jinnah Women University: presenation in nov 1998
• Priority for admissions, to be
completed as per schedule
• University to be operational
by 28th December
• Courses for the First
semester to be planned and
faculty identified
• Hostel accommodation to be
located and process initiated.
• Student residential areas
identified for transport
• Administrative staff
• University Engineering and
Caretaker Staff.(including
Gardeners
• Equipment for the University,
Photocopiers,fax,computers
etc.
• Security for premises
• Building
• Furniture
FJWU as envisioned on Nov
1998
• FJWU IS A UNIQUE AND ENRICHING LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL GROW WITH THE
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THE
MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO TRAIN YOUNG WOMEN
TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND BECOME
PAKISTANI WOMEN OF THE 21ST CENTURY. THOSE
WHO GRADUATE FROM FJWU WILL DO SO WITH A
COMMITMENT TO EXCEL FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR
NATION
• Acceptance of woman VC, and a
woman in place of authority- many
palces, many levels many stories. Dug
my heels in.
• Had to affirm, otherwise women would
be judged failures
KIU another challenge
• First woman VC, high est mountian
areas
• Turbulent history
Fulbright • What did Fulbright grant gave me- as
Alumnus—opened highways of
knowledge
• Learning opportunities, unique
experience for self discovery, potential
and strength to follow my vision
• Expansion of horizons? More than that
• Lifetime of Change and discovery
• Thank you!
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