January 2022 | Issue I
Upcoming Events

Sunday, March 6, 2022
20th Women's Leadership Conference
Newport Beach, CA
Did You Know?
In the fall, a college professor stood on a conference podium and stated, “Every effort must be made not to recruit women into engineering, but rather to recruit and demand more of men who become engineers. Ditto for med school, and the law, and every trade.” In response, Ally Orr, a senior studying marketing at Boise State, created a GoFundMe to establish the "Women in STEM, Medicine, and Law Scholarship" at Boise State University, and as of Jan. 27, she has raised over $135,000.
Iranian American Women's Leadership Conference
We are really looking forward to hosting our Iranian American Women's Leadership Conference on Sunday, March 6, 2022 at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel! Our dedicated committee members have been busy planning a special day to celebrate not only International Women's Day, but also IAWF's 10th anniversary. Shally Zomorodi will join us as our Master of Ceremonies for a day full of empowering panels, inspiring speakers, and a unique fashion show. Early bird tickets are on sale here, and prices will go up after February 14th so save your spot today! *Your health and safety are our priority. We will require proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test within 24 hours of the event. Masks and sanitizer will be provided.*
IAWF Partners with Amin Arasteh Foundation
IAW Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with the Amin Arasteh Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization whose aim is to provide merit-based financial assistance to high performing students of Iranian descent to enable them to excel on their educational path. The goal of this partnership is to combine our strengths as well-established organizations serving the Iranian community in order to expand our reach to deserving students. Our scholarship selection committee will continue to review applications from qualified individuals, while the Amin Arasteh Foundation will provide additional funding for our program. 
Over the years, we have seen the great power of community support as we have fundraised to uplift our mentees throughout the country, and we believe this collaboration will allow us to make an even greater difference for those we serve. IAWF is grateful for the trust and support from the Amin Arasteh Foundation’s Board of Directors, and we thank each and every one of our donors and members - your continued faith and belief in our mission has changed the lives of so many intelligent, passionate, and driven students. We can’t wait to see what we accomplish for our community through this partnership, and we look forward to exciting opportunities ahead.
Welcome IAWF's New LA Rising Leaders Chapter Co-Chairs
IAW Foundation is excited to welcome Ariana Nasim Romero and Sara Ardehali as the new Co-Chairs of our Los Angeles Rising Leaders Chapter. We are so proud of the work that these incredible women are doing along with their dedicated committee members, and we can't wait to see this chapter continue to grow through their sisterhood. We are sure they will continue work started by our passionate former Co-Chairs, Nellie Keyhani and Sunny Nassim, and we are grateful for the time and effort they dedicated to this chapter.
Ariana Nasim Romero is currently the Chair of the Rising Leaders Board of the IAWF LA Chapter. Since the inception of IAWF in 2012, Ariana has been an active volunteer and even worked for the organization. She is an experienced contract professional with a demonstrated history of working in the Defense, Space, and Government industries. Currently, she is a Government and Public Services Contract Lead at Deloitte Management Consulting, servicing State, Local, and Higher Education contracts. She obtained a Master’s in Public Policy with a specialization in State & Local Policy, International Relations, and National Security from Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. As an Iranian-Nicaraguan American, it has been a great experience to embrace her Iranian heritage by being involved in IAWF.
Sara Ardehali is a current third year doctorate of dental surgery candidate at UCLA School of Dentistry. She graduated with a B.A in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Barnard College of Columbia University. 
She is highly engaged with the alumnae network of her prestigious undergraduate institution and serves as a class correspondent for her year.
Sara is a frequent guest speaker for both educational and professional organizations with a special interest in topics relating to mentorship and supporting women, particularly in the health fields. She has a deeply rooted passion for teaching the future generation of healthcare providers, through her role as a student lecturer at UCLA. Likewise, she is a longtime advocate for women's rights and their professional excellence, both within and outside of UCLA.
IAWF Hosts Meet & Greet with Mentees and Mentors
On December 10th, 2021, IAWF's New York Chapter came together for a small gathering to celebrate the end of another successful year of our Mentorship to Internship program. Our dear friend and supporter, Shabnam Rezaei, kindly hosted our members in her studio, Big Bad Boo Studios. IAWF Founder Mariam Khosravani and NY Mentorship Program Chair Laya Khadjavi awarded certificates to mentees who completed a year in the program, and we connected with new and old friends from the New York area. We are so thankful for this community of inspiring, intelligent, and passionate women, and we hope to gather safely again soon!