Dr. Mehdi Heravi
Dr. Mehdi Heravi was born in Tehran, Iran. He moved to Logan, Utah, for high school and remained in Logan for his undergraduate degree at USU. He received his Ph.D. from the American University School of International Service. Heravi later served as Vice President and Provost at the University of Iran. After retirement, Heravi began work in philanthropy, giving support to academic programs and charities, including an orphanage in Iran. He is passionate about students’ receiving access to international opportunities.
Dr. Heravi has spent the majority of his life in academics, which has influenced the way he understands the world and chooses to make a difference through philanthropy. He left his home in Tehran, Iran as a teenager to pursue his dream of receiving an education in the United States of America. He came to Logan, Utah to finish his senior year of high school and enroll at Utah State University (USU) where he studied Political Science, eventually graduating with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. While at USU, Dr. Heravi became the first international student in the university’s history to become a campus-wide independent senator, making it clear that even at a young age he had the ability to bring people from different backgrounds together. Building on his early educational career at USU, Dr. Heravi earned his doctorate from the School of International Services at American University, where graduates are well known for their excellence in public service, environmental stewardship, human rights, and social justice. His first professional position was as a college professor at Tennessee Technological University. Dr. Heravi then returned to Iran to serve as Vice President and Provost at the National University of Iran. Years later, following the Iranian Revolution, he devoted himself to philanthropy and humanitarian work. He cares deeply about students receiving access to international programs and advanced academic opportunities that will enhance their personal lives and bridge cultures. One of his mottos is that “humanity is a priority and one should always strive to make the world a better place.”