Afghanistan Scholars at Risk
UPDATE: Thank you for your generous contribution to the UC San Diego Afghanistan Scholar at Risk Program. We have identified a scholar and are actively working with the IIE-Scholar at Risk Fund to bring her to UC San Diego. We will update you with more information when her arrival is secured.
The UC San Diego International Institute, in partnership with the Afghan Student Association, has created the Afghanistan Scholars at Risk Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund on behalf of our campus to respond to the urgent need to help at-risk academics directly impacted by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Our aim is to provide postdoctoral fellowship support to at-risk scholars who have been displaced and/or severely impacted by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, granting them a temporary academic home here at UC San Diego until they can find a permanent placement. Aside from simply seeking refuge, participants are afforded a chance to continue their work, while enriching the campus community. Protecting and hosting academics escaping risk is also a way to preserve the future of higher education in Afghanistan, which might otherwise suffer significant setbacks from the persecution, imprisonment and deaths of such individuals.
We are also coordinating our efforts with Scholars at Risk, an international network of institutions and individuals who work to promote worldwide academic freedom. We hope that we will inspire other institutions to help the women, men and children facing grave risks in Afghanistan.
Our goal is to quickly raise $125,000 for this cause. Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Simmons will provide $25,000 from campus funds as support for this vital effort. Please join her and others here at UC San Diego and make your gift today to support this crucial initiative.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Tom Smith Tseng
Senior Executive Director of Development
International and Campus Initiatives
tomtseng@ucsd.edu
(858) 822-3955
Good news: Our effort to support scholars at risk has gotten publicity from The San Diego Union Tribune. Read the article here.