SFSU alumna Neda Nobari funds major expansion of Presidential Scholars Program

Above: Presidential Scholars Program recipients. Freshman Naseem Driadr, who is mentioned in the piece below, is second from the left.

Program focuses on supporting high-achieving first-generation, low-income students by fully covering tuition, housing

SAN FRANCISCO - Feb. 6, 2025 - San Francisco State University (SFSU) has announced that Iranian American businesswoman, community leader, philanthropist and alumna Neda Nobari (B.S., '84) has funded an expansion of the Presidential Scholars Program (PSP) that will more than double its size. The program supports first-generation, low-income students with high GPAs from the San Francisco Bay Area by covering the costs of tuition, housing, books and more for four years.

“Neda’s longstanding support for and service to the University has transformed our campus in so many ways,” SFSU President Lynn Mahoney said. “We are deeply grateful for her continued support which will change the lives of many students, especially those who face financial obstacles on their journey to a better future."

Graduating from SFSU with a Computer Science degree, Nobari has a profound passion for helping STEM students like she once was. Her gift will expand PSP by specifically supporting STEM students who will be named the Maryam Mirzakhani Scholars in recognition of mathematician and professor Maryam Mirzakhani. In 2014, she became the first woman and Iranian to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious mathematics award.

"My hope is that these scholarships will prioritize students pursuing careers in STEM, fields close to my heart as one of the few women in my computer science cohort over 40 years ago,” Nobari said. “My goal is that these scholarships can further diversify STEM fields, benefitting students who most need the support to succeed.” 

SFSU received a $5 million gift from Nobari in 2016 to establish the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies and an additional $2 million years later. Since its inception, the center has provided rich and unique opportunities to study and explore the experiences, cultures and impact of the global Iranian diaspora to support its mission as an innovative academic platform for connecting transnational next-generation Iranian diaspora scholars. After a careful assessment of the most important needs of the University and students, Nobari has decided to redirect these funds to PSP to provide direct scholarship support.

As a proud SFSU alumna and lifelong advocate for education, Nobari has a deep connection with the University and has served many roles on the SFSU Foundation Board since its inception.

“Having served as an inaugural director, chair of its investment committee and board chair during its strategic planning process, I have developed a clear understanding of the University’s priorities and the growing challenges our students face. By repurposing my endowment, I am putting our students first,” Nobari said. “SFSU is very dear to me. I spent some of my most transformative years there, and because of its impact on my life, I want to continue giving back to the University and, most importantly, to the students.”

In 2020, Nobari was named the SFSU Alumna of the Year and was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. She also established in 2022 the Azar Hatefi Graduate Student Fellowship in Iranian Diaspora Studies, honoring her late mother’s legacy. 

Additionally, Nobari was pivotal in founding the Student Sustainable Investment Fund to provide students hands- on experience in sustainable investing and funding scholarships for students participating in that program. This transformational investment in the Presidential Scholars Program is also the culmination of her long trajectory of consistently supporting student fellowships and scholarships at SFSU.

About the Presidential Scholars Program

PSP, supported by the Division of Student Life, promotes exceptional learning and adheres to the highest standards of academic quality in the spirit of inclusive excellence. Each year, scholarships are awarded based on academic merit to an entering freshman cohort. The program not only provides financial support but also fosters a sense of community among the scholars through various events and cohort-building activities. 

Founded in 1995, the program currently serves about 20 students per year, with about four to five students in each class at any given time. With the additional funds from Nobari, the program will serve 30 additional students.

The program’s impact is often life-changing for students, including freshman Naseem Driadr, whose dream is to become a doctor. With this program, Driadr was able to overcome financial barriers to attend SFSU. 

Driadr and his brother are currently both in college on a pre-medicine track, putting a financial strain on Driadr’s father, who is the sole provider for the family. PSP alleviated some of the financial stress of sending two people to college at the same time. 

“This scholarship came at the right timing. I didn’t want to be a burden upon my family,” Driadr said. “If I didn’t get into the scholarship program, I would have probably chosen a community college. It would have been a very different route or I would have gone into a lot of debt for sure.” 

PSP also helps Driadr stay focused on his dream. “This scholarship helps me take my mind away from those financial things and focus on my schooling and do great how I'm supposed to be doing," he said.

Learn more about the Presidential Scholars Program.