Ferial Govashiri, then an aide to President Barack Obama, shows him how to make the sign of the anteater, mascot of the University of California, Irvine, prior to the UCI commencement at Angels Stadium in Anaheim in 2014. (Official White House photo via WikiMedia Commons)
Ferial Govashiri, personal aide to former President Barack Obama, will make the keynote presentation for the SUNY Oswego Student Leadership Conference at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, in the Marano Campus Center auditorium. Her talk is free and open to the public.
The conference, in support of the college's Oz Leads Leadership Institute, will take place March 3 and 4. It will offer the current class of Oz Leads and other SUNY Oswego students aspiring to lead or to become involved for the first time the opportunity to take part in interactive workshops and training. Professionals from the campus community will teach skills for success in campus leadership roles and beyond.
Govashiri's talk will focus on finding and following one's passion in life, according to Associate Dean of Students Dan Roberts.
Born in Iran, Govashiri and her family immigrated to the United States when she was six months old, as the ayatollah was closing Iran's borders. After completing her undergraduate degree, Govashiri joined the Obama campaign in 2007. Though her parents wished her to enroll in law school, she began as an unpaid intern and worked her way up to become Obama's right-hand woman. She is an active member of the Iranian American Women Foundation.
Parking for this event is available in the employee and commuter lots behind Hart and Funnelle residence halls. For those needing accommodations to attend or for more information, contact the Dean of Students Office at 315-312-5483.
The college's Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management sponsors and coordinates Oz Leads and the SUNY Oswego Leadership Conference.