Wings of Change: My

Fulbright award

Prof. dr Najma Najam, Fulbright-

hayes 1975-80,senior fulbright

1995-96

Transformation begins: The

Journey• Fulbright Hayes grant competing in

1974- did not think will get it ( constant

theme of my life).

• Grant successfully awarded 1975-

placed at BGSU Ohio ( where?) for

MA and PHD in Psychology

• Arrived through blizzards and

snowstorms in Dec airports and flights

closed. First test of resilience!

BGSU: Hard Science

• Department of Psychology and the

J.P. Scott Center for Neuroscience,

Mind, and Behavior, Basic

Neuroscience and Cognition,

Neuroethology, Behavioral Ecology,

and Psychopharmacology ( What?-

from High School level physiology,

quite a leap!)

1975-1980• 5 years of sloshing through snow,

working with most exacting supervisor,

of courses and grad students (majority

male)- who through women in the East

walked behind their men!

• Quite a cultural shock for both ( them

and me!)

• Learning to stand up and defend my

point of view

• Learning how the HE system work (

Grad school)

• Learning different cultures as active

member of the world student

organization

• And strong problem solving and life

skills

1980• Introduced and developed courses

Behavioral Neurosciences ( now taught in all

Psychology programs)

Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology, and

Research Methods ( advanced level)

1995-96

• Senior Fulbright Fellowship at Uni of

Pitt School of Medicien. Spent one

year at CEDAR and WPIC. Learnt new

skills of Neuropscyh Assesment.

• Introduced new tests at PU upon

return

• Question? Why do I keep doing this to

myself?

FJWU• Selected as first Founding Female VC

of Punjab and 2nd in the history of the

country

• Challenge to start university classes

within 3 weeks of appointment ( no

courses, no faculty, no furniture) only

the beautiful building and promises

• Exciting as given a template to work

on my vision of university! Fulbright

gave me the exposure and

experience. Innovate,

innocate,innovate

• Courses on women in development!

Computers, Language and Research

Methods! first semester

1998- revolution

Fatima Jinnah Women University: presenation in nov 1998

• Priority for admissions, to be

completed as per schedule

• University to be operational

by 28th December

• Courses for the First

semester to be planned and

faculty identified

• Hostel accommodation to be

located and process initiated.

• Student residential areas

identified for transport

• Administrative staff

• University Engineering and

Caretaker Staff.(including

Gardeners

• Equipment for the University,

Photocopiers,fax,computers

etc.

• Security for premises

• Building

• Furniture

FJWU as envisioned on Nov

1998

• FJWU IS A UNIQUE AND ENRICHING LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL GROW WITH THE

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THE

MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO TRAIN YOUNG WOMEN

TO MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL AND BECOME

PAKISTANI WOMEN OF THE 21ST CENTURY. THOSE

WHO GRADUATE FROM FJWU WILL DO SO WITH A

COMMITMENT TO EXCEL FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR

NATION

• Acceptance of woman VC, and a

woman in place of authority- many

palces, many levels many stories. Dug

my heels in.

• Had to affirm, otherwise women would

be judged failures

KIU another challenge

• First woman VC, high est mountian

areas

• Turbulent history

Fulbright • What did Fulbright grant gave me- as

Alumnus—opened highways of

knowledge

• Learning opportunities, unique

experience for self discovery, potential

and strength to follow my vision

• Expansion of horizons? More than that

• Lifetime of Change and discovery

• Thank you!