Ghazale Haddadian
Ph.D. Candidate in Management Science (operations concentration)Although Ghazale Haddadian's dual dream is a large one—to "eradicate poverty and hunger around the world, and to help people reach their highest potential"—she is taking steps to obtain her desire through an endeavor whose name brings to mind a tiny yet potentially fertile object—a seed.
Haddadian is working with Nasrin Khalili, associate professor in Stuart's EMS Program, on the Sustainable Entrepreneurial Economic Development or SEED project.
"The idea behind SEED is to increase the economic attractiveness and vitality of small towns through entrepreneurial development, information technology, and sustainability while maintaining their sense of community, culture, and value system," says Haddadian, who designed SEED's website. She notes that IIT Stuart will serve as a catalyst for economic development by creating an "Entrepreneurial Hub" connecting one small town to another to share resources and facilitate communication.
With an M.B.A. from Wright State University, Haddadian decided to enroll at IIT Stuart after speaking with Khalili about the many opportunities offered through the EMS Program. One of those turned out to be the chance to coauthor a chapter in Khalili's textbook Practical Sustainability: From Grounded Theory to Emerging Strategies. Looking back at her time in the program, Haddadian acknowledges that Dean Harvey Kahalas continues to play an instrumental role.
"With his leadership and vision, Dean Kahalas provides me with the opportunity to learn, to share, and to explore ideas and possibilities that I would never has otherwise done," she explains. "He is very collaborative and encouraging of students' creativity and innovation."
