Published by News from Brown on January 27, 2022
By Jill Kimball
Brown is hosting a cohort of students from the Asian University for Women and Ghalib University, all of whom left Afghanistan abruptly in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power less than six months ago. This article focuses in on two students, Maryam Khademi and Zahra Fayeq, outlining the challenges they faced in leaving Afghanistan, as well as the support they have found at Brown University. Richard M. Locke, the university’s provost, was quoted saying: “In the face of an increasingly unstable world, there is an especially pressing need to ensure that university campuses remain physically and intellectually open and welcoming. That’s why Brown has long been committed to supporting scholars who are at risk due to conflicts in their home countries — including these 15 talented Afghan women. We are thrilled to provide all the support these driven, determined students need to thrive at Brown and ultimately make a positive impact on the world.” Brown is a founding member of the New University in Exile Consortium.