Alumnus Enables Scholarships for Every College at USU

LOGAN, Utah — A signing ceremony on Wednesday honored multiple historic gift pledges made by Utah State University alumnus and philanthropist Mehdi Heravi. Heravi’s most recent donation will endow scholarships in multiple colleges and programs at USU and provide a major gift to support the Heravi Peace Institute.

Heravi, who called his support for USU “an obligation of love,” has endowed more individual scholarships than any other donor to USU, and, with this signing, will have enabled at least one scholarship in each of USU’s colleges. According to USU Vice President for Advancement Matthew White, these latest endowments bring Heravi’s total to 49 endowed scholarships at the university, outpacing the previous record-holder, who had 11.

President Elizabeth Cantwell and USU college deans attended Wednesday’s ceremony in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Office, with each taking a moment to express their gratitude directly.

“Lots of people talk the talk,” Cantwell said. “Very few walk the walk the way Mehdi Heravi does. Dr. Mehdi Heravi is one of the rare individuals who truly embodies the spirit of philanthropy. USU is honored to be a beneficiary of his kindness."

Following the signing of multiple gift agreements, Heravi has now endowed more than one scholarship in every department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences — at least one for undergraduates and one for graduate students in each program. This is in addition a scholarship in every department in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, given in honor of his late father, who was a professor of agriculture in Iran.

These historic gifts include a considerable donation to the Heravi Peace Institute as well as support for students participating in USU Athletics, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, and Utah Public Radio.

After attending Utah State University as an international student, Heravi graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science. He received his Ph.D. from the American University School of International Service. A former academic, Heravi has dedicated much of his life to philanthropy and is an ongoing supporter of education and several humanitarian causes.

“Mehdi said in his book that … everyone should always strive to make the world a better place,” said White during his remarks at the signing ceremony. “And Mehdi, you're a shining example of that, touching the lives of countless students. Thank you.”

The Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center, named in honor of Heravi’s ongoing support for USU students and programs, opens on the Logan campus on Friday. Intended to recognize Heravi’s lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for students to pursue international collaboration and enhanced global connection, the new facility will house language programs at USU.