May 23, 2005 (Vol. 1, No. 9)

Lehman College Promotes Peace Through Scholarship

For Monique McPherson, a sociology major at Lehman College, the search for peace is bringing a surprising dividend. For her proposed research project on domestic violence against immigrant women and children in New York City, McPherson will receive the College's first Shirin Ebadi Peace Scholarship, which includes $4000 for tuition and a $500 stipend.

The College announced the new scholarship last year at a U.N. reception honoring the 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate. An Iranian human rights activist, Ms. Ebadi campaigns for peaceful solutions to social problems and argues for an interpretation of Islamic law that is in harmony with equality before the law, religious freedom and freedom of speech.

McPherson's research will examine the extent to which domestic abuse in immigrant families is rooted in cultural practices or the result of male insecurities that surface as they try to adapt to a new society.

McPherson, who grew up in the Baychester section of the Bronx and graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School, plans on becoming an elementary school teacher. She says that her experience as a volunteer tutor in the Spellman "Mentors Are Right There" program inspired her career choice, and she hopes that her research will help her better serve immigrant communities.

"Besides being an intelligent, studious and goal-oriented person, Monique also possesses a strong sense of compassion for others, a quality that will make her a fine teacher some day," says Professor Elhum Haghighat, who will serve as McPherson's mentor on the project.

This fall, McPherson will enter her senior year at Lehman and will also serve as president of the College's Sociology Club.

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