Leading Afghan Advocate of Women's Rights to Speak at Notre Dame de Namur

The following was submitted for publication on behalf of Notre Dame de Namur University:

Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Sakena Yacoobi will address women’s education and empowerment in Afghanistan at Notre Dame de Namur University’s Catholic Scholar Speaker Series on October 22 at 7 p.m. in Cunningham Memorial Chapel on the NDNU campus.

As the executive director and founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), Dr. Yacoobi has helped lead the way for some of Afghanistan’s most oppressed populations. She was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts through ALI to promote democracy and rights for women and children. AIL was the first organization to offer human rights and leadership training to Afghan women.

Dr. Yacoobi is an Ashoka Fellow, Skoll Social Entrepreneur and Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur. She has received numerous awards, including: the Peter Gruber Foundation Women’s Rights Prize, the NED Democracy Award, the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights, the Afghan National Peace Award, the German Media Award, the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership, and the Opus Prize.

Notre Dame de Namur University is a Catholic, not-for-profit, coeducational institution serving 2,000 traditional aged and adult students from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851, by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU maintains a strong commitment to access for underserved populations, academic excellence, social justice and community engagement. The university is fully accredited and offers 40 undergraduate, graduate and credential programs. The historic, 50-acre campus is located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit www.ndnu.edu.