Humanitarian Razia Jan To Deliver Lasell's Commencement Speech

NEWTON, MA — Razia Jan, an award-winning humanitarian, social innovator, change agent, and tireless advocate for women and girls in her native Afghanistan, will deliver the keynote address at Lasell University’s 168th commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14.

For more than a decade, Jan has worked to forge meaningful connections between Afghans and Americans. Founded in 2007, her Ray of Hope Foundation has provided girls and young women with safe educational environments. In 2008, the foundation established the Zabuli Education Center, an all-girls K-12 school located 30 miles northeast of Kabul in the Deh’Subz district. Nine years later, the foundation launched the Razia Jan Institute, the first post-secondary school of its kind in rural Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s return to power, coupled with a devastating drought and harsh winter, has created an unprecedented crisis in Afghanistan. In response, the foundation has launched an Emergency Hunger Relief program for the Zabuli Education Center and distributed food to surrounding communities.

Undeterred by the uncertainty in Afghanistan, Jan has redoubled her efforts to empower Afghan girls and young women by launching a teacher-training certification program to ensure the sustainability of girls’ education. Fortunately, the Zabuli Education Center has been able to remain open for the most part and expand enrollment to accommodate those displaced families relocating to the Deh’Subz region.

“Razia Jan uses her voice and her platform to build a better, safer, more just and peaceful international community,” said Lasell University President Michael B. Alexander in a statement. “A bold, brave global ambassador, Razia fights to eliminate social, economic, and cultural barriers to essential educational and healthcare services.”

Born in Afghanistan, Jan came to the United States in 1970. The proprietor of a small tailoring business in Duxbury, Jan is a longtime member and former president of the town’s Rotary Club. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Jan rallied friends and colleagues throughout New England, and together this informal network sent more than 400 handmade blankets to rescue workers at Ground Zero. Building on this effort, Jan collected and sent supplies in support of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Through her involvement in the military’s “Operation Shoe Fly,” Jan coordinated the delivery of over 30,000 pairs of shoes to needy Afghan children.

Jan’s community service includes roles with the Interfaith Council, the No Place for Hate Committee, and Jordan Hospital’s Board of Directors.

Throughout her career, Jan has been the recipient of numerous awards presented by a diverse group of organizations including CNN, Rotary International, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the American Legion. First Lady Laura Bush honored Jan for her work in her book, We Are Afghan Women: Voices of Hope.

In addition to delivering the keynote speech, Jan will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the Lasell.

For more information on Lasell’s commencement ceremonies, visit https://www.lasell.edu/commencement.