University Contributions
The Mission
University contributions by the YAS Foundation is inspired in part by the world’s oldest university, Jondi Shapour University, located in Dezful. Jondi Shapour was built 1,700 years ago by Shapour I of Sassanid Dynasty, in the Persian Empire. At Jondi Shapour, Iranian, Greek, Indian, and Roman scientists have conducted studies and scientific research that has now expanded around the globe with outstanding institutions in 212 + countries.
The Jondi Shapour was visionary in recognizing that universities are the cornerstone of human innovation and advancement. For centuries the university has included a center for training scientists, as well as a medical school and large hospital.
In last ½ century, the western world has empowered many brilliant people of our to culture become among the top 1% of key contributors to humanity. Known as GLOBAL CITIZENS of the PRESENT, they have contributed significantly to world. Yet, as a student of higher education at West Virginia University in Morgantown West Virginia, Dr. Yassini benefited greatly from the vision and history of Jondi Shapour. The education he received from WVU led to beneficial outcomes over the last four decades and ultimately inspired the creation of the YAS Foundation’s university contributions.
Universities are a major source for the YAS Foundation in its pursuit of universal broadband. The Foundation has donated university contributions of millions of dollars in value to such institutes including West Virginia University, Stanford, and the University of New Hampshire. The foundation will continue this support in order to advance the mission of ubiquitous, universal broadband availability.
Stanford University | Stanford, CA
At Stanford School of Humanities, The YAS Foundation and Anousheh Ansari teamed with other distinguished entrepreneurs to donate $1.2M to establish graduate fellowships at the Stanford University in honor of the world renown Iranian-American Stanford mathematics professor, Maryam Mirzahkani in order to attract that next generation of world leaders in mathematics. Maryam was a God-gifted scholar in mathematics who died too young at age 40 of breast cancer.
University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH
The University of New Hampshire, with the YAS Foundation, established the Broadband Center of Excellence in 2011 when BCoE was donated by cable modem pioneer Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini to address the 30 million Americans who lacked access to broadband. The University’s BCoE is an interdisciplinary resource organization whose goals are to enable government, universities, communities, and industry participants to use broadband as a tool to create economic growth, social improvements and business success. This unbiased source of broadband technology and know-how is designed to pursue affordable, universal broadband access. Furthermore, YAS Foundation donated to UNH $1 million and the services of Dr. Yassini through a seven-year plan to promote and enhance broadband. UNH, located in Durham, NH, is a land, sea, and space grant institution founded in 1866. BCoE’s work has led to major research into broadband wireless technologies that may serve as platforms for rural broadband delivery, as well as funding for UNH academics into water quality monitoring via broadband sensors.
West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV
West Virginia University is a public, land and space grant research-intensive institution founded in 1855. West Virginia became the adopted homeland to Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini upon his arrival in Morgantown in 1977 where his uncle Dr. Hossein Yassini has been practicing medicine since 1968. The YAS Foundation gifted $500K to WVU starting in 2001 and provided Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini’s knowledge to conduct broadband seminars aimed at transforming West Virginia to a “Data Switzerland of the USA” and to achieve universal broadband access in the state. This intellectual exchange and donation continues today through various WVU programs within the Engineering Department. Dr. Yassini graduated from the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering in 1981 and also holds an honorary Doctor of Science. He is a member of the Academy of the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni. He delivered a message with a call to action for the class of 2020 virtual commencement.