Following religious persecution and personal loss, Weber State student graduates with MBA
OGDEN, Utah — Mahshid Mersedeh Eskandarian, a recent graduate from Weber State University’s Master of Business Administration program, doesn’t take her education for granted.
Earning a bachelor’s degree from her hometown in Iran involved long days of travel to the country’s capital and no internet access.
“It’s a privilege to be able to freely go and pursue whatever you dream,” Eskandarian said. “In some parts of the world, many basic rights are hard-fought.”
Eskandarian is a member of Iran’s minority religion, which meant she wasn’t allowed to attend traditional universities in her country. This began after the Iranian revolution of 1979 and, since then, Eskandarian and others who belong to the Baha’i faith group have experienced repression and persecution because of their beliefs.
As someone who loves learning, though, Eskandarian was determined to find a way.
She attended an institution called the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education, founded by others affected by educational restrictions. Professors volunteered their time to teach students.
Their example helped to keep Eskandarian motivated: “They’re a daily reminder to me that, even in the darkest conditions, the light of knowledge and pursuit of truth cannot be extinguished,” she said. “In the Baha’i view, education is a pathway to uplift the soul and transform the world.”
After five and a half years, she earned her degree in accounting.
She then worked as an accountant for private companies, but Eskandarian and her family wanted a life with more freedom and opportunities. That decision brought them to Utah.
But her sister, who was excited to adjust to a new culture and learn a new language, didn’t make the move with her family. She unexpectedly passed away just hours before they were scheduled to depart.
“Despite everything, I keep moving forward,” Eskandarian said. “I carry the memory of my sister and the dreams we shared. I hope that one day I’ll be able to honor her in the life I continue to build.”
It’s now been about 12 years since Eskandarian moved to the United States. She lives just minutes from WSU Davis with her husband, their 6-year-old daughter, and 4-year-old son.
She graduated with her master’s degree this month. She said she’s proud of the knowledge, connections, and leadership abilities she gained along the way.
“This is my first experience in a formal university,” she said. “It’s been challenging but rewarding. I am learning and growing every day.”
WSU’s MBA program is known for its flexibility, with both virtual and in-person classes, along with its affordability and real-world applications. Eskandarian said each of those aspects played a role in her decision to choose WSU.
She hopes to use her degree to grow an online business that empowers parents to earn an income working from home, so they have time to focus on their families. She notes the impact her marketing classes had on learning how to brand a new business, stay up to date with industry trends, and research consumer habits.
Eskandarian said her family, including her late sister, are a driving force in all she does.
“This achievement is not just mine,” she said. “I promised myself that I would live the life my sister and I had imagined together, and though I walk this path alone now, her spirit and our dreams are always with me.”
Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu