During the academic year, The University of Tulsa’s Friends of Finance holds a monthly gathering during which one faculty member and one graduate student are spotlighted for their excellence and achievement. In September 2023, graduate student Khesrow Zaher was honored for his exceptional and inspiring academic journey.
Zaher earned his undergraduate degree in finance with a minor in data science from the American University of Afghanistan while also working as an accounting mentor for MBA students. Impressive on its own merit, his academic career is even more incredible because of the adversity he faced along the way.
Enrolled in college as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, Zaher’s online courses were constantly under threat from persistent electricity and internet issues due to widespread broadband infrastructure failure, as the Afghan government eventually collapsed. Refusing to be deterred, he eventually traveled to Qatar and was able to complete his degree.
It is evident that, throughout his life, Zaher has survived and thrived by the motto “adaptability and excellence,” which is also key to a successful career. He is now working to complete his master’s degree in business analytics. Congratulations, Khesrow!