A Symphony of Life

The life story of Dr. Simin Redjali (Khadiri) begins in Iran (Persia) during the time of Iran's westernization. Her story follows the social, historical, political turmoil of the past seventy years in Iran, Europe and the United States. Like a symphony, this book has four movements. The author traces her transition from being part of Iran's elite to her struggles in the US encompassing Iran's recent social historical movement, the women's rights, mental health, and personal issues such as surviving cancer. The book illustrates the personal approach the author has adopted throughout her life in coping with and overcoming adversities through the power of education. Her journey is a testament to a woman's ability to balance all facets of her life: family, career, emotional turmoil, and quest to help others. Education has been the cornerstone of Dr. Redjali's life. She received her Ph.D. in Educational and Clinical Psychology from the University of Heidelberg in 1961. After a post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of London she became the fi rst women professor at the National University of Iran, an NSF Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar in the United States in 1966/67. Dr. Redjali worked tirelessly to promote the social status of women in Iran and as the Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran she helped establish more than 150 Family Welfare Centers throughout the country. In 1973 Dr. Redjali established Shemiran College which provided three much needed new areas of study: early childhood education, family counseling, and welfare administration. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Dr. Redjali and her family were granted permanent residency and citizenship to the United States because of her education. Then she has devoted her time to advancing services in the fi elds of mental health and intellectual disabilities in the State of Virginia as Fellow Center Director, Research Director, Clinical Faculty of MCV and Consultant and is the author of several books and articles written in three languages.