INTRODUCTION
Nalini Perera completed the Intermediate level from the Royal Institute of British Architects, London, and then earned a BA in Architecture and Planning and a MA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Also, she won the gold medal in classical piano from the Trinity College of Music, London, and performed concerts for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Furthermore, she was awarded paid internships to the Mayor's Office in Manhattan and at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in New York.
After working as an architectural designer with a private firm in Ottawa, she embarked on a 37-year career with the federal government. At the National Capital Commission, she worked as an Urban Design Planner. Then, at the department now known as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, she held the positions of Manager, Planning and Review Manitoba Region, and later Director, Corporate Planning and Evaluation. There she witnessed the socioeconomic gaps experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis and their struggle to address these issues. At the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), she worked as a Country Program Analyst to address poverty reduction. There she administered country programming, project planning, and discussed with the governments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal the implementation of programs through private sector firms, NGOs and universities. Also, while at the Canadian Partnership Branch of CIDA, she managed teams who liaised with non-governmental organizations and oversaw programs such as youth exchanges, scholarships, and environmental and climate change. As well, she led branch strategic planning and review.
This scholarship was created in memory of Mehraban Badiei Ardestani, Saeed Kadkhodazadeh Kashani and Alma Oladi, three uOttawa students who were among the 176 passengers that lost their lives in the crash of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in Tehran on January 8, 2020.
PURPOSE OF FUND
Award a scholarship for Iranian master’s level students at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa.
SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must:
be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a person with the protected/refugee status or an international student;
be registered as a full-time or part-time master’s level student in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ottawa;
demonstrate potential in their area of research;
demonstrate Iranian citizenship or descent. Preference will be given to applicants who are Iranian citizens; and
have earned an undergraduate degree at a Canadian university.
Value of the award: $20,000
Number of awards: 1
Frequency of the award: Annual
Level or program of study: Graduate (master’s level)
Application contact: Financial Aid and Awards Service
Application deadline: November 31
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applications must be made through Online Scholarships and Bursaries, which can be accessed through the uoZone portal, and should include:
1. summary of research focus (max. 500 words);
2. letter of support from faculty member;
3. proof of Iranian citizenship or descent; and
4. proof of an undergraduate degree from a Canadian university.
In the case of multiple candidates meeting the base requirements, the selection committee will select the recipient based on the award policies and standard criteria used by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the time of selection.
