When Samia Ashraf, ’84, established the Ashraf B. Nasir Honors Fund for Global Cultures, Religions, and Politics at Northern Arizona University, she did so in honor of her father’s lifelong love of learning—and in hopes of helping students cultivate the same.
“The fellowship honors my father for his love of learning,” Ashraf said. “My hope is for the teacher who holds this position to plant the seed of curiosity and imbue NAU students with the desire to learn the history and culture of the fraught and often misunderstood regions of the Middle East and South Asia. Knowledge, like language, has the potent ability to build bridges over the chasms of misunderstanding between peoples.”
Nasir was a man of many pursuits. An intelligent and strategically minded military officer, he was also an avid sportsman—playing field hockey, polo, boxing, and soccer—and a passionate student of geography, world history, and ancient civilizations. His home was filled with books and periodicals such as National Geographic, Life, and Time, fostering a lifelong curiosity in his children.
“My father had a natural gift for teaching and sharing knowledge,” Ashraf said. “Both of my parents believed that learning is a valuable and lifelong asset.”
Funded through a $500,000 blended gift from Ashraf—including a current-use and endowed component, with a planned estate gift to sustain it in perpetuity—the fund establishes an endowed faculty fellowship that will transition into a distinguished professorship in the Honors College.
Administered through the Honors College, the fellowship supports teaching and research that broaden students’ understanding of global cultures, religions, and politics. The position is currently held by History Professor Sanjay Joshi, whose scholarship explores South Asian history, modernity, and identity. His work offers students deeper insights into how culture, politics, and power shape societies—ideals at the heart of the Ashraf B. Nasir Fund.
“Samia’s generosity allows our students to study the rich histories and complex realities of regions too often oversimplified in public discourse,” said Honors College Dean Kevin Gustafson. “The fellowship promotes the highest ideals of honors education—encouraging critical inquiry and a broader human perspective.”
For Ashraf, the fellowship is a way of keeping her father’s spirit alive while helping students see the world as he did: with curiosity, respect, and a mind open to discovery.
