Education has been a cornerstone of Dr. Sakineh (Simin) M. Redjali’s life. She received her Ph. D., Magna Cum Laude, in Education and Clinical Psychology from the University of Heidelberg, Germany after graduating from the University of Tehran with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Science and Philosophy.

While studying in Germany, she met her husband Dr. Sa’id Khadiri, a musician, at an Iranian Culture and Art presentation she gave at the University. After returning to Iran as an associate professor, she taught at the Teachers Training University. A year later, she was awarded a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of London. She spent a year learning the educational system in England, Wales and Scotland.

In 1963, she was offered a job as professor of Psychology at the National University of Iran. She was the first woman professor to reach the highest-grade position of the professorship at the National University of Iran.

In 1966, she was given a National Science Foundation Fellowship at the University of Michigan, and in 1967 she became a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Illinois. During her time in Iran as a professional woman, she tirelessly worked to promote the social status of women. As the Secretary General of the Women’s Organization of Iran from 1969 to 1971, she established more than 150 Family Welfare Centers (Houses of Women) throughout the country.

In 1973, she established Shemiran College to provide three new needed areas of study in Iran: (1) early childhood education (2) family counseling and (3) welfare administration. She oversaw an accredited graduate and undergraduate college and established an exchange programs with several US universities.

In 1979, her family were granted permanent residency in the US because of her education and international status. From 1979 to1996, she devoted her time working with people with mental and developmental disabilities at the Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg, VA as the Center Director, and the Research Director. She also served as a Clinical Faculty at the Medical College of Virginia. She has been working as an independent consultant in the fields of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Behavioral Science. She has about 30 publications in three languages (English, German, and Persian), received more than 20 medals and awards for the services rendered to the community, and holds active memberships in several national and international professional associations and organizations.