Three Cups of Tea Speakers Bureau 2008-2009
If you would like to invite a speaker to meet with your reading group or class, we have several people who would be willing to share thoughts and ideas about the book and about Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Please contact Brooks Thorlaksson at Bthorlaksson@csuchico.edu with information about the time and place you would like a speaker. We will be adding speakers on a regular basis so keep an eye on the wide range of expertise available.
Speakers
Aziza Syed-Calandrella , a Chicoan who was born in Pakistan, moved to USA at the age of 11. She has most recently visited in Pakistan in 2002. She still has relatives in Pakistan though majority of her close family is in the USA and would be interested in talking about transitions between and among cultures, how her family adjusted to the culture of the U.S., while maintaining their cultural values, and the importance of education. Her father devoted his life to using what he earned to bring the rest of the family to the US so they too could have a better life.
Maria Shahid teaches Spanish at Butte Community College and is the editor for the Sabias que...? a Spanish newspaper. She is also the president/founder of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. Ms. Shahid, who was born in Mexico, has visited Pakistan many times with her husband Shahid Iqbal, and has developed workshops on intercultural communication. She can speak about cultural issues, including language, religion, and her experiences in Pakistan.
Ismah Jawed is a Chicoan who graduated from Pleasant Valley High School. Her parents are from Pakistan and she visits there regularly to see relatives. She is currently a student at CSU, Chico in Biology with plans to go to medical school. Ismah would be interested in talking about Islam and comparing Pakistani and U.S. cultures.
Abdul Ghani Jamali is from Jalabad, Afghanistan, and is in Chico to study nutrition. He has been here for 15 years and is interested in talking about the culture and customs of his home country, and would be glad to answer questions that people might have. Ghani hopes to clarify any misunderstanding about Afghanistan and to help spread knowledge about that side of the world.
Jim Claflin teaches Geography at CSU, Chico, and is available to talk about the geography, culture, and the conflicts over the past 30 years in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Nahid Chopan, a native of Afghanistan, lives in Oroville. She came to the U.S. after her home country was invaded by the Soviets in l980 and has since raised her family here and manages her husband's medical practice. A graduate of San Francisco State, Ms. Chopan is available to talk about literacy issues, conditions in Afghanistan, and programs that would provide exchanges between our countries.
Nauman Malik, a native of Pakistan, came to the U.S. three years ago to go to school. He is working on an MA in computer sciences and an MA in public administration from Chico State. He plans to work in the U.S. for a while and then take his experience home to use his education for the betterment of Pakistan. Nauman would like to talk about Pakistani culture, issues relating to the bureaucracy, trade, technology, and politics.
Stephanie Mirza has spent time in Pakistan with her husband, Mahan Mirza, and also traveled in Saudi Arabia. She is writing a thesis on Muslim American authors of fiction and would be able to talk about cultural differences between Muslim countries and the U.S. and related topics.
Delena Cavaness has lived in Lahore, Pakistan for more than seven years, both pre- and post 9-11. She has slide shows of several areas in Pakistan, and has many insights about the country, the culture, the people, and the political situation. Delena is interested in talking about Three Cups of Tea and other topics.
Sue Peterson is the director of speech and debate at CSU, Chico, and spent last year coaching teams that debated various topics about the Middle East. She has information about the political systems as well as a history of the U.S. relationship with these countries. Sue is interested in meeting with groups about these topics and would like to facilitate discussions about the book.