Into Iran

The Iranian population is remarkably young—half under the age of 20 and 70 percent under 30. Boys and girls, and men and women, gather separately in public. The shah’s summer palace grounds–once reserved for Iran’s elite–are now enjoyed by everyday Iranians.

When visa restrictions prevented the president of the University of Tehran from visiting UC Davis,
Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef decided to take UC Davis to Iran in an effort to reestablish student and scholar exchanges and to promote cultural understanding.

Told they were the first U.S. university delegation permitted to visit Iran since that country’s 1979 revolution, the UC Davis travelers met with representatives of four universities, with alumni and friends of the campus, and with Iran President Mohammed Khatami’s Parliament-member brother.

Joining Vanderhoef on this April 25–May 1 trip were Sacramento businessman and UC Davis Foundation board member Mohammad Mohanna, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Neal Van Alfen, Dean of the College of Engineering Enrique Lavernia, Vice Provost for University Outreach and International Programs William Lacy, and Director of the International Alumni and Visitors Program Robert Kerr.

Calling the trip “a fruitful first step,” the group is exploring ways to ease visa restrictions, a “2 and 2 program” that would permit Iranian students to study the first two years at their home university and the next two years at UC Davis, possible research collaborations and student exchanges, and the creation of an alumni chapter.

The chancellor took the photos that appear on this page and kept a journal of his experience, which can be found in its entirety at chancellor.ucdavis.edu.