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Bard faculty member recognized for work in Afghanistan
Maria M. Silva reports in the Times Union that a Bard College faculty member and research scholar, and his wife will receive the American Psychological Association's 2024 International Humanitarian award for their work providing mental health support, psychological education, and research in Afghanistan. The psychologists Sayed Jafar Ahmadi and his wife, Zeinab Musavi provided counseling for victims of trauma, bombings, the COVID-19 pandemic, and earthquakes in Afghanistan for two decades. The award recognizes “extraordinary humanitarian service and activism by a psychologist or a team of psychologists, including professional and/or volunteer work conducted primarily in the field with underserved populations.” The couple founded the Behrawan Research and Psychology Services Organization in Afghanistan to provide counseling services to victims of war, to educate future psychologists, and to conduct research. Ahmadi said in a statement, “The contributions of Behrawan have not only saved lives but also restored hope and resilience in communities facing adversity.... We hope that our legacy serves as an inspiration to psychologists and humanitarian organizations worldwide, emphasizing the profound impact that psychological services can have in times of crisis.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.