Hogr Tarkhani

Best memories from your Valpo days:

Being at Valpo was always enjoyable because I had friends from all around the world. During my time there, I made many friends with whom I still keep in touch. The faculty and administration were also very friendly and close to students. This positive environment inspired me to always stay close to my students and show them respect when I became a lecturer.

Valpo offered the best of both worlds: the benefits of a small city, such as less traffic, strong social relationships, and proximity to beaches, while also being close to major cities like Chicago, which I visited every one or two weeks.

Valpo’s smaller class sizes provided hands-on experience and the opportunity to build strong relationships with professors. This allowed me to ask questions outside of class and easily visit their offices. These advantages contributed to my success at Valpo, where I received several recognitions, including a special acknowledgment from the president of Valparaiso University during the graduation ceremony. I was also recognized as one of the best Iraqi students in the US and received several awards at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington DC, where I was invited along with my advisor and several Iraqi and US officials, including the Iraqi ambassadors to the US and the UN.

Since graduating, I have worked in various fields and taught at different institutions. I am currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.