Growing up in Tehran, Iran, Mory Gharib (PhD '83) attended large, crowded schools. He was the kid who always raised his hand in class and asked tough questions. He craved one-on-one time with his teachers, which seldom came to pass.
So when the young Gharib read a newspaper article about a school in California with a three-to-one student-faculty ratio, it seemed almost unimaginable. Over the years, though, that school—Caltech—remained in his thoughts.
Years later, Gharib finally made it to Caltech as a graduate student. Since that time, he has built a distinguished career as a researcher, mentor, inventor, entrepreneur, leader, and benefactor. And he has continued to search for the answers to tough questions.
"I couldn't have done this anywhere else," he says, referring to his career. "Caltech took care of me, and I have to take care of it."
In appreciation for the opportunities Caltech afforded him, Gharib—who currently serves as the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioinspired Engineering, director of Caltech's Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, and vice provost—has created an endowed fellowship fund to support new generations of Caltech graduate students.
Written by Alyce Nicolo