Khazeh Family Distinguished Senior Award

Early on, Dr. Kashi and Melinda Khazeh not only realized but also appreciated the value of a good education and an educated individual. These values were instilled in them by their parents. In 2000, they established the Khazeh Family Distinguished Senior Award. This award recognizes and rewards a graduating senior majoring in the field of finance each year during the spring academic convocation. The recipient is recognized not only for achieving academic excellence, but also for demonstrated leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities.

Kashi and Melinda’s paths crossed in 1974 while they were both students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. They married in 1978, and Melinda continued her studies in health education while working in the Treasurer’s Office at the university. Kashi started his doctoral program, and in 1985, upon receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Khazeh accepted an offer from then Salisbury State College as an assistant professor of finance. In 1991 and 1998, he was promoted to the rank of associate professor and professor respectively.

In 1987, Melinda accepted a position in the University’s Alumni Relations Office. After several promotions, she now holds the position of associate director of alumni relations and annual giving. Through her work experience, she sees the value of how donations from alumni and community members can benefit students and the University at many levels.

The Khazeh family has been recognized for educational excellence in Maryland, as well as other states and some foreign countries. Dr. Khazeh taught courses in Finland, Germany and China. Starting in 1995, he and his colleagues directed study abroad programs during winter terms in France and Germany. In the mid1990s, he encouraged some of his students, both graduate and undergraduate, to get involved in research projects. Some of these students accompanied him to conferences to co-present as well as co-publish in academic journals. These memories and outcomes helped inspire him to create this award to recognize excellence in all three of the aforementioned areas of academics, leadership and extracurricular involvement.

Dr. Khazeh is the founding advisor of the student chapter of Financial Management Association (FMA) at Salisbury University. He was instrumental in securing funding for the naming of the FMA Team Study Room in Perdue Hall, and he also established the FMA @SU Leadership Award that is given during the annual academic convocation as well. In addition, Kashi and Melinda named the Khazeh Faculty Office in the Perdue Hall and were instrumental in encouraging others to do the same (i.e., Dr. John E. Lewis Team Study Room, Schultheis Family Interview Room).