WSU boasts professor of the year

11/17/2005
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Shinika A. Sykes

Having spent her childhood helping her father sterilize his dental instruments and practicing giving shots to oranges, Yasmen "Yas" Simonian was destined for a career in the medical field.

Born in Armenia and raised in Iran, Simonian arrived in the United States in 1967 as a teenager unable to speak English. Not only did she master the English language, she also took advantage of the opportunities America offers.

Today, the professor and chairwoman of clinical laboratory sciences at Weber State University will receive national recognition in Washington, D.C., as the 2005 Utah professor of the year.
[...]
Simonian, 53, credits her mother with giving her the support and encouragement to excel in her studies and have a career - if that was what she wanted. In recognition of that support, Simonian took her mother, Maro, with her to Washington.

"My mother always made me feel I could do anything," says Simonian, who was selected from among faculty members nominated by colleges and universities. "I thank her for that."
[...]
Shelley Conroy, dean of WSU's Dumke College of Health Professions, said Simonian is a "joy" to have as a faculty member. "She works hard, and she goes the extra mile to help students be successful, not just in academics but also in their personal development."
[...]

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