Iraj Iman, Prominent Iranian Baha'i, Former Head of National Institute of Psychology

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Iraj Iman was born in Tehran on February 29, 1928, to a Baha'i family. After receiving his high school diploma, he began joint parallel university studies in philosophy, pedagogy and law. The academic Mohammed Baqer Houshyar was teaching psychology and pedagogy at the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, at that time, which drew Iman away from law school after just a year to attend his classes. Iraj Iman obtained his bachelor's degree in philosophy and pedagogy from Tehran University in 1950: he then went to Edinburgh in Scotland to continue his education.

Iraj added psychology to his academic interests while at Edinburgh University – one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. He returned to Iran in 1953 after obtaining a doctorate degree in pedagogy.

He later received a scholarship to study administrative affairs at the University of Southern California. But Dr. Iman continued to be interested in psychology and university allowed him to study both administrative affairs and psychology at the same time. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1958 with a doctorate in psychology and administrative affairs. He went on to Harvard University, working on applied psychology, and left in 1964 to return to Iran.

Dr. Iman started teaching as an associate professor of applied psychology and administrative affairs at Tehran University. He also taught at Teacher Training Faculty of the National University for six years, from 1964 to 1970, and was the head of the Educational Research Institute at Tarbiyat Moalem University.

One of Dr. Iraj Iman’s major contributions came in 1970 when he founded the National Institute of Psychology in Iran. He managed the institute for a decade – shepherding the emergence of applied psychology services in the country.

Dr. Iman told IranWire: "When we worked to serve society in Iran, by offering applied psychology through the National Institute of Psychology, applied psychology was put into practice in the country to such an extent that it surpassed countries across Asia and as far as Japan. I say this because, at that time, I was traveling to Asian countries for work; of course, some aspects of psychological practice had started in some of these countries, but the way we offered all psychological services across society, through the National Institute of Psychology, was unprecedented in all of Asia."

Dr. Iman also serves as a visiting professor at the College of Education and Management, University of California, Los Angeles, 1974-1975; visiting professor at the Ford Foundation; academic advisor of the University of Philippines, College of Public Administration, Manila, 1965-1967; managing and supervising training of managers of Pakistan International Airlines, Karachi, 1970-1971.

Dr. Iman’s work in psychology, education and administrative management continued after he emigrated from Iran. He was an associate professor in research at the University of Chicago, from 1979 to 1983, and worked as a UNESCO education consultant in the Asia-Pacific region between 1983 to 1987, and after the end of his tenure, he became senior director of the Teacher Training Department in the French government’s higher education department in Paris for a year.

Another of Dr. Iman's other academic and educational activities was being a member of the founding board and director of Landegg Academy in Switzerland. Landegg International University was an independent and private university, in Switzerland, active from September 1992 to December 2003, which offered bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in conflict resolution, international development, sociology, global governance, business management, international management, sales and marketing management, hotel management, psychology and information technology.

His other positions past positions have included:

- Director of International Programs of the Human Resources Institute, Westport, Connecticut, USA

- Director of St. Gallen International Institute of Education in Switzerland

- Member of the board of directors and regional inspector of administrative management in Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Iman held this position for 20 years since 1962, even after leaving Iran.

- Consultant of the UNESCO organization in the development and construction programs of the United Nations.

- Member of the International Association of Applied Psychology and Director of the Psychology Department.

- Membership in the executive board of the International Association of Religious Education

- Vice President of the International Association of Educational Assessment.

- Head of the International Institute of Psychometry.

- Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Psychology.

- Member of the Educational Advisory Council of the Center for Global Integrated Education.

- Member of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Rim International Development Institute.

The above is only a part of Dr. Iraj Iman's academic activities over 45 years. One of Dr. Iman’s most valuable services was the establishment and membership on the board of directors of the Association of Persian Arts and Letters. The associated has for years held conferences in Switzerland, the United Kingdon, and in particular the United States, sponsored by the Baha’i community as a forum for the Persian culture, letters, and thought, and discussion on Iran’s history and future. Dr. Iman was a member of the board of directors of the association from 1994 to 2003. In 1993 he also founded, and has continued to assist, the Erfan Colloquia seminars in Europe and North America.

Today Dr. Iraj Iman lives in the United States. He has written many articles in Persian, among them "Heroism in Iran," "Effects of Heredity and Environment on Intelligence" and "Educational Innovation in Iran.”