September 21, 2025 | Harvard Club of Boston
The Harvard Iranian Gala is a black-tie evening that honors leading community members in various fields. Founded by a group of Harvard students of Persian heritage, the Gala strives to bring together leading professionals, artists, and academics who have dedicated themselves to furthering the study, understanding, and appreciation of Iranian culture, history, and society. The vision of the Gala is to mobilize and empower the next generation of leaders in the Iranian community.
The Iranian Gala @Harvard is presented by Harvard Undergraduate Iranian Association (HUIA) in partnership with Harvard alumni, faculty, and affiliates.
The Harvard Iranian Gala is a black-tie evening that honors leading community members in various fields. Founded by a group of Harvard students of Persian heritage, the Gala strives to bring together leading professionals, artists, and academics who have dedicated themselves to furthering the study, understanding, and appreciation of Iranian culture, history, and society. The vision of the Gala is to mobilize and empower the next generation of leaders in the Iranian community.
The Iranian Gala @Harvard is presented by Harvard Undergraduate Iranian Association (HUIA) in partnership with Harvard alumni, faculty, and affiliates.
Keynote
Kam Ghaffarian - Keynote and Honoree
Executive chairman of Axiom Space
Kam Ghaffarian is the visionary space and energy entrepreneur behind several companies dedicated to furthering human civilization, including Axiom Space. After co-founding Axiom Space in 2016 to unlock spaceʼs potential for innovation through commercialization, he serves as executive chairman of the board and a key strategic advisor on the development of the space economy.
Ghaffarian started his entrepreneurial career in 1994 by founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a government services company focusing on IT, engineering, science applications, and mission operations. Under his leadership, SGT became NASAʼs second-largest engineering services contractor, providing International Space Station operations and astronaut training support, generating annual revenues of over half a billion dollars and eventually acquired by KBR. Prior to launching his own ventures, Ghaffarian held technical and management roles at several major aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Ford Aerospace, and Loral, gaining critical experience that shaped his future endeavors.
Driven by a deep mission to elevate the state of humanity and human knowledge, Ghaffarian has founded several transformative companies that are reshaping the future of space and energy. In addition to Axiom Space, he founded Intuitive Machines, a leader in space technology, infrastructure, and lunar access services; X-energy, developing advanced nuclear power solutions; Quantum Space, focused on building versatile, long-duration spacecraft; and IBX, an innovation and investment firm.
Ghaffarian is also an active philanthropist and founder of a non-profit focused on scientific research and enabling interstellar travel. He holds several degrees, including undergraduate degrees in computer science and electronics engineering, a Master of Science in Information Management and doctorate in technology.
Executive chairman of Axiom Space
Kam Ghaffarian is the visionary space and energy entrepreneur behind several companies dedicated to furthering human civilization, including Axiom Space. After co-founding Axiom Space in 2016 to unlock spaceʼs potential for innovation through commercialization, he serves as executive chairman of the board and a key strategic advisor on the development of the space economy.
Ghaffarian started his entrepreneurial career in 1994 by founding Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a government services company focusing on IT, engineering, science applications, and mission operations. Under his leadership, SGT became NASAʼs second-largest engineering services contractor, providing International Space Station operations and astronaut training support, generating annual revenues of over half a billion dollars and eventually acquired by KBR. Prior to launching his own ventures, Ghaffarian held technical and management roles at several major aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Ford Aerospace, and Loral, gaining critical experience that shaped his future endeavors.
Driven by a deep mission to elevate the state of humanity and human knowledge, Ghaffarian has founded several transformative companies that are reshaping the future of space and energy. In addition to Axiom Space, he founded Intuitive Machines, a leader in space technology, infrastructure, and lunar access services; X-energy, developing advanced nuclear power solutions; Quantum Space, focused on building versatile, long-duration spacecraft; and IBX, an innovation and investment firm.
Ghaffarian is also an active philanthropist and founder of a non-profit focused on scientific research and enabling interstellar travel. He holds several degrees, including undergraduate degrees in computer science and electronics engineering, a Master of Science in Information Management and doctorate in technology.
Honorees
Nikta Fakhri - Next Generation Honoree
Associate Professor of Physics at MIT
Nikta Fakhri is an Associate Professor of Physics at MIT and Physics of Living Systems Group. Her research explores the hidden rules that govern motion and organization in living matter, from the intricate patterns inside cells to the collective behavior of organisms. By revealing how living systems break certain physical symmetries, her work offers fresh perspectives on the physics that underlies life and the natural world.
Born and raised in Iran, Nikta earned her undergraduate degree from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran before completing her PhD at Rice University in Houston. She then held a Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral fellowship at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany, before joining the MIT faculty.
Nikta’s work has been recognized with honors including the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Physics, the IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Biological Physics, the NSF CAREER Award, and the American Physical Society Early Career Award in Soft Matter Research.
Associate Professor of Physics at MIT
Nikta Fakhri is an Associate Professor of Physics at MIT and Physics of Living Systems Group. Her research explores the hidden rules that govern motion and organization in living matter, from the intricate patterns inside cells to the collective behavior of organisms. By revealing how living systems break certain physical symmetries, her work offers fresh perspectives on the physics that underlies life and the natural world.
Born and raised in Iran, Nikta earned her undergraduate degree from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran before completing her PhD at Rice University in Houston. She then held a Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral fellowship at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany, before joining the MIT faculty.
Nikta’s work has been recognized with honors including the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship in Physics, the IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Biological Physics, the NSF CAREER Award, and the American Physical Society Early Career Award in Soft Matter Research.
Arian Moayed
Actor, writer, and director
Arian Moayed is an Iranian-born, Emmy and Tony-nominated actor, and co-founder of Waterwell, an award-winning community organizing art production non-profit in New York City.
Through Waterwell, productions include Blind Runner, The Ford / Hill Project, A Good Day To Me, 7 Minutes, The Courtroom, The Flores Exhibits, Hamlet, Blueprint Specials, Fleet Week Follies, Goodbar, The Persians, and many more. Waterwell actively works alongside community organizations like the American Immigration Council, Council on Foreign Relations, International Rescue Committee, Blue Star Families, Children’s Rights, KultureCity, Iranian American Women Foundation, Labornotes, Documented, and dozens more in numerous local and national communities.
As a writer/director, Arian has created the Emmy-nominated thriller, The Accidental Wolf, and wrote The Courtroom, after the critically acclaimed Waterwell performances inside New York City courtrooms. Current creative film projects include Brother Love, This Country, 28 Mordad, The Great Fire of ‘33, a film adaptation of The Man in Red, and an autobiography about his family’s escape from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Notable acting credits: A Doll’s House (Tony nomination, opposite Jessica Chastain), Broadway's The Humans (Drama Desk Award), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Tony nomination, opposite Robin Williams), Guards at the Taj (Obie Award), Succession (2 Emmy nominations), Love Life (NAACP nomination), Spiderman: No Way Home (Marvel), Inventing Anna (Netflix), You Hurt My Feelings (A24), House of Spoils (Blumhouse), abd Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth (Apple/Skydance). Upcoming projects include Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Shell (upcoming). Arian plays Agent Cleary in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Actor, writer, and director
Arian Moayed is an Iranian-born, Emmy and Tony-nominated actor, and co-founder of Waterwell, an award-winning community organizing art production non-profit in New York City.
Through Waterwell, productions include Blind Runner, The Ford / Hill Project, A Good Day To Me, 7 Minutes, The Courtroom, The Flores Exhibits, Hamlet, Blueprint Specials, Fleet Week Follies, Goodbar, The Persians, and many more. Waterwell actively works alongside community organizations like the American Immigration Council, Council on Foreign Relations, International Rescue Committee, Blue Star Families, Children’s Rights, KultureCity, Iranian American Women Foundation, Labornotes, Documented, and dozens more in numerous local and national communities.
As a writer/director, Arian has created the Emmy-nominated thriller, The Accidental Wolf, and wrote The Courtroom, after the critically acclaimed Waterwell performances inside New York City courtrooms. Current creative film projects include Brother Love, This Country, 28 Mordad, The Great Fire of ‘33, a film adaptation of The Man in Red, and an autobiography about his family’s escape from Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Notable acting credits: A Doll’s House (Tony nomination, opposite Jessica Chastain), Broadway's The Humans (Drama Desk Award), Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Tony nomination, opposite Robin Williams), Guards at the Taj (Obie Award), Succession (2 Emmy nominations), Love Life (NAACP nomination), Spiderman: No Way Home (Marvel), Inventing Anna (Netflix), You Hurt My Feelings (A24), House of Spoils (Blumhouse), abd Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth (Apple/Skydance). Upcoming projects include Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Shell (upcoming). Arian plays Agent Cleary in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Nasim Pedrad
Actress and comedian
Nasim Pedrad is an American actress and comedian best known for her five seasons as a cast member on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Pedrad joined the cast of SNL in 2009, as one of a handful of cast members born outside North America and the show's first Iranian-American cast member. She is also known for the TBS/The Roku Channel sitcom CHAD, in which she created, produced, and starred as the title character. Additional television credits include NEW GIRL, SCREAM QUEENS, and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. Nasim can also be seen in Disney's live-action remake of ALADDIN opposite Will Smith, and the Netflix rom-com DESPERADOS.
Actress and comedian
Nasim Pedrad is an American actress and comedian best known for her five seasons as a cast member on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Pedrad joined the cast of SNL in 2009, as one of a handful of cast members born outside North America and the show's first Iranian-American cast member. She is also known for the TBS/The Roku Channel sitcom CHAD, in which she created, produced, and starred as the title character. Additional television credits include NEW GIRL, SCREAM QUEENS, and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. Nasim can also be seen in Disney's live-action remake of ALADDIN opposite Will Smith, and the Netflix rom-com DESPERADOS.
Musical Performer
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Darya Dadvar
Darya Dadvar is an Iranian-born singer-composer based in France, known for her powerful stage presence and emotionally rich performances. Her music blends the beauty of classical Persian tradition with delicate touches of Western styles, creating a deeply personal and expressive world. In many of her songs, she moves between languages and musical genres so seamlessly that they feel as if they were born from the same root, a gentle fusion that has become her signature. |
