NJ University Grad Escaped Taliban, Earned Master's Degree In Hiding

NEW JERSEY — After years of studying from a safe house, Hashmat Vejdani was finally able to meet his New Jersey-based classmates and professors, and the officials who helped get him and his family out of Afghanistan.

The 37-year-old was present at Fairleigh Dickinson University's graduation last week to receive his master's degree in global affairs, as Brianna Kudisch of NJ Advance Media reported. He and his wife have three children.

Vejdani held a bachelor's degree in chemistry and had worked as a U.S. Army translator, a teacher, an independent journalist, and a human rights activist before he connected with Fairleigh Dickinson through an acquaintance.

He had enrolled at the North Jersey university in the fall of 2020 and attended classes at odd hours to keep up with the schedule, according to the article.

When Afghanistan's government collapsed in August 2021 and the Taliban captured the capital city of Kabul, the School of Global Affairs' admission director Christie Innes kept in close contact with Vejdani and began looking for ways the university could help him and his family.

Their path to safety was perilous, and now they are looking ahead to their new future.

Read more about Vejdani's story on NJ.com.