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Hamid Shirvani

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Educator

The Resume

    (October 20, 1950- )
    Born in Tehran, Iran
    Middle name is Augustine
    California State Stanislaus president (2005-12)
    Chancellor of the North Dakota University System (2012-13)
    Author of 'Design Review Process' (1981), 'The Urban Design Process' (1985) and 'Beyond Public Architecture' (1990)

Why he might be annoying:

    The General Faculty of CSU Stanislaus voted for a measure of no confidence in him as President Emeritus (November 2009).
    The motivation for the vote was listed by the Academic Senate as '[his] abandonment of the shared governance process, the deteriorating working relationship between Shirvani and faculty, and Shirvani’s seeming lack of understanding of the mission of the CSU system.'
    He was accused of violating public record laws for refusing to reveal the financial details of a contract with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to speak at a university fundraiser, and of allegedly shredding documents related to the agreement (April 2010).
    The contract was reportedly found in a dumpster - along with other CSU documents - by students Ashli Briggs and Alicia Lewis after they received a tip that documents would be shredded on Furlough Day.
    The unearthed contract was found to list demands including a $100,000 speaking fee, flying by Lear Jet, a suite of hotel rooms, and bendy straws.
    The accusations led California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. to announce an investigation into him and other university officials.
    His contact at the North Dakota University System was bought out by the Board of Higher Education after complaints over his management and treatment of staff (June 3, 2013).
    He resigned as president of Briar Cliff University after just over a year following sexual harassment allegations - and then sued the University for breach of contract (August 2019).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was born in Tehran but raised in London.
    He has served on numerous public and private boards and Commissions.
    He holds six different degrees, including from Harvard and Princeton.
    The statewide student government body of the 23-campus California State University system recognized him as President of the Year in both 2007 and 2009.
    The California Attorney General concluded his investigation and found that there was no misappropriation of funds by the Foundation and no violation of law (August 2010).
    He has published several dozen papers in various referred and professional journals.
    'The Urban Design Process' has been translated into four languages, and is still a major text in classrooms.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying