Khadija Khaja: Outstanding Woman Leader

March 20, 2008 – Dr. Khadija Khaja, whose life has taken her from a small village in Nigeria to Canada and to IUPUI, has been named an Outstanding Woman Leader.

     Dr. Khaja, an assistant professor of Indiana University School of Social Work, was selected as the Full-time Faculty “Newcomer” winner for the 2008 Women’s History Month Leadership Awards.

     The award will be presented at the Women’s History Month Leadership Reception from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27 in Room 405 of the Campus Center.

     Her life has revolved around diversity, beginning when she was just a child. Her family is Muslim but her father insisted his children attend a Christian school when they were in Nigeria.

     Her father told her, “If more people in the world did this, we probably wouldn’t have wars because you realize we are all the same.”

     A favorite with students because of her caring attitude, Dr. Khaja, along with Dr. Irene Queiro-Tajalli and others is embarking on what is believed to be the largest international study examining the impact of Sept. 11 on Muslims living in Australia, Canada, Argentina, and the United States.

      As School of Social Work Dean Michael Patchner said, “Congratulations to Khadija!”

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