Founders
Dr. Alireza Khorsand is an economist who's academic and research interest is based on economic evolution and its social impact on populations; specifically with emphasis on disadvantaged communities. For the past eight years, he has invested his experience and knowledge into the projects and programs of GHH. Viewed from an economic stimulus perspective, GHH is based on the principles of economics and reflection of the place of youth in an economically "market driven society". |
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Calling upon more than 20 years of professional experience in public and private sector in national economic issues, academic teaching/research and for-profit/non-profit management, he seeks to improve the healing process of hospitalized children and to increase opportunities for youth to improve their educational, social, and vocational skills.
Dr. Khorsand holds a Ph.D. in Economics in International Economic Development from the Sorbonne, Paris, France. Currently Dr. Khorsand teaches graduate-level International Economics at Virginia International University and has taught micro and macro economics and Business Management at the University of Maryland-Baltimore and the Northern Virginia Community College (Virginia). Dr. Khorsand is fluent in English, French and Farsi and conversational in Arabic.
Susan Carlson-Khorsand's background is in Fine Arts with a concentration in soft sculpture/ wearable art. She successfully designed women's accessory lines while training in retail management prior to her studies in Paris where she worked in the fashion industry. There her life took a huge turn when she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Her desire to "cope through personal growth" propelled her to risk-it-all in an opportunity to audition for a role with the French National Theater. Cast in a wildly successful play, she spent seven years as a member of the Compaigne Jerome Deschamps touring Europe and representing France in the 1991 World's Fair in Seville. She was awarded the equivalent of a Tony (Moliere) for her work and had the honor of meeting and performing for both French President Mitterrand and German Chancellor Kohl.
During this time, Susan thoroughly explored the notion of Art Therapy, Healing and need for creativity in the re-creation of wellness.
Returning to the US in 1992, Susan was Director of Costume Production at Arena Stage, Washington, DC managing a $1 million material and staff budget mounting 10 performances a year for the two theaters. Committed to dedicating her art to healing, Susan left Arena Stage in 1996 to begin GHH.
Her successful assimilation into the French culture deeply affected her and, after returning to the US, has shaped her work on multiple civic, county and state level boards tasked with immigration, assimilation, community development and civic engagement.
As a co-founder of GHH, she has worked to position the Glories hat as a therapeutic resource for medical staff to use as a psycho-social support in the care regime of their patients. The strategic application of the hat's community-based production model is intended to increase social, human and economic capital in targeted high-risk communities participating in the project, it is also designed to aid patients to relax, feel hope, and feel community moral support.
Susan has directed over 1200 Glories HATS Project® workshops with more than 95,000 participants galvanizing 500,000 hours of community service to create 90,000 Glories hats "filled with happy thoughts!" for patients to "Wear a Glories hat and think happy thoughts!"
