Afghan Students Found Academic Paths at Chatham
Following the 2021 Taliban takeover, students found refuge and new educational opportunities at Chatham University.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in College Applications
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After the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, students including Marwa Rahim and Samira Rustami enrolled at Chatham University. Their journeys are profiled in the new book "The Last Free Women" by Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp.
Why it matters
The students pursued education in the United States to reach career goals that were rendered impossible under Taliban rule. They also seek to honor the significant sacrifices their families made to secure their freedom from Afghanistan.
Marwa Rahim is 27 years old and Samira Rustami is 25 years old. The students were given just 30 minutes to pack their belongings before fleeing Afghanistan.
The players
Marwa Rahim
She is a 27-year-old student studying human biology at Chatham University.
Samira Rustami
She is a 25-year-old student studying nursing at Chatham University.
Rebecca Blumenstein
She is an author who connected the students to Chatham University in 2022.
Diana Kapp
She is an author who visited an Afghan school in 2012 and co-wrote the book profiling the students.
Farnam Jahanian
He is the President of Carnegie Mellon University who helped facilitate the students' enrollment.
The details
Facilitated by connections between Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian and Chatham University in Shadyside, the students resettled in the U.S. after initially arriving in Texas. The book also profiles Mursal Rahim and Maryam Alokozay, documenting their transition from Afghanistan to Pittsburgh.
Timeline
2012: Author Diana Kapp visited a school in Afghanistan.
2021: The Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.
2022: Rebecca Blumenstein connected the students to Chatham University.
October 13, 2026: Authors visit Chatham for a scheduled book event.
Culture Shift
The relocation of these students to Pittsburgh represents a broader societal shift toward supporting displaced scholars following the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This transition highlights how academic institutions are increasingly serving as a bridge for refugees seeking to escape restrictive regimes.
Local community members interested in hearing firsthand accounts of migration and academic perseverance can attend the upcoming author event at Chatham University. This event offers a chance to engage with the stories of these students as they continue their studies in the Shadyside neighborhood.
The takeaway
These students demonstrate the profound effort required to reclaim educational and career ambitions after being uprooted by conflict. Their success at Chatham University highlights the impact of academic partnerships in providing stability for displaced individuals.
What happens next
Authors Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp are scheduled to visit the Chatham University campus for an event on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Further reading
Find more local resources on the College Applications page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TribLIVE.
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