Son of an educator, Dr. Razi earned his bachelor's degree from Kings College at the University of London in 1963 and a master's degree in business administration from Tehran University in 1967. Dr. Razi is the president of the Stratham Group, a real estate investment and development firm based in Newport Beach, Calif., where he has worked since 1984. He is a respected leader in the Iranian-American community, is a former consul member of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, and was recently elected Builder of the Year by the Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Dr. Razi is a passionate supporter of the California State University and the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement. In 2002, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Human Letters from California State University, San Bernardino for his contributions to higher education. Dr. Razi served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the California State University from 1996-2001.

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed has credited Dr. Razi with keeping the Trustee Scholarship program in operation. When funding for this program was in doubt, Dr. Razi "stepped up to the plate" and inspired others to do the same. Dr. Razi continues to serve the university as chair of the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award Selection Committee and as a member of the California State University Foundation Board of Governors.

The CSU is grateful to Dr. Razi for creating this endowment. It is an exemplary tribute to the transformative power of a CSU education.