IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2008
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine
Office: 724.738.4854
Cell: 724.991.8302
gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

SRU Alumni Association names Distinguished International Alumna

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Seeme Baqua Moreira, a 1985 accounting graduate, is the Slippery Rock University Alumni Association’s 2008 Distinguished International Alumni Award recipient.

            Moreira was born and reared in Pakistan. She attended school in Islamabad and college in Lahore at the prestigious Kinnaird College for Women. She graduated summa cum laude from SRU. Moreira will receive her award at the President’s Scholarship Gala May 17 at the Marriott in Cranberry Woods.

             “In the 23 years since graduating from SRU, I have pursued diverse paths, including higher education, various careers, volunteer positions, community service and the role of an involved parent,” Moreira said. “It is an immense honor to be recognized by SRU, where it all began, with this prestigious award.” 

             Moreira was selected to be the student speaker at her SRU commencement. She earned her masters of business administration at Bowling Green State University and subsequently returned to Pakistan where she worked for the World Bank’s Resident Mission in Pakistan. She came to the U.S. after getting married and has been here ever since.

            Moreira has worked in various financial positions and currently works for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Winchester, Mass. Before this, she headed an econometrics research study on behalf of Boston Gas Co. to test the effectiveness of various energy conservation improvements.

            “She has demonstrated success in her career and personal life and her commitment to Slippery Rock University includes two scholarships supporting students,” said Michael Saraka, director of alumni relations.

            She and her husband, Mario Moreira, a 1984 SRU graduate, sponsor two academic 

scholarships at SRU. The Mario and Seeme Moreira Accounting Scholarship and the Mario and Seeme Moreira Communications Scholarship are for accounting and communication majors.

            “These scholarships are our attempt to give back a little to the school which gave us our head start in life,” she said.

            Moreira said she enrolled at SRU expecting to become an architect. “During my first semester, I took “Accounting 101” with professor Ursula Albers and was so inspired by her that I switched my major to accounting,” she said. “Although my career has not consisted of purely accounting positions, my strong financial foundation – originating at SRU – has allowed me to branch into other fields and excel in each of my pursuits.”

            Moreira lives with her husband and two daughters in Winchester and is involved with the town and with the Pakistani community in and around Boston. Moreira serves on the business advisory board of  “Kahani,” a quarterly magazine for elementary age children of South Asian origin who are growing up in North America.

            The Distinguished International Alumni Award is presented to a former international student that best represents the values and beliefs Slippery Rock University tries to instill in its graduates. The criterion is based on career success, community service, University service and philanthropy..

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.