GHEA21 Faculty

Zarlasht Sarmast

Zarlasht Sarmast earned her BA in International & Comparative Politics from AUCA in 2020 while working as a communications specialist for GIZ in Bishkek. Previously, she was the spokesperson for the ICRC in Afghanistan and worked with UNAMA on peacebuilding and humanitarian projects. She holds two master’s degrees: one in International Relations & Security from the OSCE Academy and another in Applied Psychology from AUCA.

Her research on PTSD and prospective memory among Afghan students is published on the OSUN-Vasa website. She played a key role in evacuating over 370 Afghan students from Kabul to Bishkek, inspiring her books A Journey from Kabul to Bishkek and Our Journey to Bard. She has spoken at events like the World Bank Spring Meetings on Afghan women's education. Currently, she is the Business Manager for Bard NYC and the Civic Engagement Program Coordinator at OSUN and Bard CCE.