# Fariborz Maseeh

Fariborz Maseeh (Persian: فریبرز مسیح : Farīborz Masīh, born 1959) is an Iranian-American engineer whose main career focus is micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS). He founded IntelliSense in 1991 and sold it in 2000. He also founded the Kids Institute for Development and Advancement (KIDA), a treatment clinic and education facility for autistic children in Irvine, California; Orbitron LP, a global macro long-short hedge fund; and The Massiah Foundation, a charitable organization of which he also serves as president..

## Life and career
### Early life and education

Fariborz Maseeh was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Portland, Oregon in his teens. He graduated from Portland State University (PSU) with a Bachelor of Science in engineering with a minor in structural engineering. He then graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a master's degree. While there, he performed research in the Department of Aeronautics. Maseeh then returned to PSU where he earned another master's degree in Applied Mathematics. Maseeh remained in the Portland area and taught engineering courses at Clackamas Community College. He moved to Boston to earn a doctorate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

### Technology entrepreneur

IntelliSense was the first company focused on the custom design, development, and manufacturing of next-generation MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) operation and became one of the world's fastest-growing MEMS companies. It was twice included in the New England Technology "Fast 50" and the Forbes' "Fast 500". Maseeh sold IntelliSense in 2000 and he subsequently joined the Corning management team but resigned after a year.

### Community Service

Maseeh has served on numerous boards, including those of the MIT Corporation and Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows. In April 2021, he was elected to the Caltech Board of Trustees. He sits on engineering advisory boards at University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Portland State University.

### Philanthropy

Maseeh takes part in several philanthropic venues. Through the Massiah Foundation, Maseeh utilizes the concept of venture philanthropy, targeting opportunities to invest in entities that will have a lasting and significant social impact per invested capital.

#### Massachusetts Institute of Technology

* Maseeh Hall (2010): The Massiah Foundation donated $24 million to expand the undergraduate student body.
* Maseeh Chair in Emerging Technologies (2003): The Maseeh Chair was held by the Provost and is currently held by Vladimir Bulovic.
* Excellence in Teaching Awards (2002: Department of Civil Engineering)
* Terra-scope Program: Freshmen have the chance to couple their research with the crucial visit to a location where they can best learn about all of the issues associated with climate management.
* MITSEED Academy: The Saturday Engineering & Enrichment Discovery Academy is an academic enrichment and career exploration program for students in high school.

#### Portland State University

* Fariborz Maseeh Hall (2019): Key funder in the $60 million renovations and renaming of the building which houses the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Fariborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics + Statistics, and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU.
* Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science (2004): The Massiah Foundation awarded the largest gift in the history of PSU to support building the Northwest Center for Engineering, naming it Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. It also endows professorships and graduate scholarships. It is the first school to be named after an Iranian American
* Fariborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics and Statistics (2009): Made a philanthropic investment in computational science to increase research and education in large computing and applied fields of Mathematics and Statistics. First Mathematics Department to be named.
* Maseeh Colloquium and Lecture in Mathematics and Statistics
* Maseeh Fellows: Gives graduate student scholarships in engineering.
* Kamelia Massih Outstanding Student and Faculty in the Arts Prize
* Kamelia Massih student Lounge, Donna J. Koch Student Lounge, Dryden Drop Tower, Chik Erzurumlu Scholarships

#### University of California, Irvine

* Ferdowsi Presidential Chair in Zoroastrian Studies (2019): The first presidential chair in Zoroastrian Studies in the United States
* Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies: First independent campus center in the United States for Persian Studies and Culture
* Endowed chairs:
** Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies and Culture (School of Humanities)
** Maseeh Professor in Persian Performing Arts (Clair Trevor School of the Arts)
** Howard Baskerville Professor of Persian History (School of Humanities)
* Alborz Auditorium: Created challenge grant to name auditorium at the Department of Humanities at UCI (named after the renowned Alborz High School in Tehran, Iran).
* Rollestone Hall (2009): Funded its creation and named after A. A. Rollestone, the main benefactor to the creation of Alborz High
* McCormack Theater (2009): Funded its creation and named it after Nettie Fowler McCormick, benefactor to the creation of Alborz High
* Henry Samueli School of Engineering (2003): Created Maseeh Best Research and Best Teaching Awards
* Various Student Scholarships in Medicine, Athletics; also supports through UCI Medal Ceremony.

#### University of Southern California

* USC Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition

#### University of Texas at Austin

* Fariborz Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering

#### Harvard Medical School

* Fariborz Maseeh Award for Innovative Medical Education (2021)