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Gina Parvaneh Cody came to Montreal from Iran in 1979 with $2,000 in her pocket and dreams of becoming an engineer.

After an hour-long interview with her brother’s engineering professor at Concordia University, Cody was given a scholarship to help cover the cost of her master’s degree.

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Ten years later, she became the first woman in Concordia University’s history to earn a Ph.D in building engineering.

After a highly successful career as an engineer and business leader in Canada, Cody announced on Monday that she is giving a $15-million gift to her alma mater.

“Concordia welcomed me and provided me with support that changed my life,” she said. “My gift to the university is for the next generation, so that more people can succeed like I did.”

In recognition of her generous donation, Concordia has named its faculty of engineering and computer science after Cody. The Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science is the first engineering faculty in Canada to be named after a woman.