Persian and Iranian Studies Program

The Persian and Iranian Studies Program at the University of Washington is dedicated to promoting teaching, scholarship, and thoughtful public discourse about all aspects of the history and culture of Iran and the Persian-speaking world. Directed by Aria Fani, assistant professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC), the program’s scope includes the diverse Persian and Iranian cultures found throughout the Middle East and the Diaspora. Students in the Program have the opportunity to study up to four years of Persian language and literature taught in the Persian language, as well as courses on Persian literature, history, and culture in English.

The Program offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in MELC with a focus on Persian literature and Iranian studies and works closely with a wide range of other programs and departments on campus, including the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Near and Middle Eastern Studies.

Program Faculty

Purnima Dhavan
Adjunct in MELC, Associate Professor, Department of History
pdhavan@uw.edu
Aria Fani
Assistant Professor, Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Professorship in Persian and Iranian Studies, Director of Persian and Iranian Studies Program
ariafani@uw.edu
Elham Monfaredi
Lecturer
elhammon@uw.edu
Arzoo Osanloo
Adjunct in MELC, Professor, Law, Societies, and Justice Department
aosanloo@uw.edu
Naghmeh Samini
Affiliate Assistant Professor
nsamini@uw.edu
Joel Walker
Adjunct in MELC, Associate Professor, Department of History
jwalker@uw.edu