Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies

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Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies

The Farzaneh Family Center serves as the hub for Iranian Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

The Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies coordinates a variety of teaching, research, and outreach activities at the University of Oklahoma that explore the history, literature, language, culture, society, and politics of Iran, the Persian Gulf, and those regions historically shaped by the Persianate communities.

08/31/2026

As we welcome new students and returning students, we encourage you all to explore our Persian language courses and the opportunities the program offers

From scholarships to tutoring, this program provides you with valuable insight into Iranian culture and customs, along with a solid understanding of the Persian language!‼️

We encourage all prospective students to email Dr. Mina Raminsabet for inquiries and to schedule a placement test 📚📖 [email protected]

07/14/2026

With support from the Farzaneh Family Center, the July/August issue of 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 is devoted to Iranian literature and contemporary culture. We’re especially excited to see our very own Dr. Raminsabet have her essay, “The Ghazal in the Algorithm: How Persian Poetry Found Its Second Life on Social Media,” featured in the issue along with her web exclusive interview with Haleh Liza Gafori and a list of book recommendations on Iranian literature and culture! See link in bio!

07/08/2026

📢 Please join us in congratulating 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗹𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗶 for winning this year’s Jafar and Shokoh Farzaneh Prize for Best Article on Persian Literature for her article “𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻: 𝗥𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺!”

Congratulations to 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗯𝗮𝘇 (University of Toronto), winner of the Second Prize for her article, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝘆ū𝗱𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗳 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀!”

Congratulations are also in order for 𝗗𝗿. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗯𝗯-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿 (Oberlin College), winner of the Third Prize for her article, “𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗜𝗾𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗵𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗹!”

We’re thrilled to recognize these outstanding contributions and celebrate the achievements of all three prize winners!

Generously endowed by the Farzaneh family in honor of their late parents, the Jafar and Shokoh Farzaneh Prize honors outstanding scholarship in Persian literary studies.

05/26/2026

📢 Please join us in congratulating 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗰𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 on winning the 2026 Iranian Studies Best Undergraduate Paper Prize for her paper entitled “𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗰𝗵𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻!”

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition Claire! 👏

04/28/2026

📚📚Here are our top Iran essentials as recommended by our Iranian studies faculty.

These are the best books to start your journey into Iranian and Persian studies! We hope you take some time to explore these amazing works of literature!📖💚

04/22/2026

Congratulations to Professor Vahid Abedini who co-translated 𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 by Vali Nasr into Persian! Out now, this marks the first Persian edition of this important work, published by Roozaneh Publications in Tehran.

𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 explores the roots of Iran’s foreign policy and its enduring emphasis on independence and sovereignty. This timely translation beings these insights to a wider audience, shedding light on the historical and geopolitical forces shaping Iran today.

04/14/2026

🎤 New episode of the OU Iranian Studies podcast just dropped!

Afshin Marashi in conversation with James Gustafson on his new book,𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯, the field of environmental history, and modern Iran.

🎧 Listen at the link in bio or here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/14BbwBYS5y6BldDQbIVL4B?si=8e99f65383be4cfc

04/10/2026

A few snapshots from visit to OU last week ✨

04/02/2026

📖 Just published! Read Professor Marashi’s op-ed in “How was Thomas Jefferson influenced by Iran?”

🔗 link.ou.edu/4sNtEtn

03/31/2026

Where in the world is Professor Nejad? 🌎

Tbilisi, Georgia! Professor Nejad is currently doing archival research in Tbilisi at the Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts. Let’s follow along!

Address

School Of International Studies, 328 Farzaneh Hall
Norman, OK
73019

Telephone

+14053255164

Website

https://linktr.ee/farzanehfamilycenter

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