Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies
The Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies is the first academic institution of its kind — dedicated to research and teaching about the historical and cultural experiences of the global Iranian diaspora community. The Center fosters innovative and collaborative scholarship between faculty and students and engages with complex and pressing subjects such as nationalism, immigration, xenophobia, gender, sexuality and identity. Its research, programming, and projects examine overlooked and under-emphasized narratives, advocate for new forms of scholarly engagement, and support collaboration between individuals and institutions.
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The Dawn is Too Far: Stories of Iranian-American Life
The Center's Blog: “With A Trace”
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Recent Blog Posts
Taraneh Mousavi and the Fluid Harmonies of Home
Taraneh Mousavi received a piece of advice from her father that would alter the course of her life: “If you want to study music,” he told her, his voice tinged with both pride and resignation, “you have to leave the country.” These words, at once a blessing and a lament, encompass the bittersweet reality faced by many Iranian artists today. For Mousavi, they became the first notes in a symphony of self-discovery, artistic growth, and the search for belonging that would carry her across continents.
Sirvan Manhoobi on The Power of Music to Unify a Divided World
Sirvan Manhoobi, an accomplished Iranian-born composer and multi-instrumentalist, has built his career on a profound belief: music is a portal to a better world. “For me, music is a possibility,” Manhoobi explains. “It can teleport us to another world where there is no war, no enemies, no conflict.” This philosophy, deeply rooted in his experiences growing up in Iran, and later moving to the US, has shaped his artistic journey and continues to drive his creative endeavors.
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