Celebrating the Legacy of CIDS

The Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies (2017–2025)

The Center concluded its programming on June 30, 2025. This site is now maintained as a historical archive to preserve and celebrate its contributions. Over its eight years, the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies became a global hub for research, storytelling, and cultural understanding. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

 

Key Milestones

2016

June 21: San Francisco State University announces a $5 million gift from alumna and philanthropist Neda Nobari to establish the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies (CIDS), marking the inception of the first academic center dedicated to Iranian diaspora studies in the U.S.

2017

Fall: CIDS officially launches under the leadership of Dr. Persis Karim, serving as the Neda Nobari Distinguished Chair and Director.

2019

Spring: CIDS hosts its inaugural international conference, “Forty Years & More: International Conference on Iranian Diaspora Studies,” bringing together scholars, artists, and community members from over 48 universities and multiple countries.

2023

February 16–17: CIDS co-hosts the “Iranian Diaspora in Global Perspective” conference in Los Angeles, in collaboration with UCLA and Oklahoma State University, reflecting new directions in Iranian diaspora studies.

2024

August 8: Dr. Persis Karim announces that the 2024–2025 academic year will be CIDS’s final year of formal activity, with plans to archive the Center’s work and celebrate its contributions.

August 12: Dr. Karim receives the Senior Mentorship Award at the Association for Iranian Studies (AIS) Conference, recognizing her leadership and mentorship in the field.

2025

June 22: CIDS hosts a farewell event featuring a screening of “The Dawn is Too Far: Stories of Iranian-American Life,” followed by a Q&A session with Dr. Karim, celebrating the Center’s work as it approaches closure.

June 30: CIDS concludes its programming, transitioning its website into a legacy archive to preserve and celebrate its contributions to Iranian diaspora studies.

Explore Our Work

This page is part of the archived website of the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies. Active programming concluded in June 2025. All content remains available for historical reference.