Celebrating the Legacy of CIDS

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.