In the last 25 years, two generations of distinguished Iranists were trained in the Department in the fields of history, literature, linguistics and religion. Because our current faculty benefits from a large and distinguished concentration of scholars working on Iran—with specializations that cross the boundaries of archaeology, art history, history, and linguistics and language—we are uniquely positioned to design a comprehensive, competitive, multi-disciplinary program that would be unparalleled in the U.S.
Endowed Professorship In Persian Literature And Cultural Studies
$2.5M endowed
The Department is home to one of the most comprehensive Near Eastern Studies programs in North America, and serves as a model for all other such programs. A gift to fully endow a named Professorship in Persian Literature, Film Studies, or a related area, is the best means of attracting and retaining top faculty. The holder of this position would offer classes that will allow students to delve deeper into Persian writing, film, art or other works and explore how these works have been interpreted and incorporated into Iranian culture and thought.
Lectureship In Persian Language
$1M endowed/$50,000 annually
Michigan is among the very few institutions in the country that regularly provides instruction in Persian at the elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. Language provides our students unparalleled opportunities to explore the culture broadly and deeply. Gifts are critical to ensure that these levels of language course offerings will continue. Due to Congress’ deep cuts to international education funding, including support for the less commonly taught languages, private support is crucial to securing Michigan’s role as a preeminent institution for Iranian Studies, which includes the study of Persian language. An endowed named lectureship will ensure that Persian language will be taught in perpetuity.
Visiting Professorship Of Iranian Studies
$1M endowed/$50,000 annually
Funding is needed to host a visiting distinguished scholar for one semester each year to expand and bring fresh perspectives to the program. We envision a highly prestigious fellowship awarded to a distinguished scholar across a wide range of Iranian studies—from the Iranian Revolution to Sufism, Shi’ism, Iranian cinema, ancient Iranian history, art and archeology. The Visiting Professor would spend a semester on campus, teach a course in the area of her/ his specialization, meet with students and faculty, and possibly present a public lecture. Bringing renowned scholars to campus is a critical priority to maintain Michigan as a thought leader in the field, and would be of great interest to the U-M academic community, the Iranian community in Michigan, and the general public.
Graduate Student Fellowship
$1M endowed/$50,000 annually
Graduate fellowships provide much needed support for students working on Iran-related topics. Students in NES graduate programs face substantial financial burdens in completing their coursework and gaining research experience in the region. This endowment will ensure our ability to recruit exceptional graduate students who plan to study and carry out research in the region. Fellowships provide funding for tuition, stipends, and research-related expenses.
Annual Lecture In Iranian Studies
$200,000 endowed/$10,000 annually
Lectures presented by scholars from outside U-M introduce students to leading figures in the field and provide an opportunity to discuss new work and research. Resources are needed for the Department to host an annual lecture by a prominent guest speaker on a topic related to Iran or Iranian Studies. This is an opportunity to promote the culture, history, language, politics and society of Iranians.
Ways To Fund Your Gift
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