CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — [October 24, 2025] — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies (CMEIS) and the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (DAMES) are proud to announce the official launch of the Persian Studies major concentration, a new academic pathway within the Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies program.
The new concentration, which began in Fall 2025, responds to growing global and regional demand for deeper understanding of Persian language, literature, and culture. “As global conversations increasingly recognize the cultural, historical, and geopolitical significance of the Persian-speaking world, it is essential for UNC to offer students the opportunity to study this region in depth and on its own terms,” said Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi, Director of CMEIS, Roshan Distinguished Professor of Persian Studies, and Chair of the Persian Advisory Committee. “A dedicated major affirms the intellectual value of Persian language and culture as a distinct field of study. The major also reflects UNC’s commitment to fostering global understanding at a time when cultural literacy and nuanced global perspectives are more important than ever.”
A Growing Academic Legacy
Carolina’s Persian Studies program has grown rapidly since its founding in 2010, now teaching more than 150 students annually. According to data from the Modern Language Association (2021), UNC ranks 14th nationally for Persian language enrollment and is tied for 8th in the number of Persian Studies experts, as reported by the Middle East Studies Association. Dr. I Jonathan Kief, Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies at DAMES, notes that “by offering students, scholars, and community members the opportunity to develop, share, and expand their understanding and appreciation of Persian language, history, and culture, the UNC Persian program plays an invaluable role within the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, on our campus more broadly, and in the surrounding region.”
The program’s foundations were shaped by Dr. Carl Ernst and Dr. Charles Kurzman, whose leadership helped establish Persian Studies as one of the most dynamic language and culture programs at UNC. In 2016, a Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute grant established the Roshan Assistant Professorship, filled by Dr. Yaghoobi, expanding Persian Studies into advanced literature and culture. The program now offers six language levels and four content courses annually, supported by interdisciplinary collaborations across History, Public Policy, Sociology, Art, and Music.
Interdisciplinary Faculty and Vision
The Persian Studies program brings together faculty across multiple disciplines:
- Dr. Shahla Adel – Persian Language (DAMES)
- Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi – Persian Literature and Culture (DAMES)
- Dr. Jennifer Gates-Foster – Ancient Persia (Classics)
- Dr. Mehdi Shadmehr – Modern Iran (Public Policy)
- Dr. Charles Kurzman – Sociology of Modern Iran
- Dr. Eren Tasar – Central Asian History
- Dr. Sholeh Asgary, Dr. Maliheh Ghajargar, and Dr. Zahra Kelariz Keshavarz – Art, Geography, and Music.
“The Persian Studies major represents an essential expansion of DAMES’ mission,” said Dr. Li-ling Hsiao, Chair of DAMES and Associate Professor of Chinese Studies. “It is particularly vital for UNC to develop the Persian Studies major in this moment, when cultural and political developments in the Middle East play ever more important roles in shaping global cultures and politics.”
Strategic Vision for the Future
Under Dr. Yaghoobi’s leadership, the Persian Studies program is implementing a four-year strategic plan to guide its continued growth, visibility, and sustainability.
Key initiatives include:
- Year 1: Campus-wide outreach, branding, and hosting a Persian Culture and Language Day to engage high school and college students.
- Year 2: Launch of a Persian Major Cohort Program for peer mentoring and undergraduate research projects.
- Year 3: Hosting a Persian Careers Symposium and expanding fellowship opportunities.
- Year 4: Establishing a Persian Alumni Association and pursuing additional tenure-track positions.
“These initiatives will ensure that Persian Studies continues to thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and globally engaged program,” said Dr. Yaghoobi. “Our goal is to make UNC a leading regional hub for Persian Studies and to cultivate a new generation of scholars and professionals deeply informed about Iran and the Persianate world.”
Celebrating the Launch
To mark the inaugural semester of the concentration, as part of the strategic plan, Dr. Shahla Adel, Teaching Professor of Persian and current Persian Program Coordinator, hosted a celebration with students, faculty, and community members on October 21. During the event, Dr. Adel highlighted how the concentration integrates advanced Persian language instruction with studies of literature, history, and culture, preparing graduates for careers in diplomacy, global media, academia, and international development.
Dr. Adel explained that students complete advanced Persian language courses (PRSN 305 and PRSN 306), an introductory Persian Studies course, three upper-level courses in Persian literature, culture, or religion, a regional course, and an elective, totaling 27 credit hours.
Support and Partnerships
The program’s success has been made possible through Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute fellowships and philanthropic initiatives such as the Ali and Lila Paydarfar Lectureship, Dr. Ali Jarrahi Term Professorship, and the Shaida Jarrahi Horner and Vance L. Horner Persian Studies Speaker Series.
About the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies
The Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill promotes interdisciplinary research and teaching on the Middle East, North Africa, and the Islamic world. Through partnerships with area studies centers, departments, and global programs, CMEIS fosters cross-cultural dialogue, public engagement, and global understanding.
Media Contact:
Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Email: cmeis@unc.edu | Phone: (919) 962-2034
