Research areas: Mythology, Ancient Iranian Languages, Zoroastrianism
Biography
PhD
Iranian Studies,
Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany, 2019
Teaching activities
Myths of Ancient Iran and Mesopotamia
Manichaeism
Persian Language (Introductory/Advanced)
Zoroastrianism
Religion and Society in Contemporary Iran
Introduction to Iranian Civilization
Refereed publications
Opposing Aspects of Female Power in Mythological Reflexes of Ancient Goddesses,” Iran and the Caucasus 20 (2016): 205-214
“Iranian Goddesses,” in Richard Foltz, Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present, London: Oneworld, 2013, pp. 56-74.
Book Chapter
“Areduui Sura Anahita: An Indo-European River Goddess,” Analytica Iranica 4-5 (2013): 253-74.
Article
“Mythological Themes in Iranian Culture and Art: Traditional and Contemporary Perspectives,” IranianStudies 42/2 (2009): 231-246
Article
“Is Zoroastrianism an Ecological Religion?” Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture 1/3 (2007): 413-430 (Co-authored with Richard Foltz).
Anahita: A History and Receptions of the Iranian Water Goddess, I.B. Tauris/Bloomsbury, January 2021
Book
“Four Iranian Goddesses,” in Pilkho Pak, ed., Civilizations of the Great Silk Road from the Past to the Future, Samarkand: International Institute for Central Asian Studies, 2017
Article
Conference presentations
“Sudabeh and Rudabeh: Opposing Aspects of Female Power,” 10th Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies, Montréal, Canada, 6-9 August 2014.“Visual Representations of Anahita in the Avesta,” 9th International Society for Iranian Studies biennial conference, Istanbul, Turkey, 1-5 August 2012. “Ar¿duui Sura Anahita: An Indo-European River Goddess,” Thus Spoke Zarathushtra: International Conference of Scholars on Zoroastrianism, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2-3 June 2012.“Visual Representations of Anahita in the Avesta,” 7th European Conference on Iranian Studies, Krakow, Poland, 7-10 September 2011.“Mythological Themes in the Work of Contemporary Iranian Artists,” 7th International Society for Iranian Studies biennial conference, Toronto, ON, 30 July-2 August 2008.“Zoroastrian New Year in Montréal,” Canadian Society for the Study of Religion annual conference, Vancouver, B.C., 1-5 June 2008.“Mythological Themes in the Work of Contemporary Iranian Artists,” 41st annual Middle East Studies Association annual conference, Montréal, 17-20 November 2007.“Visual Aspects of Ancient Iranian Gods,” 6th Conference on Ancient Culture Research, Rudaki Association, UNESCO, Paris, France, Nov. 2002.“Rehabilitating the Pairikas: “Fairies” in Iranian mythology,” 12th Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies, University of California, Irvine, 14-17 August 2018.“The Indo-European Dragon-Slaying Myth,” Association for the Study of Persianate Societies biennial conference, Tbilisi, Georgia, 15-18 March 2018.
August 2014: Group painting exhibition, MÉKIC gallery, Montréal, CanadaOctober 2010: Art Westmount biennial group exhibition, Westmount, Qc, CanadaMarch 2010: Group painting exhibition, Arta Gallery, Toronto, CanadaDec 2009-Jan 2010: Group painting exhibition, MÉKIC gallery, Montréal, CanadaSept 2008: Solo painting exhibition, Visual Voice Gallery, Montréal, CanadaApril 2008: Group painting exhibition, Visual Arts Centre, Montréal, CanadaNov 2007: Group painting exhibition, Palais de Congrès, Montréal, CanadaMarch 2007: Group painting exhibition, Visual Arts Centre, Montréal, Canada
Invited public lectures
February 2016: “How to Kill a Dragon in Ancient Iran,” Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies, University of California-IrvineJune 2008: “Ancient Iranian Deities,” Darbe Mehr Zoroastrian Temple, Vancouver, B.C. October 2005: “A Short History of the Persian Language,” Friends of Zarathushtra Association, Concordia University, Montreal.May 2001: “Persian Painting,” Iranian Culture Association, UNESCO, Paris
