Ghazzal Dabiri holds a Ph.D. in Iranian Studies in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA. Her research centers on classical Persian literature with a particular interest in the development of Persian epics and other literary genres. She has taught Persian language courses at UCLA, CSUF, and SMC and is currently Lecturer and Coordinator of Persian at Columbia University.
She has published two articles: “Visions of Heaven and Hell from Late Antiquity in the Near East” in Quaderni di Studi Indo-Mediterranei (Winter 2009) and the second is entitled “The Shahnama: Between the Samanids and Ghaznavids” in Iranian Studies, the Shahnama Special Issue (February 2010). A third: The Shu’ubiyyah Movement and the ninth century Histories has been accepted for publication in “Late Antique Iran Studies Proceedings from 2009 Middle East Studies Association Conference” (I.B. Taurus). Other publications include: “The Mother Tongue: An Introduction to the Persian Language.” PBS Frontline: Tehran Bureau and “Shiraz Nights.” PBS Frontline: Tehran Bureau, August 10, 2009. She is currently working on a book project that is entitled “Prophets, Kings, and Heroes: Iranian Historiography and the Development of Persian Epics,” which was the subject of her dissertation and which won Honorable Mention for Best Dissertation from the Foundation for Iranian Studies in 2007. She is a recipient of a Fulbright Research Grant for the 2011-2012 academic year.
