Education

The University of Akron    

Akron, OH, 2009 – 2013 ; PhD in Civil Engineering          

The City University of New York, CUNY                    

New York City, NY, 2022 – 2025 ; Master of Fine Arts

School of Visual Arts, SVA                                              

New York City, NY, 2016 – 2021 ; Continuing education                                                                                                    

Work Experience

Full Time Faculty/Adjunct Professor                                  

Led hundreds of students and taught undergraduate and graduate level analytics, engineering and critical thinking courses in both online and face-to-face programs at different universities:

Pace University, 2023 - present

Harrisburg University, 2016 - 2022

Cumberland University 2022 - 2023

Southern New Hampshire University, 2014 - 2023

Columbia University, 2017

Rasmussen University, 2017

San Diego State University, 2012 - 2013

Writer/Columnist                                                                  

Reviewed the World's top photographers | Articles in Farsi, Herfeh Honarmand Online Publication @herfeh.honarmand, Tehran, Iran, 2018 - 2022

Reviewed the emerging photographers of Iran | Weekly Articles in Farsi, Milan Magazine, Mashhad, Iran, 2017 - 2018

Fiction and Non-fiction Writer

Wrote stories for kids and youths in Farsi | Hetaw Magazine, a trilingual magazine into art and culture in Farsi, English and Kurdish @hetawmag, Iran, 2019 - 2021

Wrote short non-fiction stories in Farsi | New York Persian Center Magazine, A cultural magazine in Farsi and English, Iran, (nypersiancenter.org), 2017 - 2018

Wrote short essays in Farsi | Peyk Magazine, A cultural magazine in Farsi, Iran, (pccsd.org), 2012 - 2014

Creative Writing Columnist/Instructor                              

Wrote “How to Write Simply?” | Bi-Weekly Instructions in Farsi, Creative Writing Institute @nevisandegikhalagh, Tehran, Iran, 2018 - 2021

Volunteer Work Experience 

Public Speaker 

Toastmasters International, San Diego, CA

Toastmaster meetings are learn-by-doing workshops in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. (District 5-club 1808, San Diego, CA, 2012-2013)

Photographer

Red Cross America

Photographed for the Youth Leadership Conference Summit, NJ, summer 2017

Photographer

ACAW (Asia Contemporary Art Week)

Photographed for ACAW which is a dynamic platform that brings together leading New York and Asia-based art institutions, museums and galleries to present the largest showcase of innovative projects, provocative dialogues on current topics, and networking opportunities, summer 2019

Selected Publications

“I Should've Told Someone That I’ve Been Here” | Personal essay collection on the self, loneliness, observation, home, and love. https://khanebooks.com/, Tehran, Iran. winter 2024 (ISBN: 8786229037003)

“The Train on Which We Hopped” | Twenty short essays on immigration, Dastan publication, Tehran, Iran, winter 2018 (ISBN13: 9786004811200)

“The Fare” | Selected short story in Bahman annual short story contest, “The Wedding Is Over” book by Daf publication, Tehran, Iran, winter 2018

“228” | A photo book curated by Siva Shahbaz & Elnaz Amini, Silk-road Art Gallery,Tehran, June 2018, silkroadartgallery.com/228-2/

“Persona” l An essay collection on Andy Warhol works, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran, June 2021, @Tehran.Moca, https://www.tmoca.com

Selected Exhibitions

“Of All My Mistakes” | Solo exhibition organized by EV gallery, New York City, January - February 2023, https://evgallery.art/ 

“Global Citizen” | An annual platform for young artists to showcase their talent and drive action on the world’s most pressing issues, Central Park, New York City, September 2023,

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/programs/young-artists/

“228” | Curated by Siva Shahbaz & Elnaz Amini, Silk-road Art Gallery, Tehran, June 2018, silkroadartgallery.com/228-2/

“Five Photo Award” Selected as third-place winner and curated by the group of juries led by Lili Golestan, Saless Gallery, Tehran, June 2020, https://www.salessgallery.gallery/

“The Great Escape” | Curated by Tim Hodge, Float Magazine, Online, November 2020 https://www.floatmagazine.us/online-exhibitions/exhibitions/the-great-escape

“Telephone” | A collaborative multidisciplinary art project, Online, April 2021, https://phonebook.gallery/artists/ali-motamedi

“My Park Moment” | A group photo show celebrating people loving their favorite parks, collaboration between Photoville and the Partnership for the Presidio, San Francisco, September 2021, https://www.presidiotunneltops.gov/my-park-moment

“SVACE” | A group photo exhibition curated by the division of continuing education at the school of visual arts collaborated with Photoville, in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the annual Art & Activism events series, Brooklyn, New York, September 2021, https://photoville.nyc/these-years/

“Under the Sun and the Moon” | A group photo show curated by Roula Seikaly and Jon Feinstein, Humble Arts Foundation, Online, September 2021, http://hafny.org

“ART IN THE TIME OF CORONA” VOL.2 l A group photo exhibition organized by Dab Art gallery, Los Angeles, December 2021, https://www.dabart.me/atc-exhibit-page-2021

“Emotions - 2021” l A group photo exhibition organized by Gallerium, Biafarin Online Exhibition, January - February 2022, https://www.gallerium.art/p/emotions-2021.html

“Silence/d” - A group photo show curated by Sanam Samanian, Bridge and Tunnel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, October - December 2022, https://thebridgeandtunnel.com/

Residencies

ITI Fellows Program, Image Text M.F.A. at Cornell University, Summer 2022 https://imagetextithaca.com/