Azadeh Aghighi

Azadeh Aghighi is a Lecturer and Director of the Persian Language Program in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She holds a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Islamic Studies) from Indiana University Bloomington (2023). Her roles include teaching Persian language courses (elementary to advanced) and contributing to the Department of Religion via courses like 'Introduction to Islam' and 'The Qur'an.'

Education:

• Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (Islamic Studies), Indiana University Bloomington, 2023

Research Interests:

• Islamic Feminism, Gender Studies in Islam
• Hadith Studies and Qurʾānic Hermeneutics
• Islamic Law and Legal Interpretation

Awards:

• Over 50 national Qurʾān recitation awards in Iran
• Distinguished M.A. Dissertation Award (Iran)
• Indiana University Ph.D. Dissertation Completion Award

Teaching & Affiliations:

• Directs Persian language programs at UIUC
• Teaches Arabic and Persian at graduate/undergraduate levels
• Active in Indiana University's Summer Language Workshop since 2019
• Affiliated with the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies