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Maria E. Subtelny is a Professor of Persian and Islamic Studies at the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on Persian manuscript studies, classical Persian literature, and the synthesis of Persian and Islamic mystical traditions. She is on leave from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. PhD from Harvard University Her academic work bridges the history of medieval Iran, Persian literary traditions, and the occult sciences in Islamic contexts. Recent publications examine Persian manuscript cultures, Timurid-Safavid intellectual transitions, and allegorical storytelling in Sufi traditions. Her research demonstrates deep expertise in: Perso-Islamic mystical traditions Arabic and Persian mirrors for princes Medieval Iranian historiography Timurid manuscript production Islamic cosmology and symbolism Interactions between Turko-Persian cultures

• Persian Studies
• History of late antique and medieval Iran
• Classical Persian literature
• +3 more

Michael Chagnon serves as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto and Curator at the Aga Khan Museum, specializing in painting and book arts from the early modern Persianate sphere. Education: PhD, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University (2015) His research centers on Islamic visual culture with emphasis on Safavid-era manuscript production, Sufi iconography, and gender dynamics in Persianate art. He investigates material-object relationships and subversive narratives within religious and courtly contexts, bridging art historical analysis with material culture studies. His methodology integrates close visual reading with socio-historical frameworks to uncover marginalized perspectives in Islamic artistic traditions. Recent publications reveal a focused trajectory on 17th-century Iran, examining how textual and visual elements negotiate power structures. Key themes include spiritual embodiment in Rumi-related imagery, gendered interventions in manuscript cycles, and material agency in ceramic objects. His work consistently connects micro-historical case studies to broader discourses on Islamic artistic identity. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. No information regarding student advising or research grants was provided in the source material. As Curator at the Aga Khan Museum, he leads exhibition development teams for major shows including Rumi: A Visual Journey (2023) and Hakan Topal: The Golden Cage (2022), collaborating with international scholars and artists to translate academic research into public-facing cultural programming.

• Islamic Art
• Persianate Sphere
• Manuscript Studies
• +3 more

Colin Mitchell is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University with a cross-appointment to Religious Studies. His research focuses on early modern Islamicate societies, particularly Safavid Iran, Mughal India, and Timurid Central Asia. He examines intersections of court politics, literature, and religion, with special attention to chancellery practices and Persian literary traditions. Education: BA (University of Regina), MA (McGill University), PhD (University of Toronto) Current projects include studies on princely succession in early modern Islamic lands and iconography of Old Testament prophets in Persianate culture. His publications explore themes like Safavid governance, trans-imperial intellectual networks, and urban history in Herat. Mitchell’s work bridges political history, cultural studies, and textual analysis, emphasizing the role of bureaucracy and literary production in shaping early modern empires.

• Early Modern History
• Islamic Studies
• Safavid Iran
• +7 more

Rula Jurdi Abisaab is a Professor of Islamic History at the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University , where she has worked since 2004. Her research focuses on Islamic-Shi`ite history, particularly the transformation of juristic thought, legal authority of the `ulama, and power dynamics in Shi`ite society during the Safavid Empire and modern Lebanon. Social and intellectual history of medieval/pre-modern Islamic societies Twelver Shi`ite jurisprudence and political thought Safavid Empire and Twelver Shi`ism Clerical leadership, public religion, and state relations in modern Shi`ite contexts Her academic work includes the 2014 book The Shi`ites of Lebanon (co-authored with Malek Abisaab), which explores the interplay of secularism, religion, and sectarianism in Lebanon. Earlier publications like Converting Persia (2004) examine Safavid-era religious and political dynamics. Recent articles address topics such as Husayn Muroeh's historiography, Marja`iyya debates, and educational reforms in Ottoman Shi`ite institutions. Her publications span interdisciplinary themes, linking Shi`ite jurisprudence with Marxism , postcolonial theory , and literary analysis , reflecting a focus on socio-political contexts of Islamic thought.

• Islamic History
• Twelver Shi`ite Jurisprudence
• Political Thought
• +4 more

Colin Mitchell is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University with a cross-appointment to Religious Studies. Holding a PhD in History (University of Toronto, 2002), an MA in Islamic Studies (McGill, 1995), and a BA (Regina), his work bridges historical analysis with religious and literary studies. Education: BA (Regina), MA (McGill), PhD (Toronto) Current Research Focus: Safavid Iran, Timurid Central Asia, and Mughal India Professor Mitchell specializes in the intersection of court politics, literature, and religion in early modern Islamicate lands, with particular emphasis on chancellery practices and Persianate intellectual traditions. His recent publications examine trans-imperial scholarly networks and visual representations of power. He is currently researching princely succession practices and Old Testament prophet iconography in Persianate cultures. During 2024-2025, Dr. Mitchell is on sabbatical (July 1, 2024 onwards). Contact: Room 2169, Marion McCain Building | c.mitchell@dal.ca | 902-494-2788

• Medieval and early modern Islamic history
• Intellectual history
• Religious history
• +7 more