Leila Malikyar

Leila Malikyar is a queer, nonbinary Afghan-American Lecturer at San Francisco State University (SFSU), affiliated with the College of Ethnic Studies. Their work centers Queer and Trans Ethnic Studies, challenging imperial narratives and amplifying marginalized voices, particularly within Arab and Muslim communities. Since 2023, they have taught the foundational course Intro to Queer and Trans Ethnic Studies in the Queer and Trans Ethnic Studies (QTES) Minor in the Department of Race and Resistance Studies (RRS). Their research critiques systems of power through works like their 2021 M.A. thesis Deviant Intimacies: Imperial Readings of Afghan Masculinity, which examines Western depictions of Afghan masculinity to justify imperialism.

Leila graduated summa cum laude from SFSU's Ethnic Studies Master’s Program in 2021. Their pedagogical approach emphasizes inclusive classrooms focused on peer learning, community-centered scholarship, and critical analysis of structural inequities. No scientific awards or funded grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.