Leila Pourtavaf

Leila Pourtavaf is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of Toronto's Department of History, as well as a BA from McGill University. Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, modernity, and Middle Eastern history, particularly in 19th-century Qajar Iran. Her upcoming book project, The Cosmopolis Harem, examines the social, cultural, and spatial dimensions of Nasir al-Din Shah’s court women’s quarter.

Leila is also an accomplished independent curator, with exhibitions and film programs showcased at institutions like the Blackwood Gallery and La Centrale Gallery. She has published in academic journals such as The Journal of Middle East Women's Studies and Iran Namag, as well as cultural publications like Fuse Magazine. She edited the bilingual collection Féminismes Électriques (2013), exploring feminist art history.

Her teaching and research interests span Middle East Studies, modern Iranian history, and women and gender studies. No specific grants or awards are listed in the provided text.