Roger Sedarat

Roger Sedarat is a Professor of English at Queens College, CUNY, specializing in 19th-century American literature, literary translation, and Middle Eastern-American literature. He holds a joint role in the MFA Creative Writing program, emphasizing poetry and translation. His research bridges Persian and American literary traditions, particularly focusing on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s engagement with Persian poetry. Sedarat’s work spans academic studies (e.g., Emerson in Iran) and creative works like Ghazal Games and Haji as Puppet, the latter adapted into a punk play with funding from Atlantic Philanthropies.

Research interests include Sufi mysticism, cross-cultural poetics, and the intersection of performance art with literature. He has received prestigious awards such as the Willis Barnstone Prize and Tenth Gate Prize. Teaching focuses on making literary analysis accessible through pop culture and daily life examples, fostering critical thinking in both undergraduate and MFA students.

Publications span academic journals like Walt Whitman Quarterly Review and creative works in Poetry, Michigan Quarterly Review, and Guernica. His translations of Persian poetry and collaborative work on Nader Naderpour highlight his commitment to bridging cultural divides through literature. Current projects include translating Hafez’s ghazals and exploring tennis-themed poetry in Foot Faults.