Zamira Abman

Zamira Abman is an Assistant Professor of History and European Studies at San Diego State University (SDSU), directing the Comparative International Studies Program. She specializes in Soviet Central Asia, Soviet Union/Russia, and state-centered feminism. Her book Coerced Liberation: Muslim Women in Soviet Tajikistan (2024) and contributions to academic handbooks highlight her expertise. She holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from UC Santa Barbara, an M.A. in International Peace Studies from Notre Dame, and a B.A. in American Studies from the American University of Central Asia.

Abman teaches interdisciplinary courses in World History, Western Civilization, and Women in Muslim Societies. Her professional career includes roles with NGOs like the Carter Center and Counterpart International, focusing on peacebuilding and development. She has received numerous accolades, including ACLS Fellowships and SDSU's Outstanding Research Award (2025).

Her research explores Soviet-era gender policies, oral histories of marginalized groups, and national identity formation. She actively participates in academic conferences and public lectures on Soviet women's history and current geopolitical issues. Abman serves on SDSU's Academic Senate and College of Arts & Letters Council, advocating for academic excellence and diversity.

Her current projects include studies on Jewish Muslim-Chala identities in Tajikistan and Soviet delimitation's impact on Central Asian water politics. Language skills include fluent English, Tajik/Farsi (native), Russian, and proficiency in Uzbek/Kyrgyz.