Sohila Saremi

Contact Information

PT Faculty, Persian
ssaremi@saddleback.edu
School / Office / Department
School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Biography

I earned my Ph.D. in Persian Language and Literature from Tehran University (Iran). I have taught Persian literature (classical and modern), language and modern; culture at various universities (Iran and abroad). I have worked at the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies (Iran) as a scholar for years. I have published various books and articles on the field with focus on the classical Persian poetry, as well as 20th century poetry and prose. In addition, I have edited many literary books and articles. Some of my poems have been published as collections, some of which have been translated into Bosnian, Turkish and English. I currently teach Persian language and culture at Saddleback College, California.

Formal Education

  • Ph.D. in Persian Language and Literature from Tehran University (Iran)

Recent Publications/Presentations

  • 2025, "HaftSin": A presentation on Haft-Sin, part of the Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz, International Languages Department, Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (April 3).
  • 2024, "Forugh Farrokhzad: A Journey Along the Line of Time" (Bilingual Lecture Series), Film Screening and Panel Discussion, UCLA, Iranian Studies (March 3, 2024):
    https://youtu.be/NR7QVc2H-9A?si=stqoPgJOEjS5amS6
  • 2024, “A glance at Alamtaj (Zhaleh) Ghaemmaghami’s poetry”: Presentation on the great contemporary Iranian feminist poet, Alamtaj (Zhaleh) Ghaemmaghami. Persian Cultural Center of Atlanta (PCC), August 6. Recording available at: https://youtu.be/jMAMyGw12Gw?si=9MQlYsHXOcoor6kZ
  • 2023, “An Introduction to Nowruz”, International Languages Department, Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (March 15th).
  • 2022, "Zarathustra in Persian Literature", (A presentation on the profound influence of Zoroastrianism on Persian literature), Jordan Center for Persian Studies, UCI (University of California, Irvine), May 2nd,
    https://www.humanities.uci.edu/events/elahe-omidyar-mir-djalali-symposi…
  • 2021, “ Attar Nishāburi and the The Path of Kharābāt (tavern)”. Iranian/Persian Cultural Foundation, Canberra, Australi, ConferZoom, (September 25th).
  • 2021, “Afro-Iranian Music”. International Languages Department, Saddleback College, ConferZoom, February 22th.
  • 2019, "Khārhā-ye Gol-e Sorkh [Rose Thorns]", (an introduction to the great American modernist poet and writer, Marianne More, with the translation of some of her poems from English into Persian), Jahān-e Ketāb, 24th year, No. 3-5, (serial number: 1681-9705), Tehran, Khordad-Mordad 1398 Š/ May-June, PP. 45-47.
  • 2019, "A Traditional Celebration in Persia: An Introduction to Nowruz”, a presentation on national celebration of Persians: NowRuz, Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (March 15th).
  • 2018, Recitation of My Poem in Honor of Dr. Leonard Lewisohn (an outstanding Iranologist): Presented at the Avicenna Culture Center, under the supervision of Dr. Jane Lewisohn (August 23).
  • 2018, "Pejmān Bakhtiāri va Āh-e bi Asarash (The Lamentation of Pejmān Bakhtiāri)", Diyār (Quarterly), No.5, Winter 1396 Š, University of Toronto (Near & Middle Eastern Civilization Dep.), pp. 93-103.
  • 2018, “Marg-e Silvia [Silvia's death]", (an introduction to Ann Sexton the great American poet and writer) with translation of two of her poems from English into Persian, Jahān-e Ketāb, 23rd year, No.6 & 8 (serial number: 352-354), Tehran, Shahrivar-Aban 1397 Š/ August-September. PP. 48-49.
  • 2018, Chair of the panel of Rumi’s Mathnawi and the Mevlevi Order: Between History and Metahistory (8/16/18), Iranian Studies Conference, University of California Irvine (August 14-18), Convenor: Dr. Leonard Lewisohn, University of Exeter, UK.
  • 2018, Reading my poem at the Avicenna Culture Center, Irvine, CA (Celebrating Dr. Leonard Lewisohn, a renowned scholar in Persian literature and mysticism) under supervision of Dr. Jane Lewisohn, August 23.
  • 2018, " NowRuz: History and Mythology" (a bilingual presentation on history and mythology of the national celebration of Persians: NowRuz), Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (March 15th).
  • 2017, “ Gowhari Gom-gashte dar Khak-e Siah” (A Gem, Lost in the Soil: a survey on life and poems of the great contemporary Persian poet, Ᾱlamtāj Qā’emmaqāmi, better known as Jāle[h]), Diyār, 2nd year, No. 3, Spring 1396 Š, University of Toronto (Near & Middle Eastern Civilization Dep.), PP. 123-141.
  • 2017, " Festival of the Souls in Iran" (a presentation), Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (November 1rst).
  • 2017, " Persian New Year: NowRuz" (a presentation on NowRuz, the national celebration of Persians), Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (March 16th).
  • 2016, " Attar Nishaburi and his Society": A lecture on the reflections of Persian society in the works of the great 12th–13th century mystic poet, Attar Nishaburi). Jordan Center for Persian Studies, UCI (University of California, Irvine), Oct. 2nd, https://youtu.be/Ms45r8gZ3Vw?si=0-DNrtguPeI7Zvqr
  • 2016, " The Art of losing" (a glance at two poems by Elizabeth Bishop, with their translation from English into Persian), Jahān-e Ketāb, 21st year, No. 5 & 6, Mordad & Shahrivar 1395Š/August-September. PP. 48-49.
  • 2016, “The secret of the caged bird's sonnet: A moment with Maya Angelou” (a survey on poems of Maya Angelou, the contemporary eminent American poet and writer), Jahān-e Ketāb, 21st year, No. 1&2 (serial number: 323-324), Farvardin & Ordibehesht 1395Š/ March-May. PP. 50-52.
  • 2016, “ An Introduction to Nowrouz, Persian New Year” ( a bilingual presentation on rituals and ceremonies related to Nowruz from ancient to modern time, Iran), Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (March 15th).
  • 2015, “The Ruins of the Heart: A moment with Dick Davis” (a survey on works and poetry of Dick Davis, the great poet of English literature and the great scholar of Persian culture and literature), Jahan-e Ketab, 20th year, No. 9 (serial number: 319), Dec. PP. 12-15.
  • 2015, “Attar: The Unhealed Healer”, Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Chicago (Persian Circle, December 1st), https://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/persiancircle/.
  • 2015, “ Celebration of the Dead in Iran: from the past to the present ” (a presentation about the Festival of the Souls in Iran), Saddleback College, SSC building, room 212, (November 4th).
  • 2015, “The Treasure of Endless Beauty of the Friend”, (A Survey on Karim Emami on Modern Iranian Culture, Literature & Art, edited by Houra Yavari, Persian Heritage Foundation, NY, 2014), Persian Book Review (a quarterly on arts and literature), U. S. A., Vol. XXV, No. 83, Fall, PP. 42-50.
  • 2015, “ Pejmān Bakhtiāri,” (a survey on life and works of Pezhman Bakhtiari, contemporary Iranian poet, lyricist, writer and translator), Encyclopaedia Iranica, online edition (accessed on 21 April), available at:
    http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/pejman-e-bakhtiari-hosayn .
  • 2015, “A Survey on Bolbolestan”, (a didactic and mystical Persian text, edited by Professor Namir Kara-Halilović), Jahān-e Ketāb (book review), 20th year, No. 1 & 2, Tehran: March & April, PP. 25-27.
  • 2014, Melancholy of Flower ( a selection of poems from 2011 to 2013), United States of America, Book Review.
  • 2013, This Dark Cat (a selection of three poetry collections from 2003 to 2010), United States of America, Supreme Century.
  • 2012, "Bādhā ḵabar az taḡyir-e faṣl midādand" (a critical review to a novel by the eminent fiction writer, Jamal Mirsadeqi), Encyclopaedia Iranica: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/badha-kabar, (October 1).
  • 2012, "Ḵāna-ye Edrisihā" (a critical review to a novel by the noted novelist, Ghazaleh ‘Alizadeh), Encyclopaedia Iranica: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kana-ye-edrisiha. March 7.
  • 2012, "Attar and Mystical Madness" (a critical review to Attar Neyshaburi's mysticism), Iran Nameh ( a Persian quarterly of Iranian studies), vol. 27, No.1, pp. 26-32:
    http://www.irannameh.org/index.php/journal/article/viewFile/1806/2946
  • 2011, "Se qaṭra ḵun" (a critical review to a highly acclaimed short story by Ṣādeq Hedāyat), Encyclopaedia Iranica: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/se-qatra-kun, (August 30).
  • 2011, "Dash Akol" (a critical review to a Popular short story by Ṣādeq Hedāyat), Encyclopaedia Iranica: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/das-ako, (August 30).
  • 2011, "Zenda be gur" (a critical review to a short story by Ṣādeq Hedāyat), Encyclopaedia Iranica: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zenda-be-gur, (August 30).
  • 2010, Mystical Terms and Prominent Concepts in Attaar's Works, Tehran, Institute for Humanities and Cultural studies,vol.1:2007, vol.2.
  • 2007-2008, " Function of the Language in Irajmirza's Poetry", Language and Linguistics Journal, vol.3, No.2, seq.6, PP.83-102, https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/20160718150015-10064-57.pdf
  • 2007, "A Wolf Lying in Wait",(a survey on Abbas Kiarostami's poetry), Jahane Ketaab, No.374, pp.25-28.
  • 2006, “The Visage of Iblis (Satan) in attar’s Works”, Societas Iranologica Europaea, Proceedings 2003, Vol.11, Milano, PP.209-215.
  • 2005, " Maneli & Urashima" (a comparison between a Poem of Nimayoushij and an old folktail of Japan), Eshraq (Journal of philosophy and Literature), No.2 & 3, first year, pp.307-318.
  • 2005, "Jami and Tricky women", farhang( Journal of Cuture & Literature), Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies,No.46-47, pp.149-158.
  • 2003, The Visage of Society in attar's Works, Tehran, Institute For Humanities and Cultural Studies.
  • 2002, Taqvim(The Calendar), selected poems, Tehran, Caravan publications.
  • 2001, “Love, This is Love,” Ketab-e Mah (book of the month: literature & philosophy, specialized informative and critical monthly review of Iranian books), Tehran: khaneye Ketab, 4th year, No.9, pp.24-26.
  • 1998, “Attar and Sorrow of Love,” Yad-e Bahar (Memorial Issue for Prof. Mehrdad Bahar), edited by: Katayun Mazdapur, Ali Mohammad Haqshenas, Tehran: Agah, pp.643-649.
  • 1997, “Attar as a Malamati Visage,” (Journal of the Faculty of literature and Humanities), Mashhad: Ferdowsi University, 28th year, No.1 & 2, pp.11-20.
  • 1994, “Reflection of Labour in Attar’s Works,” Tchista (political, social, cultural and literary journal), Tehran, 12th year, No.8 & 9, pp.625-629.

Associations

  • 2016-present, member, CTA (California Teachers Association), CA.
  • 2013-present, Member, Farhang Foundation (to celebrate and to promote the study and research of Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community at large, Los Angeles, CA.
  • 2012-present, Member, International Society for Iranian Studies, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, Canada.