Awards and Grants

Recognition in Scholarship & Performance

My work has been consistently recognized for its dual commitment to rigorous scholarship and community-centered artistic practice. From being named the "Most Activist Puppet Artist" by the Mayor of Isfahan to receiving top dissertation honors at the University of Kansas, these awards reflect a career dedicated to excellence in both the library and the rehearsal room.

Academic Honors & Teaching Awards

• Joseph R. Roach Dissertation Research Award (2025): Awarded for innovative research on Iranian women’s revolt as performance.

• Ethel Hinds Burch Awards (2022, 2025): Recognized twice by the University of Kansas—first as an Outstanding New GTA and later for sustained academic excellence.

• Outstanding M.A. Thesis Award (2017): Honored by the University of Tehran for my research on Cyborg theory and the boundaries of puppetry.

• Mark Noller Award (2023): Presented by the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity for advocacy and inclusion.

Directing & Artistic Awards

• Best Director & Scenography (2011–2021): A decade of consistent recognition across the National Student Theatre Festival Circuit in Iran.

• International Festival Honors:

  • Citation for Excellence: Hamedan International Children & Youth Theatre Festival (2017, 2018).

  • Successful Participation: Neapolis International Festival (Tunisia) & Fitte Festival (Tunisia).

• "Most Activist Puppet Artist" (2014, 2016): A civic honor awarded by the Mayor of Isfahan for utilizing puppetry as a tool for community engagement.

Selected Grants & Fellowships

• Haunting Humanities Project Grants (2025): Secured funding from the Hall Center for the Humanities for The Uninvited Guest and The Devil’s Eyelash.

• Graduate Fellowships (2024): Awarded by both the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) and Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA).

• Production & Travel Grants (Iran): Multiple grants secured from Talar Honar, Hoze Honari, and ASSITEJ Iran to fund the development and international touring of original works.