The ongoing story of Iranian studies at UCLA — a vibrant intellectual pillar of the university for more than 60 years — began a new chapter on Oct. 17. Faculty and friends, community members and colleagues gathered in Royce Hall to honor the launch of the UCLA Yarshater Center for the Study of Iranian Literary Traditions, made possible by the vision and generosity of the Persian Heritage Foundation.

“This evening, we are celebrating a true milestone for the discipline of Iranian studies. The establishment of the UCLA Yarshater Center for the Study of Iranian Literary Traditions will create a major new hub for the study of one of humanity’s oldest literary traditions,” said Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt in his introduction. “It will allow for richer, deeper scholarly exploration of the Iranian world and cross-cultural understandings for the benefit of all society.”

Following Hunt’s introduction, Alexandra Minna Stern, dean of the UCLA Division of the Humanities, took the stage to emphasize further the significance of this milestone.

“This puts UCLA at the forefront and as the epicenter of ancient Iranian studies and Persian studies in the United States — if not in the world,” she said. “I’d also like to extend thanks to everyone who has been so instrumental in the vision of enabling this wonderful work, which I think of in metaphorical terms as a torch of wisdom, being passed down through the centuries all the way today to Royce Hall today. This knowledge and torch will burn in perpetuity.”

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