Work History
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Highlights

  • Professor of architecture:  5+ years’ national and international teaching experience in higher education 
  • Instructional designer: 3+ years’ experience in designing online master courses in higher education (LMS); certified QM instructor/peer reviewer
  • Strong knowledge of Islamic/medieval art and architecture, urban planning and environmental design; experience with architectural surveys, geographical and digital media documentation of historical buildings
  • Senior archival researcher: 10+ years’ experience in archival research, data collection and qualitative analysis of historical data
  • Senior museum researcher: 7+ years’ experience in historical research at the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), the Louvre (Paris, France), the Glass Museum of Murano (Italy), and the Museum of Marrakesh (Marrakesh, Morocco). Trained in handling of historical artifacts including manuscripts and glass objects; well informed in areas of copyright, asset and collection management, labeling, fact-checking and proof reading
  • Project management: 10+ years’ experience managing cross-functional and cross-disciplinary projects of all sizes; design, development, and leading projects from start to finish
  • Artistic experiences including stained glass, photography, sketching, model making, drawing, color and design; organizing and managing several university exhibitions - designing and coordinating the program, and program logistics (art installation, preparation, and execution of safety procedures) 
  • City commissioner: elected member of the Historical Landmark Commission, Bryan, Texas
  • Qualified for the Secretary of the Interior’s Historic Preservation standards in Architectural History requiring a graduate degree in architectural history, with coursework in American architectural history; and at least two years of full-time experience in research, writing, or teaching in American architectural history with an academic institution
  • Public speaking including TEDx Special Event
  • Languages
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) certified teacher; experience with adult education
  • Computer skills: Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, SketchUp, web design, Salesforce, video editing, Windows and Mac operating systems, MS Office Suite, Google Drive and mapping software (QGIS, Google Earth)
  • Sales and management experience: HR and recruitment, customer service, payroll management, POS, cash handling and banking, financial planning including cost management and inventory control


City Commissioner

Elected member of the Historic Landmark Commission  - Volunteer
Bryan, Texas, U.S., January 2022 - May 2022

  • Section 106 educator and advocate, providing cultural, social, economic, ethnic, and political support to the Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) with regard to identification, preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of the City of Bryan’s historic buildings
  • A voting member of the Certificates of Appropriateness process
  • Participating in the City’s preservation Plan
  • Community outreach and education

Instructional Design 

Digital Learning Advocate and Instructional designer - Blinn College 
​Bryan, Texas, U.S., April 2019 - August 2022
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  • Developing and delivering instructional materials in the department of architecture via learning management systems including Blackboard, D2L (Brightspace), Moodle and Canvas
  • Certified and specialized in digital accessibility and educational technology (QM certified online instructor & QM certified peer/course reviewer)
  • Designing fully accessible teaching materials, by applying QM rubrics to online and in-person courses, including course overview and introduction, learning objectives, assessment and measurement, learning activities, learner support, accessibility and usability
  • Live and recorded video lectures via Zoom and Microsoft Teams
  • Design of info-graphics, student manuals and teaching guides, using software including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Sketchup


Teaching

Professor/CRT Secretary/Faculty Senator - Blinn College (Architecture Program) 
Bryan, Texas, U.S., January 2019 - August 2022
Summary: 16 classes annually - FTF/blended​/fully online - class capacity: 35
Theory of architecture, architectural design and technology
Theory: Architectural History I & II, Architectural Graphics I & II, Introduction to Architecture & Sustainable Design
Studio: CAD, Sketchup, Photoshop and Kerkythea​, model making, photography and ceramics

  • Architecture professor; teaching undergraduate seminar and lecture courses in history of architecture (from ancient times to modern); sustainable and environmental design; construction science
  • Preparation of teaching materials, lesson plans, quizzes, final exams and the final project; exhibiting students’ architectural models/projects throughout the department; organizing workshops for students and members of staff (e.g. web design & portfolio preparation); collaboration with local libraries and businesses
  • Member of the hiring committee; AKA faculty senator; CRT secretary  
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 academic year
  • TEDx Special Event speaker, 2019

Professional Development and Training - Blinn College

  • Tegrity and Turnitin Overview Workshop, February 2019
  • Addressing Accessibility Workshop, March 2019
  • Quality Matters: Improving Your Online Course Workshop (IYOC), April 2019
  • Hiring Guide Training Workshop, April 2019​
  • Protecting Youth Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • Harassment & Discrimination Prevention Training (Certificate)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • COVID-19 Prevention Training (Certificate), January 2021
  • Academic Advising Workshop, January 2021
  • Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR), January 2022
  • Peer Reviewer (3-weeks) Course, January 2022
Assistant Lecturer - University of Kent (Kent School of Architecture and Planning)
Canterbury, England, August 2015 - August 2016
Summary:​ 4 classes  - Class capacity: 20
History of architecture, 15th-19th century

  • Assistant lecturer; teaching undergraduate seminar courses in history of architecture 
  • Preparation of lesson plans
  • Supporting students and their learning by managing study groups of 60 architecture students; encouraging students to think critically and analytically by providing them with written feedback; encouraging students to participate in public and citywide design and construction projects
  • Assisting students with visual presentation of their artwork through digital and non-digital techniques; providing students with detailed art/architecture writing tutorials​​

Research

Architectural Historian Trainee - Kent School of Architecture and Planning
Canterbury, England, September 2014 - November 2019

  • Teaching undergraduate courses at the department of architecture
  • Performing archival research, data collection and qualitative analysis of historical data with regard to historical preservation of monumental buildings; academic publishing
  • Project planning; data collection and assessment; budgeting, preparation and submission of research grant applications
  • Actively engaging in collaborative projects with international cultural and educational institutions
  • Training and practicing academic legislation and procedures
  • International travel; participation in public and academic lectures and curatorial workshops at the British Museum in London, England

Conferences, Publications & Award Recognition

  • “A Traditional Narrative on the Origin, Design and Climatic Imperative of Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows in Persia” - Historic Building Services in Education, Practice and Research - A symposium, July 2018, England
  • “Safavid Colored Glass Windows of Persia” - The Iran Society, September 2017, England“Orsi, Colored Windows of Iran” - 8th Dresden International Doctoral Colloquium: Aesthetics in Architecture and Urban Design, June 2016, Germany
  • “Design, Origin and Climatic Effects of Orsi in the Architecture of Iran”, Medieval and Early Modern Festival, University of Kent, June 2016, England
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 academic year

Pending Publications
  • Western Travelers’ Accounts of Persian Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows
  • Western Travelers’ Accounts of Construction Materials in Safavid Persia
  • The Climatic Profile of Safavid Persia According to the Western Travelers
  • The Development of the Persian Windows during the Reign of the Safavid Dynasty
  • On the Origins of Architectural Glass and Colored Glass in Safavid Persia
  • Armenian Patronage and the Development of Colored Glass Lattice Panels and Orsi Windows in Safavid Persia  
TEDx Special Event Speaker, Blinn College
Bryan campus, Texas, May 2019
Topic: How understanding history can bring people together?
Abstract: Today, regardless of our geographical location, we are all affected by the shifting climate. Exploring the historical built-environment and climatic solutions of ancient cultures, could improve our understanding of the climatic adaption embraced for many centuries by such cultures. By integrating the ancient climatic-responsive architectural methods to our modern culture, we could potentially improve our chance of survival in the wake of climate related disasters. Traveling, reading and visiting museums, can help us become more aware, educated and therefore understanding of other cultures and their history which included sustainable methods of architectural design and construction.

Peer Review Activity

Design Experience

Art Installations

Please follow this link!

Exhibitions

  • Starbucks Avant-Garde Group Exhibition: Moscone Center, 2006 - Paintings
  • Academy of Art University: French Rabbit IAD Group Exhibition, San Francisco, 2006 - Sculpture
  • Chelsea College of Art & Design: Interim Show, Chelsea College, London, 2013 - Acrylic Installation
  • Chelsea College of Art & Design: Graduation Show, Chelsea College, London, 2013 - Stained glass sculpture

Business Sales & Management

7 years of experience in retail sales and management for several fortune 500 companies including Macy's, Starbucks, Bloomingdale’s, Peet's and Crate and Barrel; employee of the year at Peet's Coffee in 2009

  • Waterford Crystal Sales Specialist, Bloomingdale's, Stanford, Palo Alto, CA, 2014
  • Store Manager, The Body Shop, Central London, 2011
  • Floor Manager, Crate & Barrel Co. San Francisco, CA, 2007
  • Assistant Store Manager, Starbucks Co, San Francisco, CA, 2006
  • Shift Supervisor, Peet's Coffee Company, San Francisco, CA, 2005
  • Assistant Store Manager, Clock Tower Co, Mountain View, CA, 2004
  • Ralph Lauren Sales Specialist & Design Consultant, Macy's, Palo Alto, CA, 2002

Duties included:
  • HR, customer service, payroll management, POS, cash handling, banking, financial planning (including cost management and inventory control)
  • Strategic planning including assisting sales associates in achieving their daily sales goals; creating new sales opportunities by forecasting, planning and managing the store budget on a quarterly basis resulting in high bonuses; drafting contracts; recruiting, training and promoting staff 
  • Visual merchandising; brand and stock management