Work ​Experience

Teaching

Assistant Lecturer - University of Kent (Kent School of Architecture and Planning)
Canterbury, England, August 2015 - August 2016
Number of Classes: 4 FTF - Class capacity: 20
Area of Teaching: Theory & History of Architecture: architectural developments from the early fifteenth century to the beginning of the nineteenth century

  • Preparation of lesson and seminar plans
  • Supporting students and their learning by managing study groups of 60 architecture students
  • Preparation and presentation of educational material relevant to each seminar 
  • 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
  • Providing students with real life and original examples of architectural styles through medium of photography​

Bahar at Blinn - Please click here!

Instructor - Blinn College (Department of Visual and Performing Arts)
Bryan, Texas, U.S., January 2019 - Present 
Number of Classes: 17 FTF - 1 Hybrid​ - 6 online - Class capacity: 36
Area of Teaching: Architectural developments from the ancient times to modern day & architectural design and technology
Course Title: Architectural History I & II, Architectural Graphics II, Introduction to Architecture & Construction 
Studio: CAD, Sketchup, Photoshop and Kerkythea​, model making, photography and Ceramics

  • Lecturer in history of architecture (from ancient times to modern), Islamic, renaissance and medieval architecture.
  • Preparation of teaching materials, lesson plans, quizzes, final exams and final project for face to face and online classes; exhibiting students’ architectural models/projects throughout the department.
  • Designing master courses for remote/online education
  • Active member of hiring committee
  • Participating in QM - professional development training courses 
  • Providing students with real life and original examples of architectural styles through medium of photography​ and videography 
  • Participation in school wide activities and faculty meetings
  • Volunteering
  • Organizing workshops for students and members of staff  

Professional Development Activity

  • 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
  • TEDx Speaker: May 2019
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2018/2019 academic year.
  • Protecting Youth Training (Certificate)
  • Harassment & Discrimination Prevention Training (Certificate)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Training (Certificate)

Research

Research Historian - Kent School of Architecture and Planning
Canterbury, England, September 2014 - January 2019

  • Teaching undergraduate courses at department of architecture
  • Performing qualitative analysis and historic research
  • 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
  • Participation in public and academic lectures
  • Participation in curatorial workshops at the British Museum in London, England
  • International travel
  • Academic publishing

Professional & Work Experience

  • Public engagement: public exhibitions, Public lectures and interviews.
  • Administrative skills: research, writing, and bookkeeping in an academic setting.
  • Computer skills: web design, Windows and Mac operating systems, MS Office Suite, Google Drive, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, 3D MAX and SketchUp.
  • Artistic skills: painting, sketching, model making, photography, construction documents, sculpting, hand drafting, ceramics and stained glass.
  • Academic experience: strong knowledge of Islamic and medieval art and architecture, academic publishing, undergraduate teaching and student advising; TEFL & ESL teaching experience; experience with online learning management systems (LMS) including Edmodo and Moodle.
  • Museum experience: including six years’ detailed research and examination of Islamic artifacts at the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum (London, England), the Louvre (Paris, France), and the Museum of Marrakesh (Marrakesh, Morocco). knowledge of staging displays and exhibitions, architectural photography, visual merchandising and displays.
  • Management experience:  HR and recruitment, customer service, payroll management, POS, cash handling and banking, financial planning including cost management and inventory control.
  • Organizational skills: strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills. Team player with a background in qualitative research and an interest in fine art practices; excellent time and project management skills.

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.​
  • Teaching Excellence Award nominee for the 2018/2019 academic year.

TEDx Speaker

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 shifting climate. Exploring the historic built-environment and climatic solutions of ancient cultures will help us to learn about climatic adaption. By integrating the ancient climatic-responsive architectural methods to our modern culture, we could potentially improve our chance of surviving in the wake of climate related disasters. Traveling, reading and visiting museums can help us become more open to understanding of other cultures and consequently to better understand their methods and traditions.

Peer Review Activity

Design

Art Installations

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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

Volunteering

Business Sales & Management

7 years of experience in retail sales and management for fortune 500 companies including Macy's, Starbucks, Bloomingdale’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 and 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
  • Visual merchandising
  • Brand and stock management
  • Recruiting, training and promoting staff  

CAD 

  • Woodteam Limited 
CAD drafting, blue print preparation, blueprint review, construction site visits, site survey and large-scaled design support. April 2013 - August 2014, London, England