Association for Iranian Studies, Inc. (AIS), formerly The International Society for Iranian Studies, Inc. (previously The Society for Iranian Studies) was founded in 1967 as an academic society to support and promote the field of Iranian Studies at the international level. Under its original name, the Society was incorporated in 1973 as a Type B Corporation under Section 201 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York. AIS, an affiliated member of the international Middle East Studies Association (MESA), is a private, not-for-profit, non-political organization of persons interested in Iranian Studies in the broadest sense. An elected council and an executive council run the affairs of the organization. The objectives of the Society are to promote high standards of scholarship in the field, to encourage the teaching of Iranian Studies at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and to encourage and facilitate scholarly exchange amongst its international membership. Association for Iranian Studies publishes Iranian Studies, a journal that continues to serve as the principal journal in the field. The Journal editor is Nasrin Rahimieh, University of California, Irvine. Iranian Studies is a peer-reviewed journal of history, literature, culture, and society, covering all regions of the globe with a Persian or Iranian legacy, especially Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Caucasus and northern India, as well as diaspora communities of Iranians in Europe and the United States. As an independent, non-partisan, non-political, multi-disciplinary international community of over 500 scholars, students, academic and non-academic researchers, and aficionados of Iranian studies, AIS is committed to promoting the free exchange of ideas, freedom of expression in all forms and all media, and unrestricted pursuit of (academic and non-academic) research, instruction, publication, and presentation (in Iran and internationally) without fear of intimidation and persecution. To achieve this goal, in 2005 we organized the Committee for Intellectual and Academic Freedom (AIS-CAIF). Please browse the website to become familiar with our other activities. We encourage you to join our association and to participate in our events. The tax-exempt status of the Association permits donors in the USA to deduct contributions.
AIS Code of Conduct
Approved by AIS Council – June 3, 2024
The Association for Iranian Studies (AIS) encompasses a global community of scholars committed to producing well-grounded and high-quality academic work related to Iran and its historical dimensions. It nurtures a supportive and inclusive environment for its organizational participants and prohibits any form of prejudice or harassment, including misconduct stemming from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, ability, age, gender, national, ethnic, religious, or racial identity. AIS honors the diversity in the field, including political diversity, and welcomes different scholarly perspectives, approaches, and engagements with a range of subjects. All our scholarly conferences, symposia, and related activities and events adhere to these ethical and professional principles. Organizational participants in the Association must abide by this policy and adhere to a code of conduct that requires all its participants and partners (including vendors and audience members) to interact with others in a civil, courteous, and professional manner.
Diversity and Inclusiveness Policy
“Diversity and inclusiveness are among core AIS values. Diversity encourages innovation and creativity and strengthens the community by harnessing a variety of skills, perspectives, talents, and resources to meet new challenges. We are committed to eliminating barriers to full participation in all AIS events based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, and ability. “
Adopted unanimously by the AIS Council on May 29, 2019 in response to a petition by AIS members.
