Dr. Sahba Shayani is a lecturer in Persian language and culture at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Before joining UCLA’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures in 2023, he served as a Senior Lecturer in Persian at the University of Oxford, where he received the Award for Excellence in Teaching from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Shayani’s approach to language teaching is deeply shaped by his passion for Persian language, culture, and literature, a passion he strives to instill in his students.

Having taught Persian at prestigious institutions such as UCLA, Oxford, and the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Shayani has identified three key elements that he believes are essential to a successful language class: culture, communication, and community. In his classrooms, he emphasizes these components to not only help students learn a new language but also broaden their horizons and expand their worldview.

In addition to his expertise in Persian language pedagogy, Dr. Shayani is actively engaged in the study of Persian literature. His research focuses on the role of women in premodern Persian epic romances, with particular attention to the works of Ferdowsi, Gorgani, and Nezami. He believes that studying the literature of a community—whether fiction or non-fiction—offers invaluable insights into its enduring ideals and values, especially in how it represents marginalized or liminal members of society.

Beyond his academic work, Dr. Shayani regularly engages in literary translations of both Persian poetry and prose into English, aiming to bring the beauty of Persian literary traditions to a wider audience. Recently, he has launched a weekly project on Instagram called "Update on Persian Poetry" (UPP), where he shares selected Persian poems, offering both the original and English translations. Through this initiative, Dr. Shayani introduces various audiences to the richness and depth of Persian poetry, providing glimpses into its profound beauty and cultural significance.

Since 2024, Dr. Shayani has been offering intimate literary courses in Los Angeles, tailored to young professionals and heritage learners eager to explore their literary heritage. These seven-week courses delve into Persian literature from the 11th to 13th centuries CE, approaching these texts both academically and artistically to connect them with modern-day life. While the primary language of instruction is English, original Persian texts are regularly referenced and presented in class, ensuring that students of all Persian language levels can engage with the sources in their original form.