About Me
I hold an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature (2018) from the University of Isfahan, and a master’s of arts (2021) in English Language and Literature from Kharazmi University of Tehran. I am a research assistant at the Center of Excellence for Fundamental and Applied Mystical Research at the University of Isfahan and a lecturer at ACECR Institute of Higher Education. Since my undergraduate years, I have served as the translator and editor of voluminous poetry collections and journals, contributed to research projects and articles on mysticism and receptions of Persian literature in English and German. I am currently pursuing a keen interest in the Pre- and Post-Mughal history and literature, whose authors offer fresh insights into the trajectory of Ṣūfīsm and diverse sects
In addition to my research, I have received the certificate of merit for deliberating entries of the international Schmitt and Hinūber Prize and Seasonal Short Story Contest. My interest in Persian literature and its status in the international level have been one of my sources of inspiration to develop my language and musical skills. Using music in my writing, my story was shortlisted in the national Āl-i Jalāl Short Story contest, too
Skills
Research
Editirship and Peer-review
Translation and Teaching
EDUCATION
Kharazmi University of Tihrān
Thesis Project: The Magic of Dialogue: Habermasean Communicative Action in Susan Meissner’s As Bright As Heaven (Grade: Outstanding)
Bachelor of Arts, English Language and Literature/Letters
University of Iṣfahān
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University Instructor
B.A. and M.A Courses in English Language and Literature
ACECR Institute of Higher Education (Iṣfahān Branch)
Researcher for Latest Findings Research Cluster
University of Iṣfahān
Projects: Review writing, and AI/ DH Project Development
Editor
Journal of Ṣafawīd Studies, University of Iṣfahān
Responsibilities: Reviewing and translating drafts, and correspondence with authors
Coordinator and Translator
The Fourth International Conference of Rumi Studies
Center of Excellence for Fundamental and Applied Mystical Research
Faculty of Letters and Humanities, University of Iṣfahān
Research Assistant
Center of Excellence for Fundamental and Applied Mystical Research
University of Iṣfahān
Projects: Miscellaneous
Graduate Students’ Assistant
Faculty of Letters and Humanities, University of Iṣfahān
Projects: DH, Literary Tourism, Iranian Music, Iranian Literature
Courses: Research Methodology and Pathology of Mystical Scholarship
Archival Researcher (Volunteer)
Center of Excellence for Fundamental and Applied Mystical Research
Faculty of Letters and Humanities, University of Iṣfahān
Chair of Comparative Studies Research Cluster
Fabric of Persian Chant Institute, Iṣfahān
Project: Literary Trends
Specialist and Researcher
The Interdisciplinary Mystical Research Group
Center of Excellence for Fundamental and Applied Mystical Research
Joint Project (University of Iṣfahān and University of Ruhr Bochum): The Reception of Rumī by Hegel, supervised by Dr. Eḥsān Riʾīsī and Dr. Yaḥyā Kūrushī
Chief Judge
Short Story Festival, Avenue College in Johannesburg and M.O.P in Iran
The Biannual Schmitt and Hinüber Literary Prize, Nuremburg and Iran
ESL Instructor, Tutor, Exam and Curricular Writer (Public Courses)
General A-C Terms, International Exam Preparation Courses, and Reading Novels in English
Institutes: Jahād-i Dānishgāhī Institute of Languages (accredited by Industrial University of Iṣfahān); Surūsh Language School (accredited by the Ministry of Education); Gūyān Language School (accredited by the Ministry of Education); Khātam Center for Learning (accredited by the Ministry of Education); the International Academy of Messengers of Peace and Civilization (accredited by the British Consulate in Germany); and Tutor for the Vice-Dean for Cultural Affairs at the University of Iṣfahān
PAPERS and BOOK CHAPTERS
Jafari, Elham. “The Medium of Encounter with Persian Mystical Literature: A Case Study of Willy Kyrklund’s Till Tabbas.” Paper accepted for presentation at the Conference on Archives, Materiality and Nordic Literature, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway, 28 September
Riʾīsī, Eḥsān, and Elham Jafari. “The Image of Apocalypse in Persian Mystical Literature.” Paper presented at the Graduate Symposium of the Center for South Asian Studies, University of Toronto, Canada, 20-21 April
Riʾīsī, Eḥsān, Samānah Ṭāhirī, and Elham Jafari. “Women’s Footprint in the Transnational History of Futuwwat Tradition.” Paper presented at the 10th MIISSC Symposium, Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University, Canada, 27-28 April
Jafari, Elham. “A Comparative Analysis of Lifeworld during and after the Outbreak of Spanish Flu in Meissner’s As Bright As Heaven.” Paper presented at The First International Conference of Pandemics in Literature and Cinema, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tihrān, Īran, 17 May
ʿAqīlī Dihnawī, Ellias, and Elham Jafari. “Adventures of Two Captains as World Literature.” Russia: Journal of Materials XXII of the International Scientific and Practical Conference Basic and Applied Researches in the Modern World
Jafari, Elham. “Communion: O’ love, I am thy Sacrifice.” in A Melody Called Peace. Germany: Tredition
Jafari, Elham. “General Image of the Melody.” in A Melody Called Peace. Germany: Tredition, 11-12
Jafari, Elham. “Preface.” In Poems from a Land of Wonders: The Actual Iran. Amazon, 17-23.
Jafari, Elham. “Darāmadī bar Sargudhasht-i du Nākhudā,” “Barrasī-i Taṭbīqī-i Ḥamāsah-hā-yi Ilyad, Shāhnāmah, wa Sargudhasht-i du Nākhudā,” and “Jang-i Sitārah-ī yā Sargudhasht-i du Nākhudā.” In Adventures of Two Captains 1. Tihrān: Jangal, 92-120
Saʿādatārā, ʿAlī and Elham Jafari. “Preface.” in Peace Poems. Iṣfahān: Kankāsh
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Life Long Member
The Iranian Society for the Promotion of Persian Language and Literature
Co-Founder and Head of International Relations
The Non-Profit International Academy of Messengers of Peace and Civilizations
Author and Representative Communications Member in Asia
The Non-Profit Academy of Poets Unite Worldwide, Italy
Life Long Member
The Iranian Society for the Promotion of Persian Language and Literature
OTHER EXPERIENCES
Instrumental Performance
Solo santūr (a classical instrument) performance
Pāywar Music Institute- Private School, Iṣfahān
Principal tutor: Dr. Masʿūd Riḍāīnizhād
Music Theory and Songwriting
Pāywar Music Institute- Private School
Principal tutor: Dr. Masʿūd Riḍāīnizhād
Event Organization
A Melody Called Peace – International Congress
A Comic Project – National Book Exhibition
SEO Content Writing
English and Persian E-Text on the Website and Social Media
Companies: Idia.app (based at the Center for Innovation at Shahīd Bihishtī University); Nikstarter (based at Sharīf University); Hūsh-i Bartar-i Īrānīyān (private); Canadian Institute for International Law Expertise (a short-term joint language programme with M.O.P)
Authorship and Editorship
English and Persian Papers
Journals: Perspectives and Zeitgeist Courier (accredited by the Cultural-Social Deputy of the University of Iṣfahān)
COURSES AND WORKSHOPS
Digital Humanities
HarvardX
Comparative Literature, Reception and Translation Studies
Iranian Society for the Promotion of Persian Language and Literature
Latest Trends and Theories in Comparative Literature
Arāk University
Teaching Humanities (Religious Studies) in North America
Ṭūmār-i Andīshah Institute
HONORS
Literary Contest Winner
Āl-i Jalāl Short Story Camp
Khānah-yi Kitāb wa Adabīyyāt-i Īrān, Iran
Editorship for the Best Book of October in the U.S
A Melody Called Peace
Language Skills
Among six categories of Indo-European languages including Germanic, Celtic, Italic, Hellenic, Balto-Salvic and Indo-Iranian language families, I have acquired skills in Germanic (English and German); and Italic (Latin and French) languages, which coupled with my mother tongue Persian have opened up a world of perspectives and career opportunities to me
Through studying English, which began in 2003, I have been introduced with diverse jobs and accessed the vibrant world of information about intellectual horizons. Pursuing my studies in English provided me with both career – international communications, ESL teaching, translation, content writing – and reading opportunities to delve into world literature in English. Reading Goethe, Habermas, and Nietzsche, I was inspired to embark on German language. Through hours of practice and indulgence in readings, I developed my master’s thesis on kommunikative Rationalität. Then as a researcher I collaborated with the Interdisciplinary Mystical Research Group which broadened my perspective about the influence of classical Persian poetic form and content on German literature. Under the supervision of my sophisticated professor Dr. Ehsan Reisi and a great scholar at the University of Bochum Dr. Yahya Kouroshi, I ventured into the world of comparative examinations – that is, the reception of Rumi by Hegel. During this time, I was able to teach basics of this language to my friends, too. By the outbreak of Covid-19, I have been learning Latin and Georgian languages online. Having immersed into Latin, I am able to read classic poems. With a descent background in French, and knowledge of influences from French and paucity of studies in French-Persian influences, I have diligently resumed my studies at Iran Language Institute. I am currently reading Arabic texts as a part of my research and plan to develop my skills in this language in the coming years, as well
Musical Experience
I always envisioned myself playing classical instruments. I vividly remember that my first sensation of an instrument was on my birthday in 2020, when my cousin gave me some introductory explanations on notes, and then taught me to play Anūshīrawān Rūḥānī’s ‘tawaludat mubārak’ on the Piano. Those structured sheets, soft keys with their gentle sound and orderly language were quite soothing. It only took me several weeks to explore instruments and ask one of my friends who was a vocalist to help me decide on my instrument. Provided that I was deeply interested in Iranian classical instruments particularly the santūr, I was selected for training courses with Dr. Riḍāīnizhād – who received an education from Farāmarz Pāywar. The early days in winter of the same year to the next summer were imbued with numerous techniques and theory in practice. In early August 2022, however, I noticed that I could be both a better player and unique writer if I learn the logic behind Persian musical modals. It was my tutor who provided me with the materials on Music Theory and I began studying and I was urged to do practice, learn terms and the history of music, and compose