Pari Sara Shirazi, Ph.D., was named vice dean of Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in 1999. Dr. Shirazi’s expertise in business, finance, and her profound belief in global education yields great benefits for the Tisch community. Her academic research interests include world literature and cinema, artistic expression and cultural traditions of countries in political transition and "mental cinema." Dr. Shirazi is an associate arts professor and teaches Iranian Cinema, Traditions in Narrative, and a course that studies the culture, history and artistic expression of countries such as Brazil, China, Cuba, and South Africa.

During her career, Dr. Shirazi has spearheaded the creation of Institute for Artists and Global Change. Under her direction, the Tisch School now sponsors six academic year programs abroad: one in London with the BBC and Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts; in Dublin with Ireland’s leading playwrights and screenwriters; with the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg; in Havana with the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba and the Cuban National Institute of Film and Television (ICAIC); with the Prague Film and Television Academy; and also with the Shanghai Theatre Academy. In addition to the academic year abroad programs, there are summer programs offered through Tisch in many countries, including Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Ireland, and The Netherlands. She is the founder of NYU's International Student Film Festival - Next Reel.

Dr. Shirazi also is advocate for providing access to arts education. At the campus in New York, Dr. Shirazi has been instrumental in creating programs that introduces the arts to  students majoring in business, science, and economics to the arts.

Dr. Shirazi is the visionary behind Tisch School of the Arts Asia and led the effort to establish NYU’s first campus outside New York City. In 2007, she was named president of Tisch School of the Arts Asia, and continues to serve as vice dean.  

B.A., New York University
M.A., Psychology, New York University
M.A., Near Eastern Studies, New York University
Ph.D., Near Eastern Studies, New York University