Dr. Zackery M. Heern
EDUCATION
University of Utah, Department of History
Ph.D. Summa Cum Laude, 2011
- Major Fields of Study: Middle East and Islam
- Minor Fields of Study: Arabic and World History
- Dissertation: “Usuli Shi‘ism: The Emergence of an Islamic Reform Movement in Modern Iraq and Iran”
- Committee Members: Peter von Sivers (chair), Peter Sluglett, Bernard Weiss, Robert Gleave, Michel Mazzaoui
- Arabic Language Study in Egypt
M.A. Summa Cum Laude, 2005
- Concentration: History of Middle East and Islam
- Thesis: “Modern Shi‘i Leadership: The Importance of Mortaza Ansari”
UCLA, Department of History
B.A. Cum Laude, 2002 EMPLOYMENT
Idaho State University
Assistant Professor, Department of History, 2015-Present
Murray State University
Assistant Professor, Department of History, 2011-2015
Assistant Professor, Department of History, 2011-2015
- Middle East and Islamic Studies
- Director of Religious Studies
- World History
University of Utah
Adjunct Faculty, 2006-2011
- Middle East and Islamic Studies
- Arabic Language
- Persian Language
Salt Lake Community College
Adjunct Faculty, 2006-2008
- Middle East Studies
- American History
LANGUAGES
Arabic: Advanced proficiency
Persian (Farsi): Advanced proficiency
Persian (Farsi): Advanced proficiency
German: Basic reading knowledge
Spanish: Basic reading knowledge
PUBLICATIONS
Books
The Emergence of Modern Shi‘ism: Islamic Reform in Iraq and Iran. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2015.
Shi‘i Law and Leadership: The Influence of
Mortaza Ansari. Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010.
Journal Articles
and Chapters in Edited Volumes
“Thou Shalt Emulate the Most Knowledgeable Living Cleric: Redefinition of
Islamic Law and Authority in Usuli Shi‘ism,” Journal of Shi‘a Islamic
Studies. Vol. VII, No. 3, Summer 2014, pp. 323-346.
“Minority Religions in the Middle East: 1250-1920,” in Cultural
Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, Edited by Andrea
L. Stanton, et. al. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2012.
“Three Sources of Shi‘i Knowledge and Authority: A Historical Survey.” in
Knowledge and Authority in the Hawza, Edited by Robert Gleave, London: I. B. Tauris, Forthcoming.
“One Thousand Years of Islamic Education in Najaf, Iraq:
Myth or History?” in
The History and Development of the Hawza,
Edited by Robert Gleave, London: I. B. Tauris, Forthcoming.
“Rationalism, Traditionism, and
Illuminationism in Modern Islam: Usuli, Akhbari, and Shaykhi Connections and
Disconnections,” Remembrance, Discourse,
and Beauty in Islamicate Civilization: Essays in Honor of Benjamin Todd Lawson,
Edited by Omid Ghaemmaghami, Leiden: Brill, Forthcoming.
Book Review
Review of The Odyssey of Ibn
Battuta: Uncommon Tales of a Medieval Adventurer, by David Waines. Al-Masaq:
Islam and the Medieval Mediterranean, Volume 25, Issue 2, August 2013, pp. 265-267
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Middle
East and Islamic Studies Courses
Modern Middle East, Murray
State University
Modern Iraq and Iran, Murray State University
Islam, Politics, and Terrorism, Murray State University
Islam in the Modern World, Murray State University
Islamic Middle East, Murray State University
Ancient Middle East, Murray State University
Modern Iraq and Iran, Murray State University
Islam, Politics, and Terrorism, Murray State University
Islam in the Modern World, Murray State University
Islamic Middle East, Murray State University
Ancient Middle East, Murray State University
Major Trends in
Modern Islam, University of Utah
Islam and the West, University
of Utah
Introduction to
Islam, University of Utah
Persian Culture
and Civilization, University of Utah
Middle East
Civilization, University of Utah
Iran: Past and
Present, University of Utah
Islamic
Civilization, Salt Lake Community College
Global Studies Courses
Modern World
Civilizations, Murray State University
Survey of World
Religions, Murray State University
Ancient World Civilizations, Murray State University
Ancient World Civilizations, Murray State University
World History Since 1500, University
of Utah
Language Courses
Beginning Arabic I, University
of Utah
Beginning Arabic II, University of Utah
Beginning Persian I, University
of Utah
Beginning Persian II, University of Utah
Beginning Persian II, University of Utah
ACADEMIC SERVICE
Director of
Religious Studies, College of Humanities, Murray State University, 2014-Present
Board of Directors,
Midwest Association for Middle East and Islamic Studies, 2014-Present
Executive Committee,
History Department, Murray State University, 2014-Present
Committee on
Institutional Studies and Research (CISR), Murray State University,
2014-Present
Website and New
Media Administrator, History Department, Murray State University, 2013-Present
Research Promotion
Committee, College of Humanities, Murray State University, 2013
AP World History
Exam Reader, College Board, Salt Lake City, UT, 2012-Present
Undergraduate Major
Committee, Department of History, Murray State University, 2012-2013
World Civilizations
Curriculum Committee, Department of History, Murray State University, 2011-2012
Search Committee,
Assistant Professor in Ancient History, Department of History, Murray State
University, 2011-2012
Textbook Selection
Committee, World Civilizations, Department of History, Murray State University,
2011-2012
Academic Advisor,
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Assistantship, University of Utah,
2010
Instructor, Iran:
Past and Present, Lifelong Learning Institute (academic program for students over
55), University of Utah, Spring 2010
RESEARCH GRANTS and FELLOWSHIPS
CISR Research Grant, “Shi‘i-British Relations and the Creation of Iraq,” Murray State University, 2013-2014
CISR Research Grant, “Usuli Shi‘ism: The Emergence of an Islamic Movement,” Murray State University, 2012-2013
University Teaching Assistantship, Graduate School, University of Utah, 2010-2011
The History and Development of the Hawza Research Grant, British Academy and British Society for Middle East Studies, 2010-2011
University Teaching Assistantship, Graduate School, University of Utah, 2009-2010
Marriner S. Eccles Graduate Fellowship in Political Economy, Graduate School, University of Utah, 2008-2009
Dissertation Scholarship, Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, 2007
Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship in Arabic, Middle East Center, University of Utah, Summer 2006
Burton Teaching Assistant Fellowship, History Department, University of Utah, 2005-2008
Ali Khazeni Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship, University of Utah, 2005
Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship in Arabic, Middle East Center, University of Utah, 2004-2005
Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship in Persian, Middle East Center, University of Utah, 2003-2004
Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship in Arabic, Middle East Center, University of Utah, Summer 2003
Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship in Persian, Middle East Center, University of Utah, 2002-2003
AWARD
Middle East Studies Graduate Language Award, Most Outstanding Graduate Student in Persian, Middle East Center, University of Utah, 2002-2003
ACADEMIC CONFERENCES
Papers Presented
“Re-constructing Shi‘ism and State in Modern Iran,” Midwest Association
for Middle East and Islamic Studies, Chicago, IL, 2014
“Shi‘i-British Relations and the Creation of Iraq,” Ohio Valley History
Conference, Paducah, KY, 2014
“The Baha’i Faith and Islamic Messianism in Iran,” International Society
for Iranian Studies, Montreal, 2014
“Shi‘i-British Relations and the Creation of Iraq,” Middle East Studies
Association, New Orleans, LA, 2013
“British Imperialism in Iraq,” British Commonwealth and Postcolonial
Studies, Savannah, GA, 2013
“Usuli Shi‘ism and the Eighteenth Century Islamic Reformation,” Middle East Studies Association, Denver, CO, 2012
“Usuli Shi‘ism and the Eighteenth Century Islamic Reformation,” Middle East Studies Association, Denver, CO, 2012
“Thou Shalt Emulate the Most Knowledgeable Cleric,” Middle East Studies Association, San Diego, CA, 2010
“Myth or History: The Foundation of the Hawza in Najaf,” Clerical Authority in Shi‘i Islam: The History and Development of the Hawza, British Academy, London, England, 2010
“Three Sources of Shi‘i Knowledge (‘ilm): Revelatory Texts (naql), Rational Interpretation (‘aql), and Intuitive Revelation (kashf),” Clerical Authority in Shi‘i Islam: Knowledge and Authority in the Hawza, University of Exeter, Exeter, England, 2009
“Charismatic Authority in Early Modern Shi‘i Islam,” Middle East Studies Association, Boston, MA, 2009
“The Usul al-Fiqh of Vahid Bihbihani and his Development of Usuli Shi‘ism,” Diversity and Change in Islamic Law: Developments in Shi‘ite Jurisprudence, University of Exeter, Exeter, England, 2009
“The Death of Intuitive Knowledge and the Triumph of Rationalism in the Hawza (Shi‘i Seminary) at the Turn of the 19th Century,” Clerical Authority in Shi’ite Islam, British Academy, London, England, 2009
“Laying Foundations for Orthodoxy: The Transformation of Shi‘i Islam during the Time of Vahid Bihbihani (1704-1791),” Middle East Studies Association, Washington, DC, 2008
“Modern Shi‘i Leadership: The Importance of Mortaza Ansari,” Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 2008
“Three Approaches to Islamic Historiography: Explanations of the Prophet’s Succession,” Middle East & Central Asia Politics, Economics, and Society Conference, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2003
Conference Panels Organized
“Shi‘i Relations: Historical Narratives of Conflict and Cooperation.” Middle East Studies Association, New Orleans, 2013 (Panel members included: Peter Sluglett, MESA President)
“Political and Ideological Change in the Modern Shi‘i Muslim World.” Middle East Studies Association, Denver, CO, 2012
“Tradition and Change in Shi‘i Thought and Practice.” Middle East Studies Association, San Diego, 2010 (Panel members included: Todd Lawson)
Discussant
“Aspects of Indian History” Ohio Valley History Conference, Murray State
University, 2011
INVITED LECTURES
“Islamic Contributions to Civilization,” Murray State Freethinkers Society, 2014
“The Time and Space of Modernity,” Murray State University, 2014
“The Arab Spring: History in the Making,” Willamette University, 2012
“Understanding the Arab Spring: The Rise of
Democracy or Radical Islamism?”Owensboro Community
and Technical College, 2012
“The Islamic Republic of Iran and the
Baha’i Faith,” Murray State
University, 2012
“The Founding Fathers of Modern Islam,” Murray State University, 2012
“Islamophobia and
Anti-Americanism” Humanists of Utah, 2010
“The
Development of Islam and Politics,” University
of Utah, 2010
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
“Egypt: Reality of a Changing Region,” Murray State University, 2013
“The Iraq War Ten Years After: Lessons Learned
& the Impact on
Sunni-Shia Relations,” Murray State
University, 2013
“After the Sun Set: The Aftermath of British
Imperialism,” Murray State University, 2012
“Perspectives on the Islamic Faith,” Murray State University, 2012
“Peace in the Middle East: Challenges and
Opportunities,” Murray State University, 2012
“Handling Religion in World History Courses,” Murray State University, 2011
“Arab Spring,” International
Education Week, Murray State University, 2011
“What is the Difference between
Shi‘i and Sunni Muslims?” Salt Lake Jewish Community Center, 2010
“Middle East and Modernity,” Salt
Lake Community College, 2009
NEWS COMMNETARY
Op-Eds
“Empty Charm or Game Changing Substance? How
to Read Iran,” World Affairs Journal and Your Middle East, 2013
“Propaganda of Death Becomes Reality for
Baha’is in Iran,” Your Middle East, 2013
“Iran’s Human Rights Crisis and the Baha’i
Faith,” Your Middle East, 2013
Radio Commentary
“Islamism and the First Egyptian Presidential
Election,” WKMS, NPR Affiliate, 2012
“The Baha’i Faith: A History of Persecution
in Iran,” WKMS, NPR Affiliate, 2012
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Middle East Studies Association
International Society for Iranian Studies
International Society for Iranian Studies
American Association of Religion
Midwest Association for Middle East and Islamic Studies
American Historical Association
Clerical Authority in Shi‘i Islam Project
American Historical Association
Clerical Authority in Shi‘i Islam Project
REFERENCES
Dr. Peter von Sivers
(PhD Committee Chair), Associate Professor, Department of History, University
of Utah, peter.vonsivers@utah.edu, (801) 581-8073
Dr. Peter Sluglett
(PhD Committee Member), President, MESA, Middle East Institute, National
University of Singapore, sluglett@aol.com
Dr. Robert Gleave
(PhD Committee Member), Professor and Director, Institute of Arabic and Islamic
Studies, University of Exeter, England, r.gleave@exeter.ac.uk, 01392 724025
Dr. Bernard Weiss (PhD Committee Member), Emeritus Professor, University of Utah, Bernard Weiss, bernard.weiss@utah.edu
Dr. Bernard Weiss (PhD Committee Member), Emeritus Professor, University of Utah, Bernard Weiss, bernard.weiss@utah.edu
