Curriculum Vitae



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
Alexandria Centre for Languages, 2006
  • Arabic Language Study in Egypt
University of Utah, Middle East Studies
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
  • 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
German: Basic reading knowledge
SpanishBasic 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
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
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

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

“Origins of the First Shi‘i Seminary (Hawza) in Najaf, Iraq,” Clerical Authority in Shi’ite Islam Conference, Oxford University, Oxford, England, 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)

“Shi‘i Religio-Political Leadership.” Middle East Studies Association, Boston, MA, 2009 (Panel members included: Roy Mottahedeh)

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 University2011

“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 College2009

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 East2013

“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 Affiliate2012


“The Baha’i Faith: A History of Persecution in Iran,” WKMS, NPR Affiliate2012

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Middle East Studies Association
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

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