Hannah Long (2016)

Hannah studied political science, and was very interested in international relations, especially as it related to Iran and the greater Middle East. She pursued advanced coursework and professional work in human rights and civil liberties. In addition to working with LGBT refugees in Turkey, Hannah spent a summer working for the United Nations in Tehran.  She took nearly all classes about Iran at Stanford, and points to Professor Milani’s classes as a highlight of her experience in Iranian Studies. “Dr. Milani’s wealth of knowledge is almost impossible to measure. I’ve heard students ask him questions about anything from rap in Iran, Zoroastrianism, Germany-Iran relations, to LGBTQ rights, and more. He’s always happy to let students lead the direction of the class discussion, and since he’s so knowledgeable, we’re able to take the conversation down many different routes. He also injects humor into the classroom—something I’ve always enjoyed about taking his classes.” Hannah also explains that "As an Iranian-American, the Iranian Studies Program gave me the opportunity to learn about my cultural roots as well as Iran’s society, history, and politics.”