EDUCATION
2016, MFA in Studio Art, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
2012-2013, Credits towards MFA in Communication Design, Pratt Institute, New York, NY
2012, BFA in Art Studio/ Graphic Design Concentration, State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY
2009, BA in Business Administration, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
CERTIFICATES
2024 Inclusive Pedagogy and Inclusive Campus Certificate, College of Education and Human (intended) Development, Rowan University
2022 Foundations in DEI Certificate, College of Education and Human Development, Rowan University
2013 Partner in Education Certificate, NYC Department of Education
2010 Interior Design Certificate, Academic Center of Education, Culture & Research, University of Tehran, Iran
2009 TestDaf Zertifikat, Goethe Institut
2008 Zertifiak-Deutsch (ZD), Goethe Institut

SOLO & DUO EXHIBITIONS
2024, (forthcoming) collide i+i (solo, public art engagement in collaboration with community contributors) Multiple sites: Edelman Planetarium, Meditation Walk, (Spring 2024), Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
2024, (forthcoming) Out of Sight, Out of Mind (solo), Ric Edelman Planetarium, Glassboro, NJ
2021, GAG ACT (solo), Esther Klein Gallery (Oct 14-Nov 27 2021), Philadelphia, PA
2019, UpStream DownBody (duo collaboration with Timothy Belknap), Pilot Projects,Philadelphia, PA
2018, 4CAST (duo collaboration with Timothy Belknap), Window on Broad of Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, University of Arts, (Sep-Oct 2018), Philadelphia, PA
2017-2018, Dead Ringer (solo), Vox Populi Gallery, (Dec 2017-Jan 2018), Philadelphia, PA
2017, A Corporeal Orchestration of Sounds (solo), Icebox Project Space, (Aug 2017), Philadelphia, PA
2016, Body, Space, Perception (duo/with Neda Zarfsaz), Azad Gallery, (Jan 2017), Tehran, Iran
2016, Imaging-along (solo), Finely Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
2015, To do-To see (solo), MFA Project Space, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
2015, Situational Echoes (solo), Finley Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
2014, Varieties of Presence (solo), Finely Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
2012, Inclusion/Illusion: G A P (duo/public art collaboration with Rogier Bak), Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
PERFORMANCES
2024 (forthcoming) A Utopian Stage: Shiraz Panaroma: 7Valleys (Audio/Visual Performance, duo/collaboration with Eugene Lew, Upenn), Asian Arts Initiative/BowerBird (Mar 30, 2024), Philadelphia, PA 
2017 Future Perfect (Solo performance), Icebox Project Space, Philadelphia, PA
2015 SWIM (Theatre performance in collaboration with Robert Whitman), Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair, NJ
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023, Vox Populi Gallery, Annual Show: Little Windows, Philadelphia, PA
2023, iMPeRFeCT Gallery, Annual Germantown Show: WTF, Philadelphia, PA
2021, Rowan Westby Gallery, Annual Group Faculty Show, Glassboro, NJ
2021, The Clay Studio, Small Favors 2021: Gut feeling, Philadelphia, PA
2020, DaVinci Art Alliance, The Endless Urban Portrait, Miniature Time: Intrusion of the external, Philadelphia, PA
2020, Rowan Westby Gallery, First Ever Since the Last Time, Glassboro, NJ
2018, CruxSpace, Misfit/One Minute Auras, Philadelphia, PA
2017, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, WE CREATE, Long Beach Township, NJ 
2017, Index Art Center, Recent Works, Newark, NJ
2017, Vox Populi Gallery, Beef, Philadelphia, PA
2016, Magnan Metz Gallery, Gathering, New York, NY
2016, Practice Gallery, Do or Die... O-Rama, Philadelphia, PA
2016, Studio X, Visual Art Center of New Jersey, Drawing on the Horizon, Summit, NJ
2016, Cafe Sole, For the love of Breaking Circuits, Jersey City, NJ
2014, Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University, From There to Here, Newark, NJ
2013, Broadway Gallery, Global Projects, New York, NY
2013, Times Square Museum, Not For Sale (collaboration with AIGA mentee Trisha Khatum), New York, NY
2012, Pratt Institute, MFA Survey Exhibition, New York, NY
2012, New York State Museum, Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, Albany, NY 
2012, Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Senior BFA Exhibition, Plattsburgh, NY
2012, Myers Gallery, PAVA, Clothline II, Plattsburgh, NY
2012, Pouring Light Studios & Gallery, Migrating Passerines II, Malone, NY
2011, Myers Gallery, PAVA, Clothline I, Plattsburgh, NY
2011, Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Motion Exhibition: Fusion, Plattsburgh, NY
2011, Pouring Light Studios & Gallery, Migrating Passerines I, Malone, NY
2011, Myers Gallery, Studio 2011, Plattsburgh, NY

RESIDENCIES
2020-2021, Artist Residency, Integral Molecular, University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA
2018, Performing Artist Residency, Asian Arts Initiative/Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia, PA
2017, Artist in Residence (Sound Residency), Icebox Project Space, Philadelphia, PA 
2017, Artist in Residence, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2023, More Than Human (Artist Book, curated and edited essay collection by LisaMarie Patzer, Roopa Vasudevan, Lea Dovon Sorrentino, Natalie Hijinx, & Mina Zarfsaz)
2018, The Maze, WhiteBox, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017, X’Cambó, Icebox Project Space, Philadelphia, PA
2017, 1+1+1+1+1+1+1 (co-curated by Vox Populi members, BlackBox, Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

CURATED EXHIBITIONS & SHOWCASES OF STUDENT WORK
Dec 2023 Sonic Planetary Visualizations II, Edelman Planetarium, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Jun 2023 Animated Environments: Edelman Planetarium, SAS34 International Animation Conference: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Jun 2023 Animated Environments: Westby 105, SAS34 International Animation Conference: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Fall 2022 Sonic Planetary Visualizations I, Edelman Planetarium, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Spring 2022 Autom_tion, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Spring 2022 Earth Day Animated Projections, Westby Garden, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Spring 2021 FreshBlood, virtual exhibition (due to COVID-19), BFA Media Arts senior show class of 2021, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Fall 2019 InFlux (Graduate), Digital Scholarship Center, Charles Library, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Fall 2018 Multi-pedia (Graduate), Icebox Project Space, Philadelphia, PA
AWARDS & HONORS
2023, Knight Arts + Tech Fellowship Nomination (2023 Cycle)
2023-24 Faculty Success Program Scholarship, National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
2023-24 Francis R. Lax Fund for Faculty Development, Rowan University
2022-2023, CCCA STORI Grant Fall 2022 Cycle, Innovative Outreach, Rowan University
2021-2023, Window of Opportunity Grant, Leeway Foundation
2022, Creative Field Experience Award, The Institute of Innovative Media, Materials & Design, Rowan University
2022, CCCA STORI Grant Spring 2022 Cycle, Rowan University
2022, Best Presentation Award, CCCA Fall 2022 Research Showcase, Rowan University
2020-2021, Project/Residency Grant, University City Science Center
2020, Knight Arts + Tech Fellowship Nomination (2021 Cycle)
2020, Window of Opportunity Grant, Leeway Foundation
2019, Innovative Teaching with Makerspace Technology Grant, The Center for the Advancement of Teaching and the Digital Scholarship Center, Temple University
2019  Added Velocity Fund with Black Quantum Futurism
2018, Leeway Foundation Performing Artist Residency Grant at the Asian Arts Initiative
2017, Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grant
2017, Merit Artist Grant, Vermont Studio Center
2014-2016, Merit Graduate Assistantship (full tuition), Montclair State University
Most Innovative Design Award, Intro to Entrepreneurship, Montclair State University
2012-2013, Honorary Partner in Education, NYC Department of Education
2013, Hiii Photography International Competition finalist
2013, Persbook 3rd annual Iranian contemporary art competition finalist
2012-2013, Merit scholarship, Pratt Institute
2012, Featured in Typography Served, Behance
2012, Featured in Pantone Canvas Gallery, Behance
2012, Featured in Pratt Portfolios Gallery, Behance
2012, Featured in AIGA member Gallery, Behance
2012, Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Arts Award nominee, State University of New York
2012, Best of SUNY Student Artists finalist, New York State Museum
2011, Motion Exhibition Best in Show Award Winner, Plattsburgh State Art Museum
2011, Nina Winkel Scholarship in Visual Arts, State University of New York
2011, Certificate of outstanding merit, 31st Annual Photography Contest, Photographer's Forum Magazine
2011, Merit scholarship, State University of New York
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2022-Present, Assistant Professor / Graphic Design Program Coordinator
• Rowan University, College of Communications & Creative Arts
Special Topics: Design & Environments (G/UG), Intermediate Graphic Design II: Typography (UG), Independent Study (Senior privilege Program), Advanced Graphic Design VIII: Identity Systems and Portfolio (UG), Digital Media & Techniques (UG), Art Internship (UG)
Fall 2021-Spring 2022, Lecturer
• University of Pennsylvania, Weitzman School of Design

Design with Creative Technologies (UG/G,) Design 21: Design After the Digital (UG/G)
Spring 2021 & 2022, Senior Adjunct Lecturer / MFA Socially Engaged Art Thesis Advisor
• Moore College of Art & Design . Graduate Program

Independent Studio II & Independent Thesis Studio (G)
Fall 2016-Fall 2021, Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Temple University, School of Theater, Film & Media Arts

Art Culture Technology (G,) Videography (G/MA MediaXArts), Virtual City with AR/VR/360 Video & Projection Mapping (G/UG) BFA Thesis Project (UG,) Web Art & Design (G, UG,) Directed Project (G/Thesis Independent Studies,) Imaginary Cities (UG)

OTHER TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Fall 2016-Spring 2022, 
Rowan University, College of Communications & Creative Arts
3/4 Faculty (2020-2022)/Adjunct Instructor (2016-2020): Digital Media & Techniques (UG)
Spring 2020, University of the Arts, College of Art, Media, & Design
Visiting Senior Lecturer: Installation-Immersive Environments (UG)
Spring 2018, Moore College of Art & Design, Photography and Digital Arts Department
Visiting Adjunct Lecturer: Web Media (UG)
Winter 2018, Drexel University, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Visiting Adjunct Lecturer: Design for Media I (UG)
Fall 2016-Fall 2017, Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship, Montclair State University
Adjunct Lecturer: Innovation Design & 3D Printing, Digitally Mediated Making (UG/G)
Fall 2014-Spring 2017,  Kean University, Robert Busch School of Design
Adjunct Lecturer: Visual Form I 2D Foundation (UG,) Visual form II 3D Foundation (UG)
Summer 2016 & 2017 & 2018, Moore College of Art & Design, Summer Art & Design Institute & Young Artist Workshop
Instructor: Perceptual drawing, Design Foundation, Graphic Design, Portfolio Development
Fall 2014-Spring 2016, Montclair State University, Art & Design Department
Teaching Assistant: Sculpture II (UG,) Intro & Advanced Ceramics (UG,) Photography (UG,) BFA Projects (UG)
2012-2014, AIGA NY the Professional Association for Design/NYC Department of Education
Mentor/Educational Partner

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022-Present, Co-Director
The Institute of Innovative Media, Materials & Design (IMMaD,) Rowan University
Developing plans for R&D, mentorship, and entrepreneurial initiatives emphasizing experiential learning on a unified disciplinary ground
2010-Present, Founder & Creative Director
MZ Design Studio (Former: ModulusZero)
Working with a range of clients & studios from tech start-ups to luxury brands, educational institutes & publications as designer, or consultant. Select past clients include:
  Artistic/Cultural Consultant (thought partner), Beyond Borders, Bowerbird, Philadelphia, PA /2022
  Consultant & writer, University City Science Center, Philadelphia, PA/ 2018-2019
  Design R&D/Innovation Curriculum Designer, the MixLab, Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship,      Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ/ 2016-2017
  Production Associate, Craft Translation, New York, NY/ 2013-2014
  Design Manager/UX Designer, Levine Design Group, New York, NY/ 2013
  Communication Designer, Leeser Architecture, New York, NY/ 2013
  Graphic Designer, Odgis + Co, New York, NY / 2013
  Graphic Designer/Consultant, Saranac Review Literary Magazine, State University of New York/ 2011-2012
  Graphic Designer, Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Plattsburgh, NY/ 2010-2012
2009-2010, Assistant Global Marketing Director
SGS Germany GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
Developing design strategies for international outreach, SEO/User/Web Analytics
LECTURES & WORKSHOPS & RESEARCH SHOWCASE
Feb 2024, 
Chief Innovation Critic, the Green Innovation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Transatlantic 
Entrepreneurship Academy, Karl-Frazens University, Graz, Austria + Feliciano Center for  Entrepreneurship, Montclair State University
Dec 2024, Judge/Guest Critic, Idea Challenge, Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship/ Rowan Innovation Venture Fund
Dec 2023 Presenter, Out of Sight, Out of Mind: a Cosmic Animated Short Reflecting on the Anthropocene, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
Dec 2023 Presenter, Collide i+i: a Meditative Living Exhibition for Rowan’s Centennial, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
Dec 2023 Presenter, The Case for Earth, Not Planet B, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
Mar 2023, Presenter, Publishing for/as Creative Practice: a Novel Framework for Content and Form Relations, Annual Faculty Research Showcase, Rowan University
Dec 2022, Presenter, Prototyping for full dome mapping of image and sound, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
Dec 2022, Presenter, An Experiential Lab for Arts and Sciences, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
Spring 2022, Founder & Facilitator, Annual Symposium for Interdisciplinary Arts, Rowan University
Mar 2022 Workshop Panelist, Beyond Borders: Festival of Arts/Shiraz-Persepolis (1967-77), Bowerbird
2022, Workshop co-presenter with Jen Kitson (Environmental Science,) NITE LITE, Rowan University
2022, Facilitator, Speculative Futures in Design, University of Pennsylvania, Guest Critic: Dr. Shelly Ronen
2021, Artist talk, The Clay Studio
2021, Artist talk, Speculative Everything, Venture Cafe Philadelphia
2021, Presenter, CCCA Fall Research Showcase, Rowan University
2020, Panelist, Global Perspectives on Science and Art, Venture Cafe Tokyo
2020, Talk/Workshop Presenter, Mechanisms of Meaning in the Unseen: Interpreting Data, Charles Library, Temple University
2020, Talk/Workshop Presenter, Mechanisms of Meaning in the Unseen: Interpreting Data, Ginsburg Health Sciences Library, Temple University
2019, Panelist, Encoding Expressions: The Interplay Between Art and Science, Venture Cafe, University City Science Center
2018 Grant Panelist/Reviewer, Leeway x Icebox Residency, Leeway Foundation
2018 Public Presenter, Tinkering Materiality: a Public Engagement & Discussion with Mina Zarfsaz,
Asian Arts Initiative (in collaboration with Shelly Ronen, PhD, Ben Bass, and other members of the theatrical and dance community)
2017, Presenter, Body/Environment couplings through sound and light, ImproTech 2017 Paris-Philly, University of Pennsylvania
2017, Guest Critic, Moore College of Art & Design
2017, Facilitator, Community Discussion: Women (cis+trans) & Non-binary Practitioners in Tech & New Media, Ulises
2017, Facilitator, Design Fiction Survey Critique, Montclair State University
2017, Guest lecturer, Visiting Artist Lecture Series, Moore College of Art & Design
2017, Speaker, Gallery Talk: Beef, Vox Populi
2017, Moderator, Panel Discussion with Ulises Books: XMedium, Vox Populi
2016, Panelist, 3D Printing Changes Everything, Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship, Montclair State University
2015, Workshop presenter, Annual Thinking Creatively Conference: Horizontal Body, Robert Busch School of Design, Kean University 
2014, Guest speaker, Gallery Talk, Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University
2014, Workshop presenter, Annual Thinking Creatively Conference: Identity Systems (Realizing Gender in Typography) 
Robert Busch School of Design, Kean University 
2013, Guest lecturer, Visual Culture: Western & Non-Western Discourses, Robert Busch School of Design, Kean University
2012, Presenter, Survey Presentation, Pratt Institute
2012, Presenter, The Evolution of Type in Western & Non-Western Culture: a Communicative Agent of Metaphoric Shifts in Contemporary Arts, SUNY Plattsburgh
BIBLIOGRAPHY & PRESS
2019, Interview by Liz Griffin, Shifting Perception, Title Magazine
2018, Opinion by Edith Newhall, Vox Populi Gallery and its building-mates are back to business as usual (featuring: Dead Ringer exhibition), Philadelphia Inquirer
2018, Review by Carl(os) Roa, Mina Zarfsaz presents ‘Dead Ringer,’ a house of mirrors at Vox Populi Gallery, the ArtBlog
2018, Podcast Interview by Logan Cryer, Moore on Artists, Galleries at Moore Interview, 
2018, Interview, Flying Slippers Blog, A Playground for Scientists and Artists, University City Science Center
2016, Review by Eleanor Heartney, Gathering, Magnan Metz Gallery
2014, Catalog essay/Essay by Anonda Bell, From There to Here, Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University
2013, Spread, Designers’ Portfolio (Contributor: Book design), Sandu Publishing Co., Limited, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
2013, Spread, Art in Book 2 (Contributor: Book design), Sendpoints Publishing
2012, Magazine essay, Global Projects: artists at home & abroad, NY Arts Magazine
2011, Cover art: Lucid II; Published art: Journey, Riot, ZPlatt Literary Journal
2011, Featured photograph: Neda, Photographer's Forum magazine
2011, Catalog essay, The Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, New York State Museum
2011, Newspaper article/ Front Page Photograph: Lucid II, Migrating Passerines Exhibition, Malone Telegram newspaper
published writing/Articles & work
2023, Editor, More Than Human (artist book, a curated collection of essays)
2023, Author, Essay, Speculative Listening: a Counter Narrative for Evolutionary Survival, More than Human (artist book, a curated collection of essays)
2021, Author, Interactive article, ShadowplayAdjacent NYU ITP Journal
2020, Author, Visual essay, In Dialogue: Everything Magical Gets Fucked, Grizzly Grizzly
2019, Guest writer, From Public to Republic, the ArtBlog
2018-2019, Guest writer, BioArt Residency Blog, University City Science Center 
"Lovesick" in Ubiquitous Genomic Future///Visualizing Bio Data///On Humour and Absurdity in Arts///What Does Biology Sound like?///From Celestial to Cellular Bodies///Lab as Studio: Remapping the Pathways///Patterns in Biology and Nature///Orkan Telhan on "the Design of Bewitchment"///Collaborations in Art and Science///A Conversation with Ben Doranz at Integral Molecular///Artist Talk with Laura Splan///A Tour at the Science History Institute///
2016, Monograph Book, 2013, Online article, Narcissaminophen: Asia Awards 2013 Competition nominee, Designboom magazine
AFFILIATIONS
2024-Present, Peer Reviewer, Turning Toward Being: The Journal of Ontological Inquiry in Education (JOIE)
2022-Present, Member/ National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
2022-Present, Educator Member/ the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA / Philly)
2020-Present, Member/ Philadelphia Sculptors
2012-2014, Member and Mentor/ the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA / NY)
2012-2014, Educational Partner, NYC Department of Education
2016-2018, Member, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2016-2018, Board of Directors Representative, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2016-2018, Communications Committee Chair, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2016-2018, Exhibitions Committee Member, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2014, Member, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
2008-2010, Member, AIESEC


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