Faculty of Governance

Dr. Seyedeh Ale-Mohammad holds a PhD and Master's degree in Environmental Science from the Faculty of Environment at the University of Tehran. She was admitted to both the doctoral and master's programs with the "second-highest rank. " Furthermore, she consistently graduated with "first-class honors" in all her academic pursuits. She successfully completed her secondary education at the National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents school. Her doctoral dissertation focused on "Developing a Framework for Ecological-Social Zoning of Protected Areas, " and her master's thesis explored "Strategic Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Development Policymaking, " both successfully defended with honors. Her areas of teaching and research interest include governance in the landscape with an ecological-social approach and its metrics, spatial cognition of the landscape, assessment of landscape degradation, environmental pollution, public participation in the management of protected areas, valuation of ecosystem services, environmental impact assessment of development projects, environmental resilience, the foundation of land use planning, and environmental economics. She has published reputable articles in these fields. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, as the Head of the Faculty of Governance Library, a member of the Central Library Coordination Council, and a member of the Central Library Committees of the University of Tehran.

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Pakdat holds a Ph. D. in International Oil and Gas Contract Management from Imam Sadiq University. His doctoral dissertation, "The Financial and Jurisprudential Nature and Feasibility Study of Launching Oil Futures Contracts on the Energy Exchange of the Islamic Republic of Iran, " was defended with honors. He also holds a Master's degree in Economics and formally completed Level 3 studies in the Qom Seminary at Grade 10 in 2015.

His academic and professional roles include: Managing Editor of the scientific journal "Program and Development Research, " Faculty Member at Islamic Azad University, Director of the Oil and Energy Steering Council at the Saramad Think Tank for Strategic Economic and Management Policy, and Scholarship Faculty Member at Kharazmi University. Furthermore, he has authored numerous scientific research articles in reputable domestic and international journals in the fields of economics, international contracts, and the global economy, as well as authoring and translating seven books on various topics, including globalization, money laundering, international contracts, blockchain, and international sanctions.

Dr. Pakdat's executive and professional experience includes serving as Vice President for Planning, Budgeting, and Supervision at the Mostazafan Foundation of Islamic Revolution, President of the Center for Development and Foresight Research of the Government, President of the Tadbir Center for Strategic Studies, Executive Secretary of the Conference on Reforming the Budgeting Process in Iran, Member of the Board of Directors of the Planning and Budget Organization of the Country, Secretary of the Scientific Productions Working Group of the Planning and Budget Organization, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Paya Tarabar Holding. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy and Climate Governance at the Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Ali Asghar Pourezzat received his Ph. D. in Public Policy from Tarbiat Modares University in 2003. He is the President and Founder of the School of Governance at the University of Tehran. He also established the Policy and Governance Laboratory at the University of Tehran and is a co-founder of the Future Studies program at the same university. Dr. Pourezzat served as an Assistant Professor from 2003 to 2008, Associate Professor from 2008 to 2013, and has been a Full Professor at the Faculty of Management, University of Tehran since 2013. He has authored over 400 scholarly articles and conference papers and has written more than 40 books. His teaching and research interests include public policy, public administration, governance, future studies, and social justice, particularly from Islamic and ethical perspectives. Professor Pourezzat, a distinguished professor of public administration and governance, was awarded the Farabi International Award in Iran in 2007 and 2012, the Dehkhoda Medal in 2018, recognized as a Cultural Exemplar at the University of Tehran in 2023, and named the Top Researcher at the University of Tehran in 2023. He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Iranian Journal of Public Administration Studies and continues to pursue his research interests in various fields of governance.

Dr. Seyed Mostafa Jalili is a graduate of Public Administration, specializing in Decision-Making and Policymaking, from Allameh Tabataba'i University. His dissertation, which combines urban management studies and public policy studies, is titled "Designing a Policy Network to Combat Networked Corruption in Metropolitan Management, " and was defended with honors in 2021. Furthermore, this dissertation was supported by the Tehran Urban Planning & Research Center. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Land Governance and Security, and his areas of study include "Urban Management, " "Local Governance, " "Urban Policymaking, " "Local Politics, " and "Governance Theories. " In these fields, he has authored several works, including two specialized books and ten scientific and research articles. His publications include the authored books "A Critical Approach to Dominant Urban Governance Models" and "The Visible and Hidden Aspects of Managing Tehran's Comprehensive Plan. " In terms of practical experience, he has been active for years in the Islamic City Council of Tehran and the Municipality of Tehran.

Dr. Bahareh Heydari is a graduate of Biosystems Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Renewable Energies from Tarbiat Modares University. She was awarded the National Elites Foundation's Academic Scholarship in 2015 and graduated as the top student in her doctoral program with a GPA of 19. 10. Dr. Heydari has served as the project manager for the National Elites Foundation project titled "Roadmap of Water and Energy in Tehran Province, " and is a collaborator on the national project "Energy-Efficient and Green Greenhouses" as well as the research project "Construction and Production of Sugarcane Planters. " Her dissertation, titled "Hybrid Solar-Wind RO-MSF Desalination System, " was defended with honors. She also holds a CS50 Computer Science certificate from Harvard University. Her areas of study and research interests include energy governance, renewable energies, energy systems, the water-energy-food-environment nexus, desalination, construction and production, modeling, optimization, data science, data mining, and topics related to machine learning. She has published over 23 ISI-indexed articles and presented at national and international conferences in these fields.

Dr. Afsaneh Dehghanpour Farashah is a graduate of the University of Tehran's Faculty of Management, with a degree in Public Administration, specializing in Human Resources Management. Her primary areas of research and teaching include Assessment and Development Centers, Designing Competency Assessment Tools for Managers, Human Resources Development, Organizational Culture, Professional Ethics, Policymaking and Policy Evaluation, Advanced Organizational Behavior Management, Strategic Management and Future Studies, and Leadership. She has authored numerous articles and books in these fields, including "An Introduction to Authentic Assessment Centers, " published by the State Management Training Center.

Her experience includes collaboration with the Administrative and Recruitment Affairs Organization of Iran, the State Management Training Center, the National Elites Foundation, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and its affiliated organizations. She has taught courses for elite recruitment in executive bodies, conducted dozens of training courses and workshops in governmental and non-governmental organizations, served as the scientific secretary of the policymaking committee for assessment and development centers at the "National Conference on Governance Excellence in the Light of Transforming Assessment and Development Centers, " and as the scientific secretary of the public governance committee at the "National Conference on Knowledge-Based Governance; Territorial Governance. " She also has experience as a manuscript reviewer for various journals, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Tehran, supervises, advises, and evaluates theses. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and Administrative Governance at the Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Ahmad Radmehr is an Assistant Professor at the School of Governance, University of Tehran, and a graduate of Water Science and Engineering with a focus on water resources from the University of Tehran. He was recognized as an outstanding doctoral graduate of the University of Tehran and ranked first in the national Master's entrance exam, possessing over 15 years of practical experience in the field of management and engineering of water resources and environmental systems. He received his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degrees in Water Resources from the University of Tehran.

Among his concerns in the field of water resources is the focus on conducting applied research related to the country's water resources and issues. In this regard, his doctoral dissertation, addressing the necessity and weakness of conducting applied research in the field of water governance at the local scale, was defined as "Providing a Conceptual and Analytical Framework for Sustainable Development Strategies for Agricultural Water Management" and was defended with honors. His Master's thesis was also in the field of developing spatial decision support systems for urban flood management as a research project commissioned by the Iran Water Resources Management Company and was defended with honors.

He has numerous articles in reputable national and international journals including NATURE, ASCE, and SPRINGER. His study areas and research interests include participatory water governance, optimization and simulation of water resources and environmental systems, conflict resolution and social choice methods, decision support systems, sustainable development, and environmental policy. Dr. Radmehr also has practical and executive experience in the country's water industry, including managing and leading water resources management projects at the national level, as well as international experience with development banks, including the World Bank.

Dr. Somayeh Robat Mili holds a doctorate in Psychology from Allameh Tabataba'i University. She completed her doctoral research fellowship at the Department of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2014. Dr. Robat Mili achieved third place in the regional Mathematics Olympiad during high school, and in 2015, she was recognized as the top instructor in addiction prevention courses at the University of Tehran Clinic. She has been teaching at the university level since her doctoral studies. Her doctoral dissertation focused on cognitive neuroscience and cognitive rehabilitation. Her studies, research, and professional activities encompass various approaches to psychology, with a particular focus on meaning therapy and cognitive approaches. Dr. Robat Mili has supervised and advised over 200 master's and doctoral theses and currently serves as a reviewer for several reputable national and international journals. Her academic record includes the publication of 29 scientific research articles, four ISI articles, 24 conference papers, and the translation of seven specialized books. Furthermore, she has served as the principal investigator for seven research projects. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Governance and Welfare at the School of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Ali Rostamian holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Tehran. He received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Economics from Shahid Beheshti University and his Master of Arts in Theoretical Economics from both the University of Tehran and Simon Fraser University. After several years of working in the private sector, Dr. Rostamian entered the PhD program in Entrepreneurship at the University of Tehran, where he defended his doctoral dissertation entitled "A Critical Conceptualization of Entrepreneurial Identity. " His domestic and international studies and research have primarily focused on fundamental themes such as "Heterodox Economic Theories, " "Methodology of Economics, " "History of Economic Thought, " "Institutional Theories, " "Development Studies, " and "Critical Entrepreneurship Studies. " In addition to these academic fields, he is interested in Continental Philosophy, Social Theory, and Psychoanalytic Studies, and has authored works in these areas as well. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor in the Economic Governance and Commerce Department at the School of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Ahad Rezayan Qieh Bashi, a Ph. D. graduate in Futures Studies from the University of Tehran, serves as the Scientific Director of Strategic Foresight courses at the Faculty of Management, University of Tehran. He has authored and translated numerous articles, books, projects, and research reports in fields related to business, futures studies, decision-making, environment, politics, and water and energy. Dr. Rezayan Qieh Bashi is committed to fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and society, actively engaging with various manufacturing and service sectors through consulting services, facilitating student internships, and promoting awareness of industries and businesses. Expanding communication and knowledge networking with domestic and international universities and scientific centers is another area of interest and work. Currently, he holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Futures Studies Department at the Faculty of Governance at the University of Tehran.

Dr. Sajjad Abdi holds a Ph. D. in Financial Economics and Public Sector Economics from the University of Tehran. His professional background includes eleven years of experience in applied economic research. He has a history of collaboration in economic policymaking with the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Center for Transformation and Progress Cooperation of the Presidential Administration, the Economic Commission of the Cabinet, and the Planning and Budget Organization of Iran. Furthermore, he served as the Director of the Tehran Economic Policy Think Tank for five years and is currently the Deputy Director of the Governance Think Tank at the University of Tehran. Dr. Abdi's research interests are focused on studies of sustainable development, public sector economics, and finance. Specifically, the economics of education plays a prominent role in his research. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Economics in the Department of Governance, Development, and Sustainability at the School of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Armin Firoozpour is a graduate of Futures Studies from the University of Tehran and ranked first in the doctoral entrance examination in 2013. His dissertation focused on scenario-based imaging of alternative futures for the city of Tehran in the field of urban management and governance. His primary areas of study and research interests include futures studies, strategic foresight, future imaging, scenario planning of alternative futures, urban studies, crisis management, and topics related to governance. Dr. Firoozpour's academic achievements include the publication of over ten national and international scientific articles and the completion of numerous research projects in the aforementioned fields. Notable works include the article "Alternative Futures of Tehran Using a Scenario-Based Approach" and the translation of the book "Thinking About the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight. " He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Futures Studies Department at the Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Reyhaneh Loni holds a Ph. D. in Biosystems Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Renewable Energy, from Mohaghegh Ardabili University. A recipient of the Shahid Dr. Shahriari Award and the Shahid Dr. Chamran Award from the National Elites Foundation, she has completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Sharif University of Technology and three postdoctoral fellowships at Tarbiat Modares University. She was recognized as the top researcher at Tarbiat Modares University during her postdoctoral tenure, and her doctoral dissertation was also recognized as outstanding. Her accomplishments include the publication of 46 ISI articles in reputable international journals, 13 of which have an Impact Factor above 10. Her h-index in 2024, as measured by Scopus and Google Scholar, is 24 and 28, respectively. Dr. Loni has engaged in numerous international collaborations with universities in Greece, France, South Africa, China, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Her record includes the completion of various university projects, patent registrations, and serving as a reviewer for esteemed international journals. Her primary research areas encompass optimal energy governance, numerical and experimental analysis of renewable energy systems performance, the application of nanofluids to enhance performance, the use of ORC systems for power generation, and the development of energy hub projects. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Energy and Climate Governance Department at the Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Bahareh Mah Banouei holds a Ph. D. in Organizational Behavior Management from the University of Tehran. She has published extensively in ISI-indexed journals, scientific research publications, and presented at numerous international and national conferences. Her doctoral dissertation focused on designing a virtue-based organizational ethics model for medical science hospitals and healthcare services affiliated with the University of Tehran. Her research interests include periodic governance performance evaluation, governance and technology, ethics and governance, human resource governance, and the assessment, development, and competency models of governors. Dr. Mah Banouei is the author of two books in the field of performance evaluation, one of which received the University Academic Book of the Year award from SAMT Publications. She has conducted several specialized workshops in organizations and serves as an organizational consultant in the area of human resource management. Her experience also includes serving as a reviewer for the ISI journal "International Journal of Career Development. " Furthermore, she supervises, advises, and judges theses for the University of Tehran and other universities. Currently, Dr. Mah Banouei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public and Administrative Governance at the School of Governance, University of Tehran.

Dr. Ebrahim Mazari holds a Ph. D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Tehran. He is a nationally recognized researcher and secured second place nationwide in the public education system. His doctoral and postdoctoral research focuses on the self-development of academic leaders based on cognitive science and neuroscience. His areas of study include education governance, human resource governance, and neurocognitive governance.

Dr. Mazari has been recognized as the top author and researcher in the public education system for five years and has authored over 18 books. Furthermore, he has published more than 50 national and international scientific articles and has served as the principal investigator or key collaborator in over 23 research projects. He has conducted over 100 specialized workshops for organizations and serves as an organizational consultant specializing in human resource management, particularly development and improvement, working with national, local, and regional organizations.

Dr. Mazari's experience also includes judging and evaluating national and international festivals, including the Farabi International Award, reviewing academic journals, supervising, advising, and evaluating student theses, and designing recruitment and assessment questions. His publications include "Human Resource Development, " "Self-Development of Organizational Leaders, " and "Self-Development of Academic Leaders, " recently followed by the book "Self-Development: A Practical Guide for Developing Managers and Leaders.

Dr. Alireza Nafisi holds a PhD in Development Management from the University of Tehran. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology and a Master of Science degree in Management, specializing in Organizational Behavior and Development, from Sharif University of Technology. His professional experience includes twelve years at the Secretariat of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, where he focused on science and culture policymaking, and eight years of collaboration with the Resalat Public Charity in organizational transformation projects and rural employment and development as a social researcher. His doctoral dissertation involved a study of five diverse examples of community-led local development in Iran, extracting insights in this regard. His domestic and international studies and research have primarily concentrated on "Development Studies, " "Social Change, " and "Governance Structure, " including a sabbatical at the Institute for Social Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands and a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Science Policy Research Unit of Sharif University of Technology. Dr. Nafisi has also been involved in authoring publications, conducting workshops and seminars, producing media content, and implementing evidence-based applied projects in various governmental bodies, NGOs, and the private sector.

Dr. Saman Yousef Vand is a PhD student in Sociology from the University of Tehran. His master's thesis was on "Investigating the Relationship between Local Subcultures and Participatory Development" and his doctoral thesis was on "Phenomenology of Development Interventions in Local Communities". Dr. Yousef Vand is also the author of the books "The Enigma of Poverty and Development: From Magic to Realism" and "Critical Nature and Society Under Threat" and is currently publishing the book "Social Governance". He has ten years of experience in policy research at the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and has carried out large-scale social governance projects. He has published numerous articles and policy research reports on Iranian social issues and is currently compiling a book on methods for solving governance problems. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Welfare Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran.