The Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures (MESALC) announces The Farzaneh Milani Writing Award to honor the scholarship of Professor Milani in the fields of Persian literature, gender and sexuality studies. Students (graduate and undergraduate) are invited to submit their own essay in the aforementioned fields, or faculty members may nominate students by submitting an outstanding student paper on their behalf. Students from any major or department at the University of Virginia are eligible for this award.

Essays should be 15-20 pages in length (4500-6000 words). Chapters from senior theses or dissertations are welcome but should be excerpted so as to adhere to the length limitation. Submissions should be sent to Professor Hanadi Al-Samman (ha2b@virginia.edu) by April 30, 2025. A committee of MESALC faculty will award one prize for the best undergraduate essay and one prize for the best graduate essay, each garnering $250.

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