Hamid Shirvani
Encyclopedia
Hamid Shirvani is a scholar of architecture and urban design and President of California State University, Stanislaus
.
Shirvani has been in higher education since 1979, and since 1986 in senior executive leadership and management posts, managing budgets up to $135 million and more than 1200 people. He has also served as architecture, urban design and land planning consultant to various public agencies and private development companies; most recently, as chief design consultant for the 3400 acres (13.8 km²) Orange County Great Park
.
He holds a BA
in Architecture from the Polytechnic of Central London
, a M.Arch from Pratt Institute
, a M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
, an M.L.A. from Harvard University
and both an M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University
.
Currently, Shirvani is President of the California State University, Stanislaus
. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Chapman University
; Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Queens College, City University of New York
; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
; and Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver
. In addition, he has served on the faculties of the State University of New York
at Syracuse and the Pennsylvania State University
.
Shirvani has authored three books—Design Review Process (1981), The Urban Design Process (1985), Beyond Public Architecture (1990)—as well as several dozen papers in various refereed and professional journals and several dozen papers at national and international conferences.
In addition, Shirvani served as editor and/or on the editorial board of Journal of Architectural Education (1988–94); Avant Garde (1988–94); Journal of Planning Education and Research (1987–93); Urban Design and Presentation Quarterly (1987–89); Journal of the American Planning Association (1983–85); UD Review (1982–87); and Art and Architecture (1974–78). In October 2004, he was awarded the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
of Jerusalem and was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He was invested as a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 2009. Sir Hamid Shirvani is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
, Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
, Recipient of Special Commendation by the American Institute of Architects
(2003) for his contributions in the fields of architecture and urban design, Recipient of the Seikyo Culture Award of Japan (1999) and is listed in the Who’s Who in the World. Sir Hamid Shirvani has lectured at 27 international and 48 U.S. universities, several dozen public and private agencies, and professional societies. He is also the recipient of grants from National Institutes of Health
, National Science Foundation
, United States Department of Education
, DeWitt Wallace – Reader’s Digest Fund and Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation. For his distinguished service and significant scholarly and academic achievements, Soka University (Japan)
bestowed upon him the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2003. In 2007 and again in 2009, the statewide student government body of the 23-campus California State University system recognized Shirvani as “President of the Year.”
Shirvani has served on the Board of Directors of Competition Inc., the United Way, ICMT, Inc., the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on International Initiatives, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Committee on Professional Development, and the Higher Education Consortium of Central California (HECCC) and is currently serving as a member of the Executive Committee of Interational Association of University Presidents (IAUP),the IAUP/UN Commission on Disarmament, Education, Conflict Resolution and Peace, the AASCU Committee on Economic and Workforce Development, the Governing Board of the Stockton Site Authority, the City of Turlock Beautification Committee, and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC). He also serves as the Chairman of the Turlock Business Council.
The contract was reportedly found in a recycling bin along with other CSU documents. These were found by two unnamed CSUS students after a tip they received stating that there was documents being shredded at the CSU on a Furlough Day. In August 2010, the Attorney General concluded his investigation and found that there was no misappropriation of funds by the Foundation and no violation of law. http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/print_release.php?id=1968
In November 2009 the General Faculty of CSU Stanislaus voted for a measure of No Confidence in CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani. The motivation for the vote according to the Academic Senate was "Shirvani’s abandonment of the shared governance process, the deteriorating working relationship between Shirvani and faculty, and Shirvani’s seeming lack of understanding of the mission of the CSU system."
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Cal State Stanislaus or simply Stan State is a campus in the California State University system which was established in 1957 in Turlock, California. It is also the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies...
.
Shirvani has been in higher education since 1979, and since 1986 in senior executive leadership and management posts, managing budgets up to $135 million and more than 1200 people. He has also served as architecture, urban design and land planning consultant to various public agencies and private development companies; most recently, as chief design consultant for the 3400 acres (13.8 km²) Orange County Great Park
Orange County Great Park
The Orange County Great Park is the official name of a plan for the public, non-aviation reuse of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in Irvine, California. The county park will comprise just 28.8% of the total that made up the old MCAS El Toro base. It is a $1.1 billion project...
.
He holds a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Architecture from the Polytechnic of Central London
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, a M.Arch from Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
, a M.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
, an M.L.A. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and both an M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
.
Currently, Shirvani is President of the California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Cal State Stanislaus or simply Stan State is a campus in the California State University system which was established in 1957 in Turlock, California. It is also the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies...
. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
; Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Queens College, City University of New York
Queens College, City University of New York
Queens College, located in Flushing, Queens, New York City, is one of the senior colleges of the City University of New York. It is also the fifth oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning. The college's seventy seven acre campus is located in the heart of the...
; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a public university in Lowell, Massachusetts, and part of the University of Massachusetts system...
; and Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver
University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver, shortened as CU Denver, UC Denver, or UCD, is a public university in the United States state of Colorado. It is one of three schools of the University of Colorado system. The university has two campuses — one in downtown Denver at the Auraria Campus, and the other...
. In addition, he has served on the faculties of the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
at Syracuse and the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
.
Shirvani has authored three books—Design Review Process (1981), The Urban Design Process (1985), Beyond Public Architecture (1990)—as well as several dozen papers in various refereed and professional journals and several dozen papers at national and international conferences.
In addition, Shirvani served as editor and/or on the editorial board of Journal of Architectural Education (1988–94); Avant Garde (1988–94); Journal of Planning Education and Research (1987–93); Urban Design and Presentation Quarterly (1987–89); Journal of the American Planning Association (1983–85); UD Review (1982–87); and Art and Architecture (1974–78). In October 2004, he was awarded the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Order of the Holy Sepulchre
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. It traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade...
of Jerusalem and was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He was invested as a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 2009. Sir Hamid Shirvani is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
, Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
World Academy of Art and Science
The World Academy of Art and Science is an international non-governmental scientific organization, an informal and non-official world network of individual fellows elected for distinguished accomplishments in the fields of natural and social sciences, arts and the humanities...
, Recipient of Special Commendation by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
(2003) for his contributions in the fields of architecture and urban design, Recipient of the Seikyo Culture Award of Japan (1999) and is listed in the Who’s Who in the World. Sir Hamid Shirvani has lectured at 27 international and 48 U.S. universities, several dozen public and private agencies, and professional societies. He is also the recipient of grants from National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, DeWitt Wallace – Reader’s Digest Fund and Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation. For his distinguished service and significant scholarly and academic achievements, Soka University (Japan)
Soka University (Japan)
is a private university located in Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan. The school was founded in 1969 and opened to undergraduate students in 1971 and opened a graduate school in 1975....
bestowed upon him the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2003. In 2007 and again in 2009, the statewide student government body of the 23-campus California State University system recognized Shirvani as “President of the Year.”
Shirvani has served on the Board of Directors of Competition Inc., the United Way, ICMT, Inc., the American Council on Education (ACE) Commission on International Initiatives, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Committee on Professional Development, and the Higher Education Consortium of Central California (HECCC) and is currently serving as a member of the Executive Committee of Interational Association of University Presidents (IAUP),the IAUP/UN Commission on Disarmament, Education, Conflict Resolution and Peace, the AASCU Committee on Economic and Workforce Development, the Governing Board of the Stockton Site Authority, the City of Turlock Beautification Committee, and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC). He also serves as the Chairman of the Turlock Business Council.
Positions held
- President of California State University, Stanislaus. (2005–Present)
- Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs of Chapman University (2000–2005)
- Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research at Queens College of the City University of New York (1995–2000)
- Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell (1992–1995)
- Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado at Denver (1986–1990)
Controversies
In April 2010, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced an investigation to accusations that the university officials including Hamid Shirvani violated public records laws when they refused to reveal the financial details of a contract with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to speak at a university fundraiser, and allegedly shredded documents related to the agreement.The contract was reportedly found in a recycling bin along with other CSU documents. These were found by two unnamed CSUS students after a tip they received stating that there was documents being shredded at the CSU on a Furlough Day. In August 2010, the Attorney General concluded his investigation and found that there was no misappropriation of funds by the Foundation and no violation of law. http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/print_release.php?id=1968
In November 2009 the General Faculty of CSU Stanislaus voted for a measure of No Confidence in CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani. The motivation for the vote according to the Academic Senate was "Shirvani’s abandonment of the shared governance process, the deteriorating working relationship between Shirvani and faculty, and Shirvani’s seeming lack of understanding of the mission of the CSU system."
External links
- California State University Stanislaus - Office of the President
- List of books by author Hamid Shirvani - Open Library
- California State University bio
- http://www.modbee.com/featured/story/942262.html
- http://chronicle.com/article/Will-a-Culture-of-Entitleme/48819/