Getting to know Shirin Montazer

Shirin Montazer received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Toronto, joining Wayne State in August 2014.

The professor

What are your research interests?

My research interests are in the area of immigration and mental health. I am especially interested in the interactive effects of country of origin and length of residence on immigrant social and psychological trajectories.

How would you describe your teaching style?

I strive to be dynamic and interactive no matter what I teach. I think students learn best when they are also involved and contribute to class discussion/problem solving.

What’s your next big research topic?

I will be looking at the effect of intermediary countries beyond origin as well as the effect of neighborhood attainment post-immigration on immigrant psychosocial outcomes.

What do you want students to take away from your classes?

To see the world through a more critical lens; to ask the right questions; and to become proponents of their own ideas.

The person

When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time?

By watching Seinfeld.

What is your favorite book?

The Harry Potter series.

What’s your spirit animal?

Uhm this is a hard one… According to an online quiz: an owl.

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?

I don’t have a specific event that I’d like to witness, but I would have liked to spend a day in Pompeii, before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius!

What’s been your best moment as professor?

I have had many great moments as a professor. But some of the best have involved students liking my course and wanting to learn more about the subject matter by taking more courses in the area!

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

The count of Monte Cristo – post Chateau D’if!