Ehsan Sheikholharam

Ehsan Sheikholharam is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture. In addition to design studios, he teaches seminars on the history of architecture. His teaching emphasizes diverse and global perspectives, particularly offering new insights on critical interpretations of architectural cultures in the Global South. 

Prior to joining KSU, he held various teaching positions at renowned institutions including the University of Miami, NC State College of Design, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Professor Sheikholharam has a multidisciplinary background in architecture, religious studies, and philosophy. He holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from UNC and a terminal degree in Architecture from the University of Miami. He has also served as a fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University.

Building on his diverse scholarly and cultural identity, Professor Sheikholharam's work traverses key themes in the humanities, namely representations of minority identities in public space, cultural productions in the Global South, and the intersections of social and ecological justice.

His courses cut through key contemporary concerns in design disciplines: 

• How can students reimagine the future of their work and agency when AI tools can/will design projects with little or no need for an architect?
• How can architecture facilitate or impede the integration of ethnic and minority identities in public spaces?
• What responsibilities do architects have in accommodating the needs and aspirations of displaced populations, including war and climate refugees?

His scholarship draws on theories of material culture and traverses themes of pluralism, cultural politics, globalization, and urban social justice. Dr. Sheikholharam’s research has received funding from esteemed institutions such as Duke University, Dumbarton Oaks’s Mellon Initiative, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute. His work has been published by peer-reviewed journals including CLOG, WIT Press, Journal of Religion, Iran Namaq, and the American Academy of Religion’s Reading Religion. 

Professor Ehsan’s thinking is informed by his practice as a licensed architect in Iran. Through his private practice, Form Architecture Atelier, he and his team have designed and supervised more than thirty projects, some of which have received national recognition.

Beyond his academic and professional life, Ehsan also enjoys playing violin and has performed with multiple orchestras including Raleigh Civic Symphony, UNC Symphony Orchestra, Chapel Hill Philharmonia, Marietta Pop Orchestra, and Georgia Symphony Orchestra.

Finally, Professor Ehsan strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all! Students are encouraged to take advantage of office hours. Feel free to drop by with questions and concerns, or to simply to chat about your project!