Professor of sociology and the Chair of Ethnic Studies at the University of Calgary. Previously, he was the Social Science Scholar research chair at the University of Lethbridge. Also, he served as Stephen Jarislowsly Chair in Culture Change and Immigration at Memorial University of Newfoundland, and has been the founding Academic Director of two Research Data Centres at the University of Lethbridge and Memorial University. His research is in two distinct areas: 1) the socio-economic experiences of immigrants in Canada; and 2) the socio-cultural developments in the Middle East.
He writes in both English and Persian. Commentaries on his works have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, la Presse, Winnipeg Free Press, Vancouver Sun, Lethbridge Herald, and Metro Star Calgary newspapers.