A Gift to Establish the Institute

The Pourdavoud Institute was made possible by a gift from Professor Pourdavoud’s granddaughter, Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace, and her husband, Mr. James B. Lovelace.

My grandfather devoted a lifetime to the study of the history, languages, religions and culture of ancient Iran. I am so grateful that Jim and I have the good fortune to be able to honor and extend the impact of his important contributions.
—Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace

The institute will complement UCLA’s well-established program in Iranian Studies – founded more than half a century ago in 1963 – which attracts 1,000 students from all over campus to its courses each year. The Iranian Studies program, led by Professor M. Rahim Shayegan, is home to the largest and most comprehensive doctoral program of its kind in the Americas and is the only one to cover the entire spectrum of Iranian Studies across disciplines, linguistic boundaries, and periods. Its distinctive strengths are Old and Middle Iranian philology, ancient Iranian history and religions, archaeology, and the study of classical Persian literature.

We are very grateful to the Lovelaces for endowing us with crucial resources to revive the study of Iranian antiquity. A research institute of this magnitude can have a transformative impact on the fortunes of the whole discipline, decisively reversing its decline and reinforcing its foundation.
—M. Rahim Shayegan, Director, Iranian Studies and the Pourdavoud Institute

The institute draws on a wealth of campus resources including: the departments of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Classics, History, Art History, and Asian Languages and Cultures; the Indo-European Studies program; the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology; the Asia-Pacific Center; the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies; the Center for Near Eastern Studies; and the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies.

At UCLA, we recognize that the study of ancient cultures is more important today than ever. It reveals the rich tapestry of human history and identity, and allows us to understand and uphold the highest values our forebears espoused.
—David Schaberg, Dean of Humanities

As for the gift to UCLA, Dr. Naficy Lovelace said she was impressed by the caliber of the program of Iranian Studies and faculty, and that she anticipated the field would thrive in such a vibrant setting.

With new tools for discovery and expanding opportunities for exchange of ideas, it behooves us all to work together to keep our ancient civilizations alive and relevant for future generations.
—Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace

Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace, who spent the first 18 years of her life in Tehran, has fond memories of childhood visits to her grandparents’ home. It was during this time that she developed a deep appreciation for the ethos of ancient Iran.

Our grandfather would typically receive us in his study, where he spent most of his time. He was surrounded by his beloved books on ancient Iran, in different languages, alongside encyclopedias, reference books, dictionaries and books on a variety of related subjects. Though a formal man, he was very warm and lighthearted at the same time. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always looked for ways to engage us, his grandchildren, during these visits."
—Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace

Dr. Anahita Naficy Lovelace is a clinical psychologist practicing in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. A native Californian and graduate of Swarthmore College, Mr. James Lovelace is an equity portfolio manager at Capital Group, a global financial services company based in Los Angeles.