Draft:Parviz H. Ansari

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Parviz H. Ansari
Dr. Parviz H. Ansari
Born(1954-07-25)July 25, 1954
Shiraz, Iran
DiedJuly 27, 2025(2025-07-27) (aged 71)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityIranian-American
Alma materPahlavi University (B.S.), Tufts University (M.S., Ph.D.)
Known forLeadership in STEM education, academic innovation
SpouseYes (married in 1979)
Children2 (a dentist and a doctor of physical therapy)
AwardsACE Fellow, Leadership NJ Fellow, Sigma Pi Sigma
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics, Academic administration
InstitutionsWestfield State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Rowan University, Seton Hall University

Parviz H. Ansari (July 25, 1954 – July 27, 2025) was a renowned Iranian-American physicist and academic administrator who held several senior positions in higher education including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Westfield State University, Provost and Vice Chancellor for academic affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Rowan University. Known for his leadership in STEM education and commitment to global learning, Ansari made significant contributions to physics, research, and university advancement.

Early life and education

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Parviz H. Ansari was born in Shiraz, Iran, on July 25, 1954. A gifted student from a young age, he excelled academically and was admitted to the prestigious Pahlavi University (now Shiraz University), where he earned a B.S. in Physics in 1976. He later moved to the United States with full scholarship for graduate studies at Tufts University, where he completed his M.S. (1978) and Ph.D. (1983) in Physics and Astronomy.

He married in 1979 and is survived by his wife, a son who is a dentist, and a daughter who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Academic career

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Seton Hall University (1983–2009)

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Ansari joined Seton Hall University as an assistant professor and served there for over two decades. He chaired the Physics Department (1994–2005) and later became Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Under his leadership, the number of physics majors tripled and the department received national recognition.

Rowan University (2009–2014)

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In 2009, he was appointed Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Rowan University and later became the Founding Dean of the School of Biomedical Sciences. Ansari launched new doctoral and graduate programs including:

He secured more than $7.5 million in research funding and initiated interdisciplinary collaborations with industry and international partners.[1]

SIUE (2014–2016)

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Ansari served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). He led the College of Arts and Sciences, 7 schools (Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Engineering, Business, Education Health and Human Behavior, Graduate Studies), Library and Information Services, Enrollment Management (Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions, Retention and Student Success), Information Technology Service (ITS), Institutional Research and Studies, International Affairs, Academic Innovation and Effectiveness, Academic Human Resources, Academic Finance and Budget. During his tenure:

He also created the Division of International Affairs and improved faculty diversity through strategic hiring.[2]

Westfield State University (2017–2018)

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At Westfield State University, he served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He led a major academic reorganization into a three-college structure, developed new interdisciplinary degree programs, and implemented data-driven strategies to improve retention and graduation rates.[3]

Legacy

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Dr. Ansari was highly respected and admired by students, colleagues, and university leaders. As a scientist, he championed equitable access to education, internationalization, and faculty development. His legacy endures through the many programs, partnerships, and students he helped inspire and elevate.

The most challenging season of Dr. Ansari's life was his battle with cancer. In February of 2019, Dr. Ansari was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive form of brain cancer. Following intensive treatment and a period of remission, in October 2024 he was then diagnosed with small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC), a rare and fast-progressing malignancy. Despite the serious nature of his condition, Dr. Ansari remained intellectually active and deeply connected with his family and academic peers throughout his illness.

Research and publications

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Ansari’s scientific expertise was in condensed matter physics and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. He conducted research at Cornell University's CHESS Lab and Brookhaven National Laboratory. He published over 20 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as:

Notable topics included:

Personal life and poetry

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Beyond his academic and scientific accomplishments, Ansari was an accomplished poet who wrote extensively in Farsi. His poetry reflected his deep love for Persian literature. He was known for his humility, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to uplifting others through education.

Honors and affiliations

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Selected publications

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  • Ansari, P.H. et al. (1994). “Effect of Pressure on the Reentrant Superconducting Phase Boundaries...” Physical Review B, 49(6), 3894.
  • Ansari, P.H. et al. (1997). “Fe-fcc Layer Stabilization in [111]-Textured Fe/Pt Multilayers.” Nanostructured Materials, 9(1–8), 413.
  • Ansari, P.H. et al. (2005). “Clustering Analysis in Boron and Phosphorus Implanted Germanium.” MRS Proceedings, 864.
  1. ^ "Ansari named Dean at Rowan". Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  2. ^ "SIUE Board Confirms Ansari". Retrieved 2025-07-25.
  3. ^ "Dr. Parviz Ansari Bio". Retrieved 2025-07-25.