Associate Professor of Armenian History and Theology
Ani Shahinian, D.Phil.
Biography
Ani Shahinian, D.Phil., Ph.D., holds a doctorate in History and Theology from the University of Oxford. Shahinian's doctoral research investigated the phenomenon of Christian martyrdom within the context of political, social, economic, and ecclesiastical history of medieval Armenia, particularly in the Lake Van region. Her research applied innovative approaches and strategies to understand complex, enduring issues, and questions related to Christian-Muslim relations in the region. She has lectured and held seminars in several faculties at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), including courses on Philosophy of Mind, Political Philosophy, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and International Relations. Shahinian’s academic and professional interests meet at the intersections between the disciplines, where she endeavors to bridge different fields by exposing entwined questions of technology, ethics, and sustainability in uncertain environments. Prior to her academic career, Shahinian worked for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where she assisted with investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking cases and criminal civil rights abuses. While working at the DOJ, she detected parallels between contemporary and historical human rights violations, and the evolving significance of the role of notional ethics. These realizations impelled her to seek answers hidden in history. Her academic career continues this journey of investigation and discovery, directing her research interests toward innovative methodologies to problem solving in an age defined by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and rapid technological advancement. Her work seeks to cultivate a more integrative understanding of the human person within this evolving landscape. .
