Meet Sam Samani, ’26

Sam Samani, a global studies minor who specialized in Iranian studies, shares how the minor connected him with leading scholars, fostered a close-knit community, and prepared him for a career path grounded in cultural understanding.

When Sam Samani was in middle school, his uncle gave him a book that would shape his academic path: The Shah by Abbas Milani. That early spark of curiosity about Iran's modern history eventually led the political science major to Stanford, where he pursued a minor in global studies with a specialization in Iran—and had the chance to learn directly from the very scholar whose work first captivated him.

“Getting to eventually take Dr. Milani's courses and learn from him directly was something I couldn't have anticipated then—and proved invaluable,” Samani says. Beyond the classroom, the minor connected him with world-class speakers like Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and opportunities including directed readings, conferences, and internships that translated academic study into real-world impact.

“I came to Stanford very narrow, and I'm leaving with a more open mind and a fuller heart,” Samani says. “The mentors who pushed my thinking and the friends who kept me grounded shaped that more than any specific academic or career accomplishment.” As he graduates this spring, he'll bring those lessons to his next role at a stealth-stage startup. 

What are you studying at Stanford, and what drew you to the global studies minor (with a specialization in Iranian studies)?

I was drawn to the Iranian studies minor for several reasons. The first was personal: my uncle gave me Dr. Abbas Milani's The Shah when I was in sixth grade, one of the first books on Iran I ever read, and the one that sparked my lasting interest in the country's modern history. Getting to eventually take Dr. Milani's courses and learn from him directly was something I couldn't have anticipated then—and proved invaluable. 

Beyond that, the minor brought access to world-class speakers such as Shirin Ebadi, Homa Sarshar, and others, whose perspectives deepened my understanding of Iran in many ways. And then there was the community itself: Roma, Franco, Matin, and everyone else who made the program feel like a family as opposed to just another academic program. The ability to pursue directed readings, attend conferences, and translate that into internships gave the minor resources that few programs at Stanford can match. 

What was the most meaningful or memorable experience from your time in the Iranian studies minor?

The most meaningful part was the connections I built with Dr. Beyzaie, Dr. Milani, Roma, Franco, and Matin, as well as personal connections with visiting speakers like Shirin Ebadi and Hamed Esmaeilion, and with other Iranian studies students.

What experiences outside the classroom helped shape your Stanford journey?

Several experiences outside the classroom shaped my Stanford journey. I interned with Karim Sadjadpour at the Carnegie Endowment and conducted research at the Hoover Institution under H.R. McMaster and Stephen Kotkin. I also served as president of the Persian Student Association and as chief of staff of the Associate Studies of Stanford University (ASSU).

I came to Stanford very narrow, and I'm leaving with a more open mind and a fuller heart. The mentors who pushed my thinking and the friends who kept me grounded shaped that more than any specific academic or career accomplishment. 

Why did you choose to study Iran? How has your minor changed your understanding of the world or influenced your plans?

I chose to study Iran because it's my heritage, but the deeper I went, the more I saw why it matters far beyond me. Few places hold Iran's weight: a civilization with millennia of cultural and intellectual history, and a state at the center of nearly every question that defines the modern Middle East. The minor let me study the poetry of Sa'di and Ferdowsi alongside the hard politics of the present day. In the future, I aim to bring the same kind of culturally grounded policy work to the private and public sector. 

What advice would you give to a Stanford student considering the Iranian studies minor?

Iranian studies gives you the most holistic understanding of Iran you can get, past and present, the poetry and the politics. For anyone serious about the Middle East, that's invaluable. Iran's role has always mattered and always will, so the edge you walk away with only appreciates over time.