The Owensboro Area World Affairs Council will conclude its spring 2026 season — and its 20th anniversary celebration — on Monday with a presentation focused on Iran and regime change.
Dr. Soleiman Kiasatpour, associate professor of political science at Western Kentucky University, will present “Iran and Regime Change – A Citizen’s Perspective” on April 20 at 7 p.m. The event will be held in the Panther Room inside the Jack Wells Activity Center at Kentucky Wesleyan College, located at 3000 Frederica Street.
The program marks the final event of the council’s 2026 spring lineup.
Kiasatpour teaches courses in Middle East politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political terrorism. He earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Riverside, with a focus on regime transitions and authoritarianism in post-Soviet Central Asia.
Born in the United States and raised in Iran, Kiasatpour lived under both the Shah and the Islamic Republic. He witnessed and participated in the 1979 revolution and remained in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, experiences that inform his perspective on regime change.
His academic and professional work also includes leading study abroad programs in Turkey, Belgium, and Morocco, and presenting research on political Islam, Islam and democracy, U.S. public diplomacy toward Iran, and media portrayals of the Middle East.
A remote viewing option will be available, with details expected to be shared by organizers. However, attendees are encouraged to attend in person for an opportunity to engage directly with the speaker.
For more information, individuals may contact the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council via email at [email protected] or visit the organization’s Facebook page.
