Quick Info
| Profession | Cultural Anthropologist, Assistant Professor |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | XX/XX/1980 |
| Birthplace | United States |
Latest News about Tamar Shirinian
The University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees approved a settlement agreement with former Assistant Professor Tamar Shirinian, agreeing to pay her $1.9 million in compensation related to her termination. The settlement, which does not include reinstatement to her position, requires approval from the state attorney general and Governor Bill Lee before it becomes final. Shirinian continues to maintain that her termination was unjust and based on her free speech rights.
Chancellor Donde Plowman of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville terminated the employment of Assistant Professor Tamar Shirinian following a controversial Facebook comment she made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Shirinian, who had been placed on administrative leave earlier in the year, announced she is pursuing a federal lawsuit against the university, alleging violations of her First Amendment rights and claiming the university applied a double standard in its disciplinary actions.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Tamar Shirinian is a cultural anthropologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research focuses on kinship, power, sexuality, sovereignty, and postsocialism, drawing on queer studies, feminist theory, critical theory, and psychoanalysis. She is also engaged with political and creative work in the Republic of Armenia. |
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Educational Qualification(s)
| PhD | Cultural Anthropology, Duke University (2016) |
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| MA | Cultural Anthropology, Duke University (2016) |
| BA | University of California, Berkeley |
Personal Life
| Engagement | Active in the Republic of Armenia; engaged with queer, psychoanalytic, anti-colonial, and Marxian thought. |
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Career
| Current Position | Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
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| Past Affiliations |
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| Notable Events | Placed on administrative leave in 2026 following controversy over a Facebook comment regarding Charlie Kirk; termination proceedings initiated by the university. Terminated from employment by Chancellor Donde Plowman in March 2026. Pursuing a federal lawsuit against the university for First Amendment violations, with a federal trial scheduled for early 2027. |
Favourites
| Theoretical Frameworks |
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Social Media
| Academia.edu | https://utk.academia.edu/TamarShirinian |
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| YouTube | Multiple interviews and conversations, including 'Survival of a Perverse Nation' |
| https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamar-shirinian-6745a5292 |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Her work explores the connections between sexuality, gender, intimacy, and political economy. | |
| 2. She is a contributor to 'Mediapolis – a journal of cities and culture' and 'Agitate Journal'. | |
| 3. She co-hosts the 'Other Armenias' podcast. | |
| 4. Her research and teaching philosophy emphasize vulnerability to new ideas and problems. |