Dr. Mohammad Reza Amirkhizi has been teaching for the Department of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Irvine, since 2015, including the following courses:

• International Law
• International Human Rights Law
• Transnational Organized Crime and International Security
• International Terrorism
• Modern Iranian History and Politics
• International Relations of the Modern Middle East

Dr. Amirkhizi has previously taught courses on International Security issues, including Drug Control, Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism, International Relations, Development, and Research Desgn at the School of Security and Criminal Sciences, College of International Relations, and the University of Tehran.

Ambassador Amirkhizi started his diplomatic career in 1986 with the Mission of Iran to the United Nations in New York. He continued his diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the following capacities:

• Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Director-General for International Political Affairs
• Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna
• Director-General for International Economic and Social Affairs

He also served at the United Nations in the following capacities:

• Senior Advisor to the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna
• Director of UNODC in Afghanistan
• Senior Advisor to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan

Dr. Amirkhizi attended the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, where he earned his Ph.D., M.A., and two Post-Graduate Certificates in Development and International Technology studies. Before that, he attended California State University, Sacramento where he earned his M.A. in Government and two B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Technology. He also holds a certificate in Project Management.

He holds several recognition certificates from his time as a diplomat. He has written or been involved in the preparation of many reports, reviews, and policies/papers for the United Nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the United Nations, he implemented many projects worth tens of millions of dollars funded by the international community and was involved in organizing several high-level conferences including at the level of Heads of State.

Ambassador Amirkhizi resides in Orange County, California, working as a Continuing Lecturer at UCI and CFO/COO of a private firm.