A through-line in Shirin’s life is her dedication to learning. She started her career as an educator at Jackson College and continues to serve as Associate Professor of Political Science today.

Along the way, she found herself in the corners and streets of Lansing, meeting newcomers as they began new lives in the city.

Shirin started volunteering at Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties (formerly St. Vincent Catholic Charities/Refugee Services) in 2001. She was a family mentor to newly arriving Afghan women fleeing the Taliban. Her volunteering at STVCC went on for the following 17 years.

Meanwhile, she also served as the Executive Director of the Refugee Development Center from 2007 to 2014. Having observed the power of a community to harness its resources in support of its residents, Shirin moved from the RDC to the Immigrant and Refugee Resource Collaborative (IRRC) in 2014. There she volunteered her time for 9 years to help community organizations build the current IRRC structure. The IRRC is guided by an Advisory Council of 15 people representing 13 different nations, 50+ community partners, workgroups, and coalitions committed to strengthening services in our city.