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Shifa Ahmad

Shifa Ahmad

Assistant Professor / In-charge
Research Interests: Colonial Architecture, Emotions and Art, South Asian Material Culture, Sufi Cultural Institutions

Biography

With 18 years of experience in academia and administration, I currently serve as the Incharge of the Department of History of Art at Government College University, Lahore. My professional career is defined by a strong commitment to heritage preservation, having been instrumental in establishing the archives for the National College of Arts (NCAA), the Lahore Fort, and GCU, alongside curating historical sites and exhibitions. My scholarly work bridges this practical experience with theoretical inquiry, highlighted by my PhD thesis on the cultural history of shrine architecture in India and MPhil research on the conservation of Lahore’s monuments. Additionally, I serve the academic community as an Associate Editor for the Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies and The Historian.

Education

  • MS/MPhil in Architectural History, Department Of History, Government College University Lahore (Lahore, Pakistan) 2006

Teaching Areas

My teaching portfolio centered on the rich artistic traditions of the subcontinent. My coursework ranges from foundational surveys like Introduction to Art History and South Asian Art to more specialized explorations of material culture in Arts and Crafts of South Asia and South Asian Visual Culture. Bridging the gap between built heritage and intangible cultural practices, I also instruct on thematic subjects such as Emotions and Architecture and Festivals and Visual Culture, aiming to provide students with a holistic understanding of how visuality and architecture intersect with history and society.

Experience

From To Designation Firm/Institution
Feb 2021 Continue Incharge, Department Of History Of Art, Institute Of Global And Historical Studies Government College University. Lahore
Dec 2017 Feb 2021 Lecture Punjab Public Service Commission
Sep 2015 Dec 2017 Visiting Faculty Department Of History, Government College University. Lahore
Sep 2013 Sep 2015 Manager Administration & Human Resources Shirkat-Gah, Women’s Resource Center
Sep 2012 Sep 2013 Training Coordinator Of Gender Equity Programme USAID First Women Bank
Sep 2009 Sep 2012 Administrative Officer Punjab Institute Of Language Art And Culture, Ministry Of Information And Culture, Government Of The Punjab
May 2006 Sep 2009 Administrative And Research Officer Department Of History, Government College University Lahore
Apr 2004 Apr 2006 Research Coordinator Archives National College Of Arts