Dr. Bahman Baktiari is a scholar of international affairs and Executive Director of the Baskerville Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening intercultural understanding and people-to-people engagement. With more than thirty years of experience in academia and nonprofit leadership, his work focuses on cross-cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, and practical approaches to peacebuilding. He is the founder of the 'Diplomacy of the Heart' initiative, which promotes empathy, human dignity, and sustained dialogue as foundations for international cooperation.

In recent years, Dr. Baktiari has played a leading role in developing Utah–Uzbekistan initiatives that connect universities, youth organizations, government institutions, and civic leaders. Working closely with higher education partners and national youth organizations in Uzbekistan, he has helped build long-term civil society connections centered on academic collaboration, leadership development, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange. These initiatives reflect his belief that durable international relationships are built through trust, shared learning, and sustained institutional partnerships.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Baktiari has held senior academic positions at the University of Maine, the University of Utah, and the American University in Cairo. He has organized major international conferences in the United States, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, bringing together scholars, policymakers, business leaders, and students to address questions of governance, religion, law, and civil society. He also serves as an advisory member to World Trade Center Utah, supporting responsible global engagement.

A specialist in Iranian politics, Islamic law, and U.S.–Iran relations, Dr. Baktiari is the author of Parliamentary Politics in Revolutionary Iran and numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. His work emphasizes the role of education, narrative, and historical understanding in reducing conflict and strengthening civic life. He earned his Ph.D. in Government and M.A. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and his B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Denver.