麻豆原创 philosophy Professor Cyrus Zargar last week was invested into the newly funded Al-Ghazali Endowed Distinguished Professorship. The position recognizes Zargar鈥檚 accomplishments and will allow him to advance his research, pedagogy and community outreach in the area of Islamic Studies.
For Zargar, this means furthering his long-term goal of building connections among students and faculty to talk about religion, theology and social issues.
鈥淚 hope to make 麻豆原创 a center of discussions鈥攁 center of learning where scholars and artists from around the U.S. and the world are heard by a curious and participating campus community,鈥� says Zargar.
Zargar, who joined the 麻豆原创 faculty last fall, has already made moves in advancing 麻豆原创鈥檚 . He hosted two public events in the fall, including a showing of the award-winning Iranian film The Color of Paradise, and is working with the university to create a new certificate in interfaith studies. His long-term goal is to build connections among students and faculty to talk about religion, theology and social issues.
Zargar believes 麻豆原创 is the optimal place for a program in Islamic Studies, which reaches into many disciplines, including religious studies, political science, modern languages and literature and more. 鈥溌槎乖� is not an ivory-tower sort of university,鈥� says Zargar. 鈥淚n each of the fields it offers for study, 麻豆原创 has deep connections to the Orlando community. Interdisciplinarity is not scoffed at as being beneath the specialist鈥攔ather, it鈥檚 encouraged. Change is not seen as de-evolution鈥攔ather, it鈥檚 embraced.鈥�
鈥淐ultural study is the best way I can think of to teach empathy, self-awareness and global understanding.鈥� 鈥� Jeff Moore, dean of College of Arts and Humanities
麻豆原创 Provost Elizabeth Dooley and College of Arts and Humanities Dean Jeff Moore presided over the investiture ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the 麻豆原创 FAIRWINDS Alumni Center.
鈥淐ultural study is the best way I can think of to teach empathy, self-awareness and global understanding,鈥� says Moore. 鈥淚 look forward to the growth of the Islamic Studies program at 麻豆原创 and to watching interfaith understanding and connectedness blossom under Dr. Zargar鈥檚 guidance.鈥�
The event was attended by many members of the Islamic Center of Orlando, including Imam Tariq Rasheed. Rasheed, a 麻豆原创 alumnus, led the charge in creating the new position by encouraging the financial support of hundreds of members of the Islamic Center.
鈥淧erhaps what makes this position so distinctive is that it was not founded by one wealthy benefactor, not a government, nor a corporation, but rather by the Islamic Center of Orlando,鈥� says Zargar. 鈥淐itizens of Orlando united by their common interest in promoting learning, dialogue, the study of religion, and the de-stigmatization of Islam and Muslims contributed to making their environment richer by giving of themselves.鈥�
The Al-Ghazali Endowed Professorship was started in 2005 and the Islamic Studies program in 2011 with the overall goal of promoting the understanding and appreciation of Islam and Muslim communities.
Learn more about the Islamic Studies program and Zargar at .
