Community Conversation with Dr. Aisha El-Amin and Imam Tariq El-Amin
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Dr. Aisha El-Amin
Aisha El-Amin holds a PhD in Policy Studies in Urban Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a Masters of Education from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of Maryland- European Division. Dr. El-Amin is passionate about issues of equity and justice in education. These passions have led her to become an Illinois State Board of Education Certified K-9th grade teacher, an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, an elected school board member for Community Consolidated School District #168, appointed board member for Routledge journal, Religion and Education, board vice-chair for Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago and board member with Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). Additionally, Dr. El-Amin has served in several roles at University of Illinois at Chicago as a multi-million dollar education grant manager, director of The Council on Teacher Education, Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Education, Associate Provost and Chief of Staff for the Provost, and currently Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Belonging.
Dr. El-Amin’s education and experience have allowed her to be the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Muslim Women’s Alliance 2016 Inspiring Women’s Award, Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship, Illinois Veterans Grant and DePaul/Glenview Clinical Model Scholar and Rainbow Push Excellence in Education Award. Dr. El-Amin’s activism is best captured in her historic leadership roles with various Chicago based organizations. Some of her roles included coordinating committee member of Teachers for Social Justice, co-founder of Bridging the Gap Inc., co-chair of Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) Takin’ it to the Streets event logistics, and co-chair of the Public School Initiative for Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).
Imam Tariq El-Amin
Imam El-Amin has served as the Resident Imam & Chairman of the Board of Masjid Al-Taqwa (since 2013). Servant, and Participatory leadership ground his leadership and community building philosophy. He is an active part of local, national, and international Inter & Intrafaith Community efforts. Imam El-Amin’s convictions have led him serve as a board member of The Abolotion Institute (an international anti-slavery nonprofit), supporting their work here and abroad.
In the past, Imam Tariq has served as the nightly host/producer of Radio Islam, a live talk program where he conversed with politicians, artists, activists, etc, and also gave social commentary on the issues of the day. He is the former Director of Civic Engagement & Interfaith Services at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and a past appointee to the Illinois Muslim Advisory Council, established by former Governor Pat Quinn.
Imam Tariq is looking forward completing a Masters Of Divinity, with a focus on Islamic Chaplaincy from Bayan Islamic Graduate School/Chicago Theological Seminary.