Dr. Homayra Ziad is a spiritual seeker, scholar-activist and nationally recognized interfaith practitioner, and she has served in spiritual care and leadership roles in both Muslim and interreligious settings. Earning her doctorate in Religious Studies from Yale, with a special interest in Islamic spirituality, philosophical Sufism, and Indo-Persian textual traditions, Dr. Ziad has served universities, seminaries, and faith-based nonprofits with her community-engaged teaching and scholarship grounded in equitable, compassionate relationship-building. She was Senior Lecturer and Director of the Program in Islamic Studies at Johns Hopkins University where she received the undergraduate teaching award, and was recognized for her innovative teaching and mentorship. Before this, she was Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Trinity College and then Scholar of Islam at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where she spearheaded public engagement on Islam.

For two decades, Dr. Ziad has created educational and spiritual care programs that connect religion with the arts, public health, and mental health, and she has supported educators, activists, artists, and religious leaders in navigating pluralism and fostering networks of social change. While at Hopkins, she led a national faculty fellowship on community-engaged learning in Islamic Studies, partnered with American Muslim Health Professionals to mobilize students to address vaccine hesitancy and access in Muslim communities, and co-created Art, Religion and Cities with colleagues at Morgan State University and the Walters Art Museum. She also served on the founding teams of 99 Clay Vessels, an arts and social justice project by and for Muslim women, and Healing Khayal, a music and healing residency for young artists in Pakistan. Dr. Ziad was on the Board of the ACLU of Maryland and served for two years as Board President.

Dr. Ziad was founding co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s (AAR) Interreligious and Interfaith Studies Group. She writes for academic and popular venues, consults on programs for film and media, and is co-editor of Words to Live By: Sacred Sources for Interreligious Engagement (Orbis Press, 2018). Most recently, she served as Director of Campus Partnerships at Interfaith America. 

“We are so thrilled to have Dr. Homayra lead our Divinity Program and take our Hassan Institute to new levels of transformative engagement and impact. Her wisdom and pastoral spirit will bring so much guidance and support to our M.Div. students, and her rich interfaith experience and international network will elevate and expand the work of the Hassan Institute, in sha’ Allah. Welcome Dr. Homayra!”

Dr. Timothy J Gianotti, President

Meet New AIC Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Özdemir

 A former university president and internationally respected environmental philosopher, VPAA Özdemir shares how he will be a part of President Timothy’s team and how his leadership ethos shapes his engagement with students, faculty, and the broader AIC community.

Leading with an Open Heart and Mind

Four Ways AIC’s New Academic Leader Embodies Authenticity, Dialogue, and Shared Growth

Dr. Ibrahim Özdemir is the newly appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs of AIC. Known internationally for his scholarship in environmental ethics and interfaith dialogue, Özdemir brings with him not only a distinguished academic career but a deep commitment to inclusive, curiosity-driven, and student-centered education.

Having started in his new role on August 1^st, Dr. Özdemir is already gaining recognition across the AIC community for his warm, approachable presence and intellectually open spirit.

As a former university president and advisor to global sustainability initiatives, he brings a collaborative, service-oriented mindset to academic leadership. “We are not just preparing students for jobs—we’re preparing them to be compassionate and critically engaged global citizens,” Özdemir says.

Here are four ways Dr. Özdemir is helping shape a renewed academic culture at AIC—one rooted in shared inquiry, deep listening, and ethical leadership.

1. Lead as a Co-Learner and Collaborator

“In every setting—from meetings to talking with students—I don’t come with all the answers,” Dr. Özdemir says. “I come to learn as much as I come to lead.”

He invites colleagues and students to co-create solutions when discussing curriculum development or student research projects. “Great teams grow through mutual respect and the joy of discovery,” he adds. His academic philosophy is grounded in shura—the Islamic principle of collective consultation—and reflects his experience fostering inclusive dialogue across faiths and disciplines.

“As educators and leaders, we must embody the ethical integrity and open-mindedness we wish to inspire in our graduates. Let us remember that our beloved Prophet ﷺ was described as a ‘living Qur’an’—bringing the Qur’anic wisdom and values to life through his actions, character, and example.” — VPAA Özdemir.

2. Embrace and Admit Uncertainty

Dr. Özdemir quickly acknowledges when he doesn’t have an immediate answer. But rather than see that as a limitation, he views it as an invitation to engage.

“As a philosopher, I hold that authenticity carries greater weight than authority. When I don’t know something, I acknowledge it openly, inviting others to explore the answer with me.” — VPAA Özdemir.

This attitude creates space for shared problem-solving and allows AIC’s academic leadership to be transparent, reflective, and responsive. He frequently redirected questions to the faculty senate or student governance bodies, reinforcing their agency and voice in institutional decisions.

3. Ask Open-Ended, Meaningful Questions

Whether speaking with faculty over coffee or engaging students after Jumu’ah, Dr. Özdemir is known for his thoughtful questions:

• What inspires your work right now?
• What barriers to learning should we be addressing together?
• What makes you feel seen and heard at AIC?

He believes that good leadership begins by allowing others’ stories to emerge.

“We listen not just to respond, but to understand what kind of community we’re building together.”     — VPAA Özdemir.

4. Be an Active Listener, Always

For Dr. Özdemir, the most powerful ideas are rarely born in boardrooms—they emerge in genuine conversation. A self-described student of Socrates, he applies the Socratic method across his academic and professional life, guided by the conviction that “dialogue is a form of mutual care.”

His leadership style is grounded in attentiveness—keeping his ear to the ground, learning as much from hallway exchanges as formal meetings. Whether advising students on their capstone projects or mentoring faculty toward publication, he meets people where they are. “We are shaping something greater than ourselves,” he often reminds his colleagues, “and that requires attention to both vision and voice.”

Drawing on his experience with UNESCO’s environmental ethics initiative, Dr. Özdemir extends this principle beyond the campus. He urges institutions to recognize that fundamental transformation begins when academic goals align with moral responsibility—to the Earth, society, and future generations.

Looking Ahead: AIC’s Promise for Transformative Education

As American Islamic College expands its academic programs, strengthens interfaith engagement, and prepares students for leadership in a complex world, Dr. Ibrahim Özdemir remains focused on one guiding mission: cultivating a culture of learning grounded in integrity, openness, and hope—values envisioned by the late Ismail R. al-Faruqi as the enduring spirit of AIC.

“Our role is to teach facts and help students cultivate wisdom, humility, and courage. That’s what an Islamic liberal arts education is truly about.” — VPAA Özdemir

We are delighted to introduce Dr. İbrahim Özdemir as AIC’s new Interim VP for Academic Affairs and welcome him to the talented, diverse, and growing AIC team. Dr. Ibrahim is a professor of environmental philosophy, and his works span the fields of environmental philosophy and ethics, ecology and religion, practical ethics, philosophical counseling, critical thinking, and Islamic philosophy. More specifically, his work explores the ethical responsibilities of individuals, communities, and governments towards the environment and advocates for a more sustainable and ecologically conscious approach to human activities.

Dr. Ibrahim has held teaching and senior administrative positions at universities in Turkiye, the US, and Finland since 1992. These include Harvard university, Hartford International University (formerly Hartford Seminary), Uskudar University, Abo Akademi University, and University of Turku – Finland. A widely respected Muslim environmentalist and lecturer, he is a life member of the World of Philosophy and the Turkish Association of Philosophy. In addition to his own scholarly books, articles, and presentations, he has served as a member of the drafting team for the Islamic Declaration for Global Climate Change (2015) and Environment, Religion and Culture in the Context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2016), which was published by UNEP. Presently, he is a core member of the draft team preparing the “al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth” document, which will be presented to UN.

He was noted in the book, Contemporary Thought in the Muslim World: Trends, Themes, and Issues by Carool Kersten (Routledge Press, 2019), as “the most prominent Islamic environmentalist in Turkey for many years”.

Welcome, Dr. Ibrahim!

American Islamic College has achieved membership with NC-SARA, State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, which authorizes AIC to provide quality distance learning to students across the United States, Alhumdulillah!

To students living outside Illinois (across the USA and across the globe): This is your opportunity to access a faith-rooted, academically rigorous education in Islamic studies—right from your home state. We warmly encourage you to apply and become part of our growing, diverse online learning community.

American Islamic College’s application for the Dana Abadi Pesantren Micro-Credential 2024 Initiative was selected by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs resulting in a global partnership for intercultural and interreligious education. The Hassan Institute was honored to welcome 20 Indonesian scholars and teachers who journeyed for a 2-month non-degree certificate program titled “Religion, Peace, and Encounter: An AIC Certificate Program in Interreligious Peacebuilding.”

The program offered structured academic coursework and experiential learning opportunities through coordinated site visits to academic, civic, and religious facilities, as well as planned dialogue events across Chicagoland, as well as a trip to Washington D.C. The participants met with and learned from expert faculty and dedicated leaders about inter-and intra-religious understanding, cross-cultural dialogue, conflict management, and peace-building initiatives. In turn, we learned from them about their experience with religious moderation and madrasa education in Indonesia. View their public talk at AIC here. These exchanges were transformative in a multitude of ways and we were so grateful to have had these encounters, alhumdulillah.

Thank you to all the organizations that welcomed the delegation to learn more about your important work.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and The City of Chicago
The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition
Interfaith America
Catholic Theological Union
World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations
Masjid al-Taqwa
Mosque Maryam
Salaam Community Center
Sajida House
Turkish American Society of Chicago
Mosque Foundation
Universal School
Viator House
The University of Notre Dame, Ansari Institute
The Lutheran School of Theology, CCME
The University of Chicago, Middle East Studies & Divinity School
Seldon Institute
CAIR-Chicago
Ta’Leef Collective
Darussalaam
MECCA Center
Bahai Temple
Indonesia Consulate General
The Zoroastrian Center of Chicago
Chicago Dawoodi Bohra Community – Masjid Anjuman-e-Saifee
Macedonian Orthodox Church Sv Kiril i Metodij

The expansive book by Dr. Omer Awass, Fatwa and the Making and Renewal of Islamic Law: From the Classical Period to the Present (2023), might be considered the culmination of a scholar’s lifelong research. For Dr. Awass, it’s just the start.

This winter break he spent in Dali, Yunnan province, China, where he immersed himself in Chinese language and culture. Over the last few years he has been studying Chinese with the aim of eventually being able to read Chinese historical texts. “After thoroughly exploring how Muslims have rationalized about the world,” he wonders, “How is it that other civilizations have reasoned? Long term, I would like to do a comparative view of the intellectual history of China.”

This Spring at American Islamic College, he is teaching Introduction to the Science of Hadith, Islamic History & Civilization 1800-Present, and a graduate course on Hadith Sciences. The history course parallels his forthcoming book, due out in 2026, Imposing Modernity in the Global South: Studies in the Coloniality and Decoloniality of Muslim Societies, a series of studies over the past two centuries concerning issues of coloniality and decoloniality. When talking about hadith sciences, he gets animated. “It’s really a uniquely developed way of doing historiography unlike other civilizations. The methodology is a distinct way of preserving history and historical reasoning. Here at AIC we get to teach our students these different ways of thinking. Hadith science wouldn’t be taught this way at other institutions,” he says. Beyond looking at it theoretically, he trains students to investigate hadith and practice the methodology. With so much focus on the breadth of history, when asked what he thinks about the future of Islamic law in light of the massive changes in technology and the impact of AI, he remarks, “Rationality is one of the characteristics that defines us as humans. How much of our own rationality are we going to surrender, instead of developing that which defines us? How can we purposefully use AI to enhance our humanity and not diminish it?”

Walking helps clear his mind, and he is drawn to doing his research by the water – whether that’s Lake Michigan in Chicago or Lake Erhai in Dali, Yunnan Province, China.

Dr. Omer Awass is Associate Professor of Arabic & Islamic Studies and the Director of the MA program in Islamic Studies at American Islamic College.

By Stephanie Mirza, Staff Writer

Dr. Shabana Mir’s fall courses on Islam & Gender, Cultural Anthropology, and Research Methods all relate to her extensive travels. Over the winter break, for example, she traveled to Pakistan, where she spoke at Lahore College for Women University on “The Religious Politics of Domination and Control in Marriage: Qualitative and Textual Analysis.” Reflecting now on the subsequent audience discussion she remarks, “Things are changing. Women (in Pakistan) are essential members of the economy and are in touch with the global discourse.” Women’s disempowerment is still a cultural issue, but she finds hope in the younger generation of men, such as those who choose to shut down jokes about polygamy.

Her spring courses at AIC couldn’t be more timely in the light of current events in the United States. They include, Introduction to Political Science, Islam in America, and, at the graduate level, Special Topics: Islam in World Cinema. The film course focuses on the representation of Islam and Muslims in popular media. While we are well aware of overt Islamophobic patterns in Hollywood, Dr. Mir points out that seemingly benign Islamophilic films can be subversive as well. She gives the example of Victoria and Abdul (2017), the British biographical historical film in which Abdul, a Muslim from India, piques Queen Victoria’s interest. As Dr. Mir points out, however fondly the Queen regards Abdul, his place is always that of a servant. In addition to the lineup of movies on the Muslim experience she selects for the class, Dr. Mir solicits suggestions from the students at the beginning of the term for possible inclusion in the syllabus. When it comes to teaching political science and Islam in America, she goes beyond the textbook approach to bring in critical readings to understand not just the theory, but the reality on the ground. She invites leaders of non-profit organizations , such as Muslims for Just Futures and CAIR, to talk to the class about their grassroots work to combat Islamophobia.

One of the first things you learn about Dr. Shabana Mir is her care and concern for students. Her keen observation picks up when a student is struggling, or when they’re having that lightbulb moment. When asked what activity makes her lose track of time, she replies instantly, “Gardening. I can work 10 hours in the garden and still feel energized.” She loves the coneflowers and cupped roses, yet when she describes them you get the sense she could be talking about her students. “When you’re a gardener, you notice, ‘that plant has a new leaf today’ – it’s so exciting.”

We are both honored and excited to be hosting an Indonesian delegation of 20 religious teachers and scholars who will be with us through December for a study exchange program. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is working with us as we journey through this 2-month non-degree certificate program titled “Religion, Peace, and Encounter: An AIC Certificate Program in Interreligious Peacebuilding.”

The program offers structured academic coursework and experiential learning opportunities through coordinated site visits to academic, civic, and religious facilities, as well as planned dialogue events. The 20 Indonesian delegates will meet with and learn from expert faculty and dedicated leaders about inter-and intra-religious understanding, cross-cultural dialogue, conflict management, and peace-building initiatives. In turn, we are learning from them about their experience with religious moderation and madrasa education in Indonesia.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Mahan Mirza to the talented, diverse, and growing AIC team. Dr. Mahan serves as the Executive Director of the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at the University of Notre Dame. The Ansari Institute is part of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, where he also serves as a Teaching Professor. Acting as a living bridge between Notre Dame and AIC, Dr. Mahan will continue to direct the Ansari Institute while assuming his new responsibilities as AIC’s chief academic officer in 2024-2025. Like AIC, Notre Dame is a faith-based institution that fosters academic freedom, celebrates diversity, and advances social justice as it seeks “to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good” (https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/mission/). We look forward to fruitful collaborations in the many areas where our institutional missions and visions align, in sha’ allah. As a graduate of Notre Dame myself, I am particularly excited about the possibility of such collaborations.

Dr. Mahan earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Texas Austin, his MA from Hartford Seminary in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, and his PhD in Religious Studies (specializing in Islamic Studies) from Yale University. His doctoral research was on the intellectual world of al-Biruni, an 11th-century Muslim scientist from Central Asia, and Dr. Mahan has an abiding research interest in field of cosmology. At Notre Dame, he was responsible for implementing Madrasa Discourses, a project led by Prof. Ebrahim Moosa to advance scientific and theological literacy at the Keough School’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Prior to that, he served as Dean of Faculty at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide range of courses in Arabic and Islamic studies, western religions, history of science, and global affairs, along with foundational subjects in the Liberal Arts, including logic, rhetoric, ethics, and politics. Dr. Mahan has also edited two special issues of The Muslim World and has served as assistant editor of The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought. His recent articles include “Deed over idea: Toward a shared Caliphate” (2022), “Between Tyranny and Anarchy: Islam, Covid 19, and Public Policy” (2023), and “Divine Command and Religious Liberty: A Theological Reflection on Islamic Constitutionalism” (2024).

Dr. Mahan comes to AIC at a critically important time. With our academic accreditation now secured, he will, in sha’ allah, help to guide the process of growing the College into a vibrant American university that is proudly Muslim, firmly committed to the benefit of all of humankind, and deeply conscious of our responsibilities as stewards of the creation. Welcome, Dr. Mahan!

Timothy J. Gianotti, Ph.D.
President and Acting Provost