American Islamic College and The Islamic Seminary of America Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen the Future of Muslim Higher Education

July 29, 2026

American Islamic College (AIC) and The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership that brings together two institutions committed to strengthening the future of Islamic education in America.

This collaboration represents a shared vision: to cultivate generations of thoughtful, ethical, and engaged scholars and leaders who are deeply grounded in Islamic tradition while prepared to contribute meaningfully to the complex realities of contemporary society.

AIC’s longstanding commitment to academically rigorous higher education, rooted in Islamic values and enriched by the diversity of Islamic intellectual traditions, aligns with TISA’s mission to cultivate generations of world class doers and thinkers who lead from an Islamic paradigm while engaging contemporary challenges and opportunities. Together, the institutions seek to expand opportunities for students through innovative educational pathways, meaningful collaboration, and a renewed investment in the future of Muslim scholarship and leadership.

Through this partnership, AIC and TISA will explore opportunities to strengthen academic programming, expand educational access, support student development, and create new avenues for learners seeking both traditional Islamic scholarship and a comprehensive higher education experience.

As part of this new chapter, American Islamic College is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. James E. Jones as Interim President.

Dr. Jones brings more than four decades of experience in higher education teaching, academic leadership, religious studies,organization development and community engagement. He is Professor Emeritus of World Religions and former Chair of both the Department of World Religions and the African Studies Program at Manhattanville University and one of the founders of the Islamic Seminary of America. His scholarship and professional work in the United States and abroad have focused on the sociocultural impact of prejudice and the intersections of race, gender, and religion.

Dr. Jones holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace with a focus on Christian-Muslim relations and a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School. He has served as a scholar, educator, institutional leader, and mentor, bringing extensive experience in interfaith engagement, religious studies, and higher education administration.

In his role as President, Dr. Jones will help guide AIC during this transitional period of growth and collaboration, working alongside institutional leadership to advance academic excellence, strengthen operations, and support the shared mission of expanding meaningful educational opportunities for students.

“In today’s divisive and fractured world, it is now more important than ever that like-minded higher education institutions work together for the purpose of nurturing ethical and effective leadership. I am humbled and honored that AIC’s Board chose me to lead AIC as it endeavors to strengthen Islamically rooted education in North America “- Dr. James Jones.

Together, American Islamic College and The Islamic Seminary of America look forward to building a future where faith, scholarship, and service come together to prepare thinkers, chaplains, Imams, scholars, and leaders to contribute to the betterment of the world.