Find Academic Supervisors

Malika Zeghal is the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Professor in Contemporary Islamic Thought and Life at Harvard University's Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (1994). Her research focuses on Islam and politics in the modern Middle East, including modern Muslim states' religious institutions and Islamist movements' intellectual genealogies. She is affiliated with the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, the Committee on the Study of Religion, and Tunisia's Beit al-Hikma Academy. Her major works include studies on al-Azhar's Egyptian ulama, Moroccan Islamism, and modern Muslim state governance. Her 2024 book on state custodianship of Islam in MENA region was recently published. Current projects include the Afkar digital map of 1920-1930s Islamic intellectual networks in Maghrib and Egypt, supported by the Lasky-Barajas Dean’s Innovation Fund. She has received the French Voices-Pen American Center Award for her 2008 book on Moroccan Islamism. Her advisory work involves mentoring graduate students in NELC and welcoming PhD applicants across diverse topics.

• Islam and Politics in the Modern Middle East
• Modern Muslim States and Religious Institutions
• Intellectual and Political Genealogies of Islamist Movements
• +3 more

Nalini Iyer is a Professor of English at Seattle University, affiliated with the Department of English and the African and African American Studies Program. She holds the Wismer Professorship and the Theiline Pigott-McCone Endowed Chair in the Humanities. Her research focuses on Global Anglophone Literature, Postcolonial Studies, South Asian and Postcolonial African Literature, and Transnational Feminism. Dr. Iyer earned her Ph.D. in English from Purdue University. She teaches courses such as Literature of India, African Literature, and Asian American Literatures, emphasizing postcolonial perspectives and diasporic narratives. She serves as Editor of the South Asian Review and has held leadership roles in the Modern Language Association and the South Asian Literary Association. Her research explores themes like the hegemony of Anglophone writing, diaspora studies, and Partition Studies. Recent publications include Teaching Anglophone South Asian Diasporic Literature (2024) and articles on Muslim representation in American literature and trauma narratives in South Asian texts. Her work bridges literary analysis with feminist, race, and caste critiques. Awardees of her endowed chairs reflect her scholarly impact. She has authored/co-authored books on South Asian diasporas in the Pacific Northwest, language debates in Indian literature, and postcolonial canons. Her academic contributions span pedagogy, critical biographies, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Iyer’s advising and grants focus on fostering inclusive literary education and amplifying marginalized voices. She collaborates with institutions globally, contributing to transnational scholarly networks.

• Global Anglophone Literature
• Postcolonial Studies
• South Asian Literature
• +4 more

Waleed F. Mahdi is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma’s David L. Boren College of International Studies, holding joint appointments in International & Area Studies, Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, and Film and Media Studies. He specializes in US-Arab cultural politics, focusing on cultural representation, identity politics, and visual studies. Mahdi earned his PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota (2015), MA in Cultural Studies from the University of New Mexico (2008), and BA in English Literature from Taiz University, Yemen (2003). His research explores intersections of imperial security, diasporic agency, and cinematic representation. Notable works include Arab Americans in Film (2020) and his current book project on Yemen’s visual agency. He co-directs the Center for Middle East Studies and serves as President of the Arab American Studies Association (AASA). Mahdi has received prestigious awards like the 2023 Arts and Humanities Faculty Fellowship and the 2021 Arab America Foundation’s “40 Under 40” honor. Mahdi’s teaching spans courses on US-Arab relations, global Islamophobia, and Arab visual cultures. He has led multi-institutional research collaborations, including projects with Columbia University and the Doha Institute. His scholarly contributions challenge dominant narratives through edited volumes like The Aesthetics of Dissent (2020) and MENA Migrants and Diasporas (2022). His research emphasizes marginalized voices, redefining fields like Arab American Studies by centering peripheral communities. Mahdi’s work bridges academia and activism, addressing urgent issues like Yemeni agency amid war and diasporic struggles.

• US-Arab Cultural Politics
• Cultural Representation
• Identity Politics
• +6 more

Alexandra Montero Peters is an Assistant Professor of Medieval European History at Northwestern University. She specializes in cross-cultural intellectual exchanges in the medieval Mediterranean, with a focus on Muslim-Christian-Jewish relations, premodern race and gender, and codicology. Her current book project, Representations of Power: Alfonso X, the Book of Games, and the Islamic Tradition , examines how medieval rulers articulated authority through cross-confessional intellectual traditions. Geographic Focus: Middle Eastern and North African History, Iberia Thematic Focus: Political and Policy History, War and Empire, Religious History Her research has been supported by prestigious grants including the American Association of University Women, Erasmus+, and the Medieval Academy of America. She previously taught at Texas State University and Bowdoin College. Active in Material History Lab at Harris 108 (Leopold Room) Expertise in analyzing Arabic and Castilian manuscripts Developing second monograph on racialized representations of India in medieval Christian and Islamic traditions

• Medieval European History
• Middle Eastern and North African History
• Medieval and Early Modern European History
• +7 more

Edward E. Curtis, IV is the Millennium Chair of the Liberal Arts and Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His scholarship focuses on Islam and Muslims in the United States and the African Diaspora, with works such as Muslims in America: A Short History and the Encyclopedia of Muslim-American History gaining critical acclaim. He co-founded the Journal of Africana Religions and has received prestigious fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Fulbright, and other institutions. Key Research Areas: African-American Religions, Islamic Studies in the U.S., Religious Diversity Awards: NEH, Carnegie, Fulbright, Mellon, AAR, and National Humanities Center fellowships/grants In his 2016 blog post Teaching Islam as a Black Religion , Curtis emphasizes challenging simplistic narratives of Islam through pedagogy that acknowledges its global diversity and combats both Islamophobia and Islamophilia. His work intersects with themes of race, religion, and anti-racist education.

• Religious Studies
• African-American Religions
• Islam in America
• +3 more

Reem Abou-Samra is a Lecturer in the Department of American Culture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Wayne State University, with minors in World and American Politics, and dual Master's degrees in Political Science and Near Eastern Studies. Her research focuses on identity politics, Islamic studies, and the intersection of race, religion, and power in American and Middle Eastern contexts. She teaches courses on Arab American Studies and utilizes a dialectical approach emphasizing agency and structure in her pedagogy. Education: Ph.D., Political Science (Political Theory), Wayne State University, 2014 M.A., Political Science (Political Theory), Wayne State University, 2012 M.A., Classical Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (Arabic and Islam), Wayne State University, 2009 B.A., Political Science, University of Massachusetts, 2006 Research Interests: Muslim American identity and patriotism, Pan-Arabism, hadith authentication, Du Boisian theory, and the cultural history of SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) regions. Teaching: Courses include 'Arab in America' and 'Introduction to Arab-American Studies.' Her pedagogy emphasizes interactive discussions to empower students' agency in shaping narratives and environments. Labs/Teams: Engaged with interdisciplinary research in American Culture and Arab/Muslim American Studies programs at the University of Michigan.

• American Studies
• Arab and Muslim American Studies
• Political Theory
• +4 more

Hussein Fancy is an Associate Professor of History at Yale University, on leave for the 2024-2025 academic year. He holds a B.A. in English from Yale and a Ph.D. in History from Princeton University. His research focuses on medieval Europe and the Islamic world, particularly the intersection of religious, legal, and economic systems in the Mediterranean. Fancy previously taught at the University of Michigan for 11 years and has held fellowships including the Carnegie Scholar and Rome Prize Fellow. Key research interests include medieval Iberia, North Africa, and the socio-legal frameworks shaping Mediterranean interactions. His award-winning book The Mercenary Mediterranean examines Muslim soldiers in the Crown of Aragon, while recent projects explore criminal merchants and Western views of Islam across history. He has edited volumes like What Was the Islamic Conquest of Iberia? and serves on academic boards such as the Medieval Academy of America. Fancy’s work bridges multiple disciplines, using Latin, Arabic, and Romance sources to challenge traditional historiographies. His honors include the Herbert Baxter Adams Prize and L. Carl Brown Prize.

• Medieval European and Islamic History
• Medieval Iberia and North Africa
• Social History
• +4 more

Robert Ridinger is a Professor at Northern Illinois University's University Libraries, specializing in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sexuality, religion, and cultural history. His expertise spans LGBT Studies, Religious Studies, and Anthropology, with significant contributions to documenting marginalized communities through bibliographic scholarship and archival development. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Anthropology and German from the University of Pittsburgh (1972), a Master of Library Science from the same institution (1973), and a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Case Western Reserve University (1976). Ridinger's research focuses on the historical and theological dimensions of LGBT communities, religious minorities, and cultural narratives. His work bridges library science with social justice, emphasizing archival preservation for underrepresented groups. Key themes include transgender studies, male sex work, LGBT Muslims, and the documentation of regional LGBT histories, particularly in Illinois and Germany. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent engagement with evolving fields: 40% examine LGBT history/documentation, 30% analyze religious narratives (especially Christian and Islamic contexts), and 20% address bibliographic/methodological approaches. His scholarship demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary convergence, with recent works integrating public health (pandemic literature) and archaeological history. No scientific awards are documented in the available information. Ridinger has significantly shaped LGBT scholarship through reference works and collection development rather than formal student advising. His contributions include foundational bibliographies like 'The Gay and Lesbian Movement: References and Resources' (1996) and 'An Index to the ADVOCATE' (1987), establishing critical infrastructure for researchers. No grant information is specified in the current profile. As a subject specialist for African American Studies, Anthropology, Geography, Gerontology, Hydrology, LGBT Studies, Latino Studies, Meteorology, Sociology, and Soil Science, Ridinger operates within NIU's University Libraries framework, leveraging library science methodologies to advance research in marginalized fields through collection curation and bibliographic guidance.

• LGBT Studies
• Religious Studies
• Anthropology
• +5 more

Melani McAlister is Professor of American Studies and International Affairs at the George Washington University, where she has been a faculty member since 1996. Her research and teaching focus on transnational U.S. history, religion and politics, media and cultural history, and U.S. engagements with the Middle East and Africa. She is a leading scholar in the cultural dimensions of American foreign relations and evangelical internationalism. Education: PhD in American Studies, Brown University, 1996 BA in International Affairs, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 1984 (Morehead Scholar) Her research interests include: Transnational U.S. History and Global Visions Religion and Politics, particularly Evangelical Christianity U.S.-Middle East and U.S.-Africa Cultural Encounters Media, Popular Culture, and Digital Humanities Humanitarianism and Affective Politics in the Cold War Postcolonial and Decolonial Solidarity Movements McAlister’s recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with the cultural history of American foreign policy, the global circulation of religious and artistic expressions, and the emotional and moral frameworks shaping U.S. internationalism. Her work spans books, edited volumes, journal articles, and public scholarship in major outlets like The New York Times and The Atlantic. She has pioneered digital humanities projects such as Remembering Biafra and the GWU Covid and Culture Project , demonstrating a commitment to public and collaborative scholarship. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Harvard-Radcliffe Fellow (2023–24) NEH Fellowship Fellow, Davis Center for Historical Studies, Princeton Faculty Fellow, Annenberg School, University of Pennsylvania Fellow, Center for the Study of Religion, Princeton Morehead Scholar, UNC-Chapel Hill Advising and Grants: While no direct student advisees are listed, McAlister has supervised graduate students through GWU’s American Studies PhD program and offers detailed advice on graduate education. She has led grant-funded projects including the NEH-supported Remembering Biafra and has received institutional and national fellowships supporting her research. She co-edits major scholarly volumes and serves on editorial boards of American Historical Review , Modern American History , and Diplomatic History . Labs and Research Teams: McAlister directs digital history initiatives and collaborative research projects. She led the Remembering Biafra project, which involved a major conference and digital archive. She also co-edited a special issue of American Quarterly titled From Anarchy to Chaos: Generations of Empire , assembling a broad scholarly team. Her current work on The Art of Solidarity involves transnational cultural case studies and builds on collaborative networks in American Studies.

• Transnational U.S. History
• American Studies
• International Affairs
• +11 more

Karen Graubart is a Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in colonial Latin America, Spanish language and literature, Islamic studies, gender and sexuality, legal history, race and ethnicity, and Atlantic world studies. She is available to direct dissertations and has been recognized for her scholarly contributions. Education: Ph.D., University of Massachusetts - Amherst Research Interests: Karen's work examines early modern Spanish Empire structures through the lens of religious and racial self-governance, focusing on marginalized communities' agency in Seville and Peru. Her innovative methodology combines GIS mapping with traditional archival research, challenging Eurocentric narratives in Atlantic world studies. Scientific Awards: Transatlantic Studies Association Book Prize (2022) for Republics of Difference Ligia Parra Jahn Prize (2007) for With Our Labor and Sweat Grants & Fellowships: Her research has been supported by prestigious institutions including the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council of Learned Societies, John Carter Brown Library, American Association of University Women, and Fulbright programs.

• History
• Spanish Language and Literature
• Islamic Studies
• +10 more

Su’ad Abdul Khabeer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University, where she integrates cultural anthropology, performance art, and activism to examine intersections of race, religion, and popular culture in American Muslim communities, with particular focus on African American experiences. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Princeton University, a degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, and an Islamic studies diploma from Abu Nour University in Damascus. This multidisciplinary training informs her innovative methodological approach blending ethnographic research with artistic expression. Khabeer's research centers on how Muslim communities, especially youth, navigate racial formations through cultural production like hip hop. She investigates how Black Muslim identities challenge dominant racial paradigms while creating alternative frameworks for citizenship and belonging. Her work emphasizes performance as both analytical tool and community engagement strategy, revealing how popular culture becomes a site for religious and racial negotiation. Her publications consistently explore themes of Islam in America, hip hop as cultural resistance, and African American Muslim identity formation across historical and contemporary contexts. These works demonstrate an evolving trajectory from linguistic studies to broader examinations of race-religion intersections in popular culture. Khabeer leads Sapelo Square, a pioneering digital humanities project documenting African American Muslim experiences, and served as Senior Project Advisor for the award-winning documentary New Muslim Cool . Her performance ethnography Sampled: Beats of Muslim Life translates academic research into accessible artistic formats, while her poetry in Living Islam Out Loud amplifies women's voices in Muslim American communities.

• Cultural Anthropology
• Race and Ethnicity
• Islam in America
• +5 more

Dr. John Tofik Karam is a Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding appointments in Spanish and Portuguese, Asian American Studies, and serving as Acting Director of the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. His work bridges the Middle East and Latin America through transnational Arab diaspora studies. Education: PhD in Anthropology, Syracuse University (2004) MA in Anthropology, Syracuse University (2000) BA in Anthropology, University of Rochester (1996) Karam's research focuses on the intersections of Arab diasporas with South American geopolitics, neoliberalism, and U.S. exceptionalism. Notable works include his award-winning book Another Arabesque and co-edited volume Crescent over Another Horizon , examining Islamic presence in the Americas. Recent projects explore Arab-Brazilian lobbying under Bolsonaro and Muslim philanthropy in border regions. His publications span journals like Journal of American Ethnic History and Brasiliana: Journal for Brazilian Studies , analyzing themes from 20th-century Arab migration to post-9/11 surveillance. Awards include the LASA Brazil Section Prize and Fulbright in 2019-20.

• Transnational Studies
• Diaspora Studies
• Middle Eastern Studies
• +7 more

Omid Safi is a Professor in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, Durham, NC. He specializes in Islamic Studies with a focus on Sufism, religious pluralism, and contemporary Muslim intellectual movements. Safi holds a B.A. (1992), M.A. (1997), and Ph.D. (2000) in Religious Studies from Duke University, where his mentorship and collaborative networks remain central to his academic identity. His work bridges premodern Islamic thought and modern challenges, emphasizing progressive reform, gender equality, and interfaith dialogue. Education: B.A. in Religious Studies, Duke University (1992) M.A. in Religious Studies, Duke University (1997) Ph.D. in Religious Studies, Duke University (2000) Research Interests: Safi explores the intersection of Sufi mysticism and modern Islamic reform, advocating for inclusive interpretations of scripture and tradition. He emphasizes the role of love, humility, and social justice in Islamic practice. His writings address topics such as post-9/11 Muslim identity, gender equality in Islam, and the ethical dimensions of governance. Advising & Grants: While no specific grants or advisees are listed, his academic leadership and mentorship are evident through his involvement in graduate education and interdisciplinary initiatives. His publications reflect collaborations with scholars across religious traditions and fields. Labs/Teams: While no formal lab affiliations are noted, his work is part of Duke’s broader Religious Studies program and engages with global academic networks focused on Islamic Studies and interfaith dialogue.

• Islamic Studies
• Religious Studies
• Sufism
• +5 more

Marcia Inhorn is the William K. Lanman Jr. Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs at Yale University, affiliated with the MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. She also chairs the Council on Middle East Studies and previously served as Past-President of the Society for Medical Anthropology. Her research focuses on science and technology studies, gender theory, bioethics, and global health, with over 20 years of fieldwork on infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in the Middle East, Arab America, and beyond. She has authored landmark books like Local Babies, Global Science and edited volumes such as Reproductive Disruptions , earning prestigious awards for feminist anthropological research. Inhorn has held visiting professorships in Lebanon and the UAE, and her current work challenges neo-Orientalist stereotypes through studies of Middle Eastern masculinities and reproductive tourism. She co-edits the Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies and advocates for equitable access to fertility care globally. In teaching, she offers courses on intersectionality and women’s health, masculinity studies, and global health anthropology. Her work bridges academia and public health, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to reproductive justice and cultural diversity. Inhorn’s grants include NSF and Fulbright-Hays support, and she actively critiques global health inequities exacerbated by technological and cultural disparities. Her forthcoming book Reconceiving Middle Eastern Manhood redefines masculinities in the context of modern biotechnologies and post-9/11 geopolitics. Education Background: Advanced degrees in anthropology (not explicitly detailed in text) Key Contributions: Pioneered ethnographic studies of ARTs in Muslim contexts; founded JMEWS; developed frameworks linking gender and global health Grants: National Science Foundation (NSF), Fulbright-Hays Labs/Teams: Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies (UMichigan, prior affiliation)

• Medical Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Reproductive Technologies
• +5 more

Professor Fallou Ngom is a Professor at the African Studies Center, Boston University. His research focuses on African intellectual histories, Islam in Africa, Ajami literatures, and sociolinguistics. He holds offices at PLS 507, 232 Bay State Road. His work bridges linguistic anthropology, religious studies, and African diaspora scholarship. Education: PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign MA, University of Montana BA, Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis Research Interests: Explores written histories of Africa through Ajami manuscripts, language contact dynamics, and grassroots Islamic literacies. Examines intersections between Islam and African Traditional Religions, with focus on West Africa and the diaspora. Utilizes multidisciplinary approaches to document endangered linguistic and religious practices. Awards & Grants: Recipient of Fulbright, ACLS, and Guggenheim fellowships. Recent projects supported by British Library Endangered Archives Programme and National Endowment for the Humanities. Awarded 2017 Melville J. Herskovits Prize for his seminal book on Ajami and the Murīdiyya. Courses Taught: Includes 'Islam in Africa', 'Sociolinguistics', 'Language Contact in Africa', and 'Literacy and Islam in Africa'. Labs/Initiatives: Leads projects on digital preservation of West African manuscripts, collaborating with institutions like the British Library to safeguard endangered cultural archives.

• Islam in Africa
• Ajami Studies
• African Muslims in the Americas
• +3 more