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Frank Griffel is the Louis M. Rabinowitz Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University, where he has been teaching since 2000. His academic work is deeply rooted in Islamic intellectual history, focusing on theology, philosophy, and the interplay between reason and revelation. He holds a PhD from the Freie Universität Berlin and previously worked as a research fellow at the Orient Institute in Beirut. University: Yale University Department: Department of Religious Studies Academic Rank: Professor His research expertise lies in classical and post-classical Islamic philosophy, particularly the works of al-Ghazālī, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Avicenna, and Averroes. He has made significant contributions to understanding how philosophical discourse evolved in the Islamic world after the so-called classical period, challenging the notion of decline and highlighting the emergence of new genres such as ḥikma . His scholarship bridges theology and philosophy, examining how Muslim thinkers reconciled Aristotelian and Neoplatonic ideas with Islamic doctrine. Griffel’s most recent major work, The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam (2021), redefines the field by demonstrating the continuity and innovation in 12th-century Islamic thought. His earlier book, Al-Ghazali’s Philosophical Theology (2009), is widely regarded as a seminal study. He has also published extensively on topics such as apostasy, virtue ethics, and the reception of philosophical texts, with articles spanning from 2011 to 2025. His work often appears in major academic handbooks and journals, and he has edited and translated key texts into German, Arabic, and Turkish. Islamic Philosophy Islamic Theology (Kalām) Post-Classical Islamic Thought Al-Ghazālī Studies Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī Avicenna and Averroes Griffel has contributed to collaborative volumes such as Shari’a: Islamic Law in the Contemporary Context and Islam and Rationality , and his research engages with both historical and contemporary debates in Islamic thought. He has no listed scientific awards or students in the provided texts, but his influence is evident through citations and scholarly engagement. He maintains an active research profile, with recent publications addressing ambiguity, contradiction, and the popularization of philosophy in medieval Islam. He has held affiliations with the University of Oxford as a Faculty Member in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, indicating a strong international academic presence. His work continues to shape the understanding of Islamic intellectual history, particularly in the West.

• Islamic Philosophy
• Islamic Theology
• Islamic Law
• +13 more

Alexander Key is an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford University, specializing in Classical Arabic literature and the intellectual history of Arabic and Persian-speaking worlds from the 7th century onwards. His scholarship focuses on the philosophy of language, literary theory, and cross-cultural translation. Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University (2012) Current research: Arabo-Persian linguistic intersections, poetics in translation, and pre-modern theories of syntax and affect His articles span diverse eras and topics, including: Medieval Arabic language philosophy (5th–11th century) Modern Arabic political poetry analysis (20th–21st century) Comparative methodologies bridging Islamic and Western traditions A key editorial role includes: Board Member of Stanford University Press Advisory roles at Habib University and Stanford’s Markaz Resource Center His work bridges academic publication with public discourse through: Contributions to Arcade Colloquy Interviews on poetics, religion, and contemporary politics Podcasts and literary salon discussions

• Classical Arabic literature
• Arabic philosophy of language
• Persian literature
• +5 more

Ato Quayson is the Jean G. and Morris M. Doyle Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Stanford University, where he also chairs the Department of African and African American Studies. He previously held professorships at New York University (2017–2019) and the University of Toronto (2005–2017), where he was inaugural director of the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies and became a University Professor (2016), the university's highest honor. His academic journey includes a B.A. (First Class Honors) in English and Arabic from the University of Ghana (1989) and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Cambridge (1995). He held a Junior Research Fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford, and was a Reader in Commonwealth and Postcolonial Literature at Cambridge (1995–2005), concurrently directing the Centre for African Studies and serving as Pembroke College Fellow. Quayson’s research explores postcolonial literature, urban studies, disability studies, and cultural theory. His work bridges global and local contexts, with notable publications such as Oxford Street, Accra (Urban History Association Prize) and Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature (Warren-Brooks Prize). He co-edits the Cambridge History of Postcolonial Literature and chairs initiatives like Contours: The Cambridge Literary Studies Hour . His accolades include fellowships from the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006), the Royal Society of Canada (2013), the British Academy (2019), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023). He has also served as President of the African Studies Association (2019–2020). Quayson curates the YouTube channel Critic.Reading.Writing , discussing literature and urban studies, and teaches courses on global Black diaspora studies and Toni Morrison’s work. His current projects include Accra Chic: A Locational History of Fashion and studies on exile in African literature.

• African Literature
• Postcolonial Literature
• Shakespeare Studies
• +10 more

Nizar F. Hermes serves as Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies at the University of Virginia, concurrently holding the position of Director of Graduate Studies. His office is located in 141 New Cabell Hall, with Spring 2025 office hours held Tuesdays from 12:00-3:00 PM. He maintains dual professional email contacts through the university system. His academic foundation includes: PhD in Comparative Literature, University of Toronto Dr. Hermes' research program centers on North African and Mediterranean literary traditions, with deep specialization in premodern Arabic-Islamic cultural production. His work investigates poetic representations of urban spaces, cross-cultural encounters between the Islamic world and Europe, and the transmission of literary heritage across the Mediterranean. Particular attention is given to Maghribī poetic imagination, elegiac traditions, and the intersection of literature with food history and refugee experiences. His methodological approach combines close textual analysis with historical contextualization to reveal continuities in Arab literary consciousness. Analysis of his recent publications (2014-2025) reveals three dominant scholarly trajectories: 1) The literary reconstruction of North African cities through poetic elegies, 2) Cross-cultural encounters documented in Arabic travel literature and folk poetry, and 3) The representation of European 'others' in medieval Arabic texts. His 2024 monograph 'Of Lost Cities' synthesizes these threads while his edited volume 'The City in Arabic Literature' (2018) establishes foundational frameworks for urban studies in Arabic literary criticism. No scientific awards or fellowships were documented in the source materials. While his role as Director of Graduate Studies indicates active mentorship responsibilities, specific student advisees and grant funding details were not provided in the available documentation. His scholarly output demonstrates sustained engagement with graduate education through publications on teaching methodologies for Arabic humanistic literature. No dedicated research laboratories or formal collaborative teams were referenced, though his co-edited volumes and multi-author publications suggest active participation in scholarly communities focused on Mediterranean studies and comparative literature.

• North African and Mediterranean Studies
• Premodern Arabic-Islamic Studies
• Comparative and World Literatures and Cultures
• +3 more

Joseph Lowry is an Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on medieval Islamic legal theory and religious texts. Specializes in Islamic Law (fiqh) and its historical development Expertise in Middle East/North Africa studies during the 6th-14th centuries Active contributor to Arabic literary biography scholarship His notable publications include critical studies on al-Shafi'i's legal theory and collaborative editorial work on medieval Islamic educational institutions.

• Islamic Law
• Medieval Islam
• Religious Texts
• +3 more

Sherif Abdelkarim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Grinnell College . His research focuses on cross-cultural literary studies and historical linguistics across premodern English and Arabic traditions. Specializes in English historical linguistics and Old/Middle English Classical and early postclassical Arabic literature scholar Co-author of Al-Idrisi's Norman Kingdom in Translation (2024) Education BA from The College of William & Mary PhD from The University of Virginia

• English Historical Linguistics
• Old English Literature
• Middle English Literature
• +3 more

Małgorzata K. Citko-DuPlantis is an Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Tennessee’s Department of World Languages and Cultures, within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, alongside M.A. and B.A. degrees from Polish institutions (Collegium Civitas and University of Warsaw). Her research interrogates the instability of premodern knowledge systems, focusing on the Man’yōshū’s evolving cultural significance across medieval and modern eras. She challenges the canonical fixation on a single manuscript of this foundational poetry collection, arguing its role as a malleable cultural construct. Her work spans interdisciplinary areas including digital humanities, medieval Japanese poetry reception, and contemporary pop-media depictions of premodern Japan. Citko-DuPlantis has authored/co-authored monographs and peer-reviewed articles in English, Polish, and Japanese, with notable works like Clashes of Dragons and Dragonflies (2012) and her forthcoming monograph Embracing Instability: Imagining “Man’yoshū” in Medieval and Modern Japan . She has been awarded grants from the Japan Foundation, Fulbright, and MEXT, and has presented at major conferences such as the Association for Asian Studies and MLA. Her research awards reflect sustained scholarly impact, complemented by multilingual competence in languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Citko-DuPlantis actively engages with both academic and public spheres, bridging historical textual analysis with modern cultural phenomena.

• Japanese Literature and Culture
• Premodern Cultural Studies
• Digital Humanities
• +4 more

Joseph E. Lowry is a Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, affiliated with the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC) department. Before completing his PhD, he practiced law in private practice. His research focuses on Islamic law, Arabic literature, and classical Islamic thought. He has authored and edited foundational works on Islamic legal theory, medieval Islamic education, and Arabic literary biography. Editorial roles include Consulting Editor for the Library of Arabic Literature (NYU Press), and membership on editorial boards for Islamic Law and Society and Abbasid Studies . He co-edits the Resources in Arabic and Islamic Studies and IQSA Studies in the Qur’an series. Courses taught span Qur’anic studies, Islamic legal traditions, and classical Arabic texts. Key contributions include translations of al-Shafi‘i’s legal works and critical editions of medieval Islamic texts. His scholarship bridges legal theory, literary analysis, and institutional history, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with pre-modern Islamic intellectual traditions.

• Islamic Law
• Arabic Literature
• Classical Islamic Thought
• +3 more

Asad Q. Ahmed is the Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley. He also serves as Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Education: B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from Yale University (2000) Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University (2007) Research Interests: Professor Ahmed specializes in early Islamic social history and pre-modern Islamic intellectual history, with a particular focus on rationalist disciplines such as philosophy, logic, legal theories and astronomy. His current research delves into the post-classical period of Islamic intellectual history (ca. 1200-1900 CE), emphasizing developments in the Indian subcontinent. He also has expertise in Graeco-Arabica, classical Arabic poetry and poetics, and hadith and Qur'anic Studies. Publications: The Religious Elite of the Early Islamic Hijaz (University of Oxford, 2011) Avicenna's Deliverance: Logic (Oxford University Press, 2011) Palimpsests of Themselves: Logic and Commentary in Muslim India (University of California Press, 2022) The Islamic Scholarly Tradition (Brill, 2010) Islamic Cultures, Islamic Contexts (Brill, 2015) The Hashiya and Islamic Intellectual History (Oriens, special issue, 2013) Rationalist Disciplines and Postclassical Islamic Legal Theories (Oriens, special issue, 2018) Editorial Roles: Co-editor of the Berkeley Series in Postclassical Islamic Scholarship (University of California Press) Co-editor of The Cambridge Series in South Asian Intellectual History (Cambridge University Press) Co-editor of the journals Oriens (Brill) and The Journal of South Asian Intellectual History (Brill) Member of advisory boards for several international journals and book series Scientific Awards and Visiting Appointments: Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship, Princeton Stanford Humanities Center Fellowship National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Term Chair at the EHESS, Paris Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Cambridge

• Early Islamic social history
• Pre-modern Islamic intellectual history
• Arabo-Islamic philosophy
• +7 more

Shady H. Nasser is an Associate Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, holding a faculty position within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Previously, he served as a University Lecturer in Classical Arabic Studies at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (2013–present). His academic journey includes a PhD from Harvard University in Arabic and Islamic Studies (2011), supervised by Wolfhart Heinrichs, and prior roles as Senior Lector of Arabic and Coordinator of the Arabic Language Program at Yale University (2009–2012). His research focuses on Qur’anic Studies, particularly the text’s transmission history, linguistic analysis, and early Muslim reception. Related interests include pre-Islamic poetry, Akhbār literature, and Ḥadith transmission studies. His scholarship bridges textual criticism with historical analysis of early Islamic intellectual traditions. Nasser’s publications explore canonical recitation debates, grammatical aspects of Qur’anic recitation, and the socio- intellectual networks shaping early Islamic textual traditions. His 2012 monograph on variant readings and a series of articles in journals like Journal of Qur’anic Studies and Oriens demonstrate engagement with both primary sources and methodological debates in the field. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. He has advised no listed students, though his roles in language program coordination suggest potential teaching mentorship roles.

• Qur’anic Studies
• Islamic Civilizations
• Arabic Literature
• +5 more

Inas Hassan is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Arabic Education at Loyola University Maryland, teaching Arabic language courses from beginner (AB 101-104) to advanced levels (AB 201) and Theological Studies (TH 719-720). She earned her PhD and MA in Arabic Linguistics from Alexandria University, Egypt, with dissertations on Deviation Phenomena in Arabic Linguistics (2003) and Collocation and Colligation Phenomena in Arabic Linguistics (1997). Her research specializes in: Advanced Arabic Curriculum development Classical Arabic linguistics integration with modern theories Bilingualism and applied linguistics Anthropological Linguistics frameworks Technology-driven pedagogy She pioneers digital resource curation through the Arabyola Portal initiative. Her 2014-2019 publications reveal consistent focus on bridging classical Arabic texts with contemporary pedagogical tools, emphasizing curriculum integration of trusted e-resources and guided readers for cultural immersion. Scientific recognition includes: Affiliate Faculty Teaching Award, Center for the Humanities (2016-2017) Grant funding highlights: LCAS Associate Dean Grant (2015) Center for Humanities Faculty Grants (2013-2015) University of Maryland Arts & Humanities Grants (2009, 2012) Her mentorship extends through curriculum design and Arabic Language Club leadership. She founded the Arabic Language Club (Arabyola) in 2013 and serves as Pedagogical Consultant, with memberships in AATA, ACTFL, MESA, and NEMLA.

• Advanced Arabic Curriculum
• Classical Arabic linguistics and modern linguistics theories
• Bilingualism
• +3 more

Professor Ahmed H. al-Rahim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (2009) and previously served as Senior Research Analyst at the U.S. Department of State's Office of Analysis for Near East and South Asia. His research focuses on medieval Arabic intellectual and philosophical history, with special emphasis on Avicenna's reception, Islamic ethics, and the historiography of Arabic philosophy. He currently directs the Islamic Studies program and the Medieval Studies program at UVa. Education: Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Yale University (2009). Research Interests include: Arabic philosophical historiography, medieval Islamic ethics, Qur'anic exegesis, and the role of biography in intellectual tradition. He leads the Einstein Stiftung Berlin-supported project Betwixt and Between: The Historiography of Medieval Arabic Philosophy , challenging Eurocentric periodizations of Islamic thought. Major Awards: Mellon Humanities Fellowship (2019–2020), Henry Luce Foundation Fellowship (2013), and Einstein Stiftung Berlin Fellowship (2022). His publications span monographs like The Creation of Philosophical Tradition (2018) and articles in New Literary History , Curiositas , and The Cambridge History of World Literature . Teaching: Undergraduate courses on Classical/Modern Islam and graduate seminars on Arabic theology, Qur'anic studies, and medieval literary biography. Advises on topics combining philosophy, ethics, and imperial culture.

• Medieval Arabic and Islamic Intellectual History
• History of Arabic Philosophy
• Avicenna's Philosophical Reception
• +5 more

Carolyn G. Baugh serves as Associate Professor of History and Director of the Gender Studies Program at Gannon University, where she teaches Middle Eastern history, Islamic civilization, Arabic language, and African American history. Her interdisciplinary work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary human rights advocacy through the Refugee Oral History Program she directs. Education: Ph.D. in History, University of Pennsylvania, 2011 M.A. in History, University of Pennsylvania, 2008 A.B. summa cum laude in History, Duke University, 1995 Her research centers on Islamic jurisprudence with groundbreaking work on child marriage in early Islamic legal texts, culminating in her 2017 monograph Minor Marriage in Early Islamic Law . She actively explores intersections of gender, law, and human rights across historical and modern contexts, recently expanding to statelessness and human trafficking through community-engaged oral history projects with Erie's refugee populations. Professor Baugh's publication trajectory reveals a consistent focus on gender within Islamic legal tradition, evolving from classical jurisprudence toward applied human rights research. Her current work integrates academic scholarship with community service through the Refugee Oral History Program, training students in oral history methodologies while documenting refugee experiences to foster cross-cultural understanding in Erie. She mentors students through hands-on research in the Refugee Oral History Program, serves on Gannon's Liberal Studies Committee, and contributes to community initiatives as a board member of the Multicultural Community Resource Center. Her teaching extends beyond campus through planned educational trips to Cairo and past excursions to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

• Islamic Law
• Middle Eastern History
• Gender Studies
• +5 more

Li Guo is a Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Notre Dame, serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Classics. His research bridges medieval Arabic historiography, shadow play traditions, and socioeconomic documentation from Islamicate port cities. Ph.D., Yale University (1994) Research focuses on: Historical analysis of Mamluk-era texts Evolution of Arabic shadow theater 13th-century Red Sea commercial networks Popular poetry in Islamic cultural contexts Notable scholarly trends include interdisciplinary approaches merging literary analysis with archaeological evidence and performance studies. Scientific recognition: IIM Prize for Research (2015) Research supported by prestigious fellowships from: American Research Center in Egypt (1998-1999, 2014-2015) American Council of Learned Societies (2002-2003) National Endowment for the Humanities (2008-2009)

• Arabic Language and Literature
• Medieval Arabic Documents
• Historiography
• +3 more

Jonathan Smolin is a Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Dartmouth College, with affiliations in Jewish Studies. He has taught at Dartmouth since 2005, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to the Middle East through classical texts, media, and cultural analysis. Education : Ph.D. and M.A. from Harvard University, M.A. and B.A. from the University of Chicago. Research Interests focus on modern Middle Eastern politics, media, and literature. His work spans Arabic literary translation, contemporary Egyptian and Lebanese narratives, and the intersection of popular culture with socio-political dynamics in Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and Israel-Palestine. Publications highlight his expertise in modern Arabic fiction and cultural studies, including translations of Ihsan Abdel Kouddous' novels and analyses of Arab crime fiction genres.

• Politics and Popular Culture in the Modern Middle East
• Mass Media in the Middle East
• Arabic Literary Translation
• +3 more