Cengiz Sisman

Cengiz Sisman is a Professor of History at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and faculty member at the Honors College, University of Houston. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Harvard University, with additional graduate degrees in Islamic and Jewish Studies from Temple University and History/Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard.

• Ph.D. in History, Harvard University
• M.A. in Islamic and Jewish Studies, Temple University
• M.A. in History and Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University
• B.A. in Psychology, Boğaziçi University

His research explores intersections of religious history, crypto-identities, messianism, and modernity, with a focus on Ottoman-Turkish Dönme communities and missionary activities among Jewish populations. His 2015 book The Burden of Silence has been widely reviewed and translated into Turkish.

Recent work includes a podcast interview recognized with the 2017 Best Podcast Award and a new book project examining British and American missionary activities among Ottoman Jews.

Cengiz teaches courses spanning world history, Islamic empires, interfaith relations, and modern Middle East topics. His scholarship bridges historical analysis with religious studies and social identity exploration.