Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Stephan Conermann serves as Professor of Islamic Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Bonn, where he has held continuous academic appointments since 2003. His institutional leadership includes directorship of the Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg (2010-2022), Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology, and significant administrative roles culminating in his current deanship since 2023. Academic Background: Doctorate in Oriental Philology/Islamic Studies (Kiel University, 1996, magna cum laude) Magisterstudium in Asian History, Oriental and Slavic Philology (Kiel University, 1992) Conermann's research examines pre-modern Islamic societies through narrative strategies in historiography, with specialized focus on Mamluk Sultanate governance (1250-1517), Delhi Sultanate/Mughal transitions, and Transottomanica mobility dynamics. His work uniquely connects asymmetrical dependencies (particularly slavery systems), power structures, and global entanglements across South Asia, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. His extensive publication portfolio shows consistent thematic evolution toward comparative frameworks analyzing slavery beyond Eurocentric models, narrative construction of power across cultures, and mobility as historical catalyst. Recent scholarship increasingly integrates transcultural methodology with digital humanities approaches. Academic Leadership: Supervised 290+ theses (59 PhD, 96 Magister, 47 Master, 88 Bachelor) Acquired ~9 million euros in third-party funding (DFG, BMBF, DAAD) Editor of 15+ publication series including Mamluk Studies and Dependency and Slavery Studies Conermann directs the Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology and co-leads the EXC 2036 'Beyond Slavery and Freedom' cluster, fostering interdisciplinary research on pre-modern dependency systems through international collaborations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Asma Sayeed is an Associate Professor and Program Director of Islamic Studies at UCLA's Near Eastern Languages and Cultures department, part of the UCLA College. She holds a PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University (2005) and previously served as an Assistant Professor at Lafayette College. Her research focuses on early Muslim social history, Muslim education, gender studies, and hadith transmission by women. She has authored Women and the Transmission of Religious Knowledge in Islam (2013) and contributed to numerous journals and encyclopedias. Sayeed received a Fulbright Fellowship (2010) for archival research on Muslim women’s education in Syria. She teaches courses such as 'Introduction to Islam' and graduate seminars on research methodologies. Her current work examines textual practices in Muslim education across historical contexts. Education: PhD, Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (2005) MA, History, Binghamton University (1994) BA, Politics, Princeton University (1991) Certificate in Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (1991) Research Interests: Her scholarship emphasizes women’s roles in religious knowledge transmission, legal and social history intersections, and medieval Muslim educational systems. She frequently addresses how gender shaped access to religious authority and spaces. Awards: Fulbright Fellowship (2010) Teaching and Professional Engagement: Sayeed’s courses cover Quranic studies, Islam in the West, and methodological frameworks in Islamic studies. She actively participates in academic conferences and initiatives, including keynote lectures on women’s intellectual engagement in classical Islam and digital humanities projects mapping women’s educational histories.
Hakan Özkan is a Privatdozent and Research Associate at the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Department of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Münster, where he has been working since 2007 in various capacities. He was awarded his Venia Legendi (Habilitation) in November 2019 for Arabic and Islamic Studies with his thesis 'History of Eastern Zajal – Dialectal Arabic Verse Poetry from the East of the Arab World.' His academic background includes a Franco-German doctorate completed in 2006 from Université de Provence and University of Cologne, supervised by Claude Audebert and Monika Gronke, with external reviewers including Wolfhart P. Heinrichs from Harvard University. His educational background includes: 2019: Venia Legendi for Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Münster 2002-2006: Franco-German Doctorate in Arabic Studies and Narratology (Université de Provence and University of Cologne) 1995-2000: Master of Arts in Islamic Studies, Oriental Languages and Literatures (University of Cologne) 2000-2001: Course program in Modern Standard Arabic and Syrian-Lebanese dialect at Institut Français d'Etudes Arabes de Damas Özkan's research focuses on premodern Arabic dialect poetry, particularly zajal and muwashshaḥ forms, narratology, prosimeter literature, socio-literary history, and diachronic dialectology. His interdisciplinary approach bridges linguistic analysis with literary criticism, examining how dialectal forms evolved within Arabic literary traditions across different historical periods and geographical regions. He has conducted extensive field research in Arab countries including Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Morocco, with particular emphasis on the historical development of poetic forms from the Mamluk through Ottoman periods. His publication history demonstrates consistent scholarly contributions to Arabic literary studies, with his 2020 monograph 'History of Eastern Zajal' representing a landmark study in the field. His recent work has expanded to include analyses of religious poetry praising the Prophet Muhammad in zajal form, wine poetry in Arabic literary traditions, and the integration of dialects into Arabic language teaching methodologies. His scholarly output spans monographs, critical editions, encyclopedia entries, journal articles, and book chapters across multiple languages including German, English, French, and Turkish. Among his academic recognitions: 2018: Second place on shortlist for W2 Professorship for Arabic Language and Translation Science, University of Leipzig 2008: Offered Junior Professorship at American University in Cairo (declined) 2007: Second place on shortlist for maître de conférence position at University of Nancy 2007: Official Qualification from National University Council (CNU) for positions as maître de conférence at French universities Özkan has served on numerous academic committees, including appointment committees for professorships in Sinology and Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Münster. He has been a juror for the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding in Doha and has served on the steering committee for the 'Translation for Dialogue' program of the Anna Lindh Foundation. His editorial work includes reviewing for Mamluk Studies Review, Die Welt des Islams, and Middle Eastern Literatures since 2012. His scholarly activities extend to linguistic fieldwork on Pontic Greek dialects in Turkey and organizing significant academic conferences including 'The Race Course of Literature – An-Nawāǧī and His Contemporaries' in 2018 at the University of Münster. His multilingual capabilities (Arabic, Turkish, German, French, English, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and knowledge of Modern Greek) enable his comparative work across multiple linguistic and cultural traditions in the Mediterranean region.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Dacia Viejo-Rose is a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Heritage and the Politics of the Past at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge , and serves as Deputy Director of the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre . Her research focuses on cultural heritage in contexts of armed conflict, examining its role in division, exclusion, and post-conflict reconciliation. She integrates perspectives from memory studies, political science, and transitional justice. PhD (2009) in Cultural Heritage from University of Cambridge British Academy Post-doctoral Fellow (2012–2014) Her work analyzes the symbolic and ethical dimensions of cultural heritage destruction and reconstruction, particularly in post-civil war Spain, Bosnia, and Syria. She advocates for reparations frameworks in international law and critiques the instrumentalization of heritage in global conflicts. Key publication themes include: Post-conflict justice and cultural property law Cultural violence and socio-legal approaches Memory politics and identity formation Heritage conservation and ethical interventions Scientific awards: British Academy Post-doctoral Fellowship Her exhibitions, such as the 2015 Gernika Peace Museum display , highlight the interplay between heritage and peacebuilding. She contributes to debates on democratic memorial practices and international involvement in post-conflict societies.
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.
Heather Ferguson is an Associate Professor of History at Claremont McKenna College, specializing in Ottoman and Middle Eastern History. Her research focuses on early modern empires, archival practices, and legal/urban transformations in the Mediterranean. She holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and an M.A. from UT Austin. Notable works include *The Proper Order of Things* (2018) and her current project on Ottoman-Habsburg archival dynamics. Education: Ph.D. in History, University of California, Berkeley M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin Awards: American Council of Learned Societies Fellow (2014–2015) National Endowment for the Humanities Grant (2019) ACLS Burkhardt Fellowship (2020) Her research integrates comparative imperial studies, exploring how archives and legal frameworks shaped governance in Ottoman and Habsburg contexts. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, linking ethics, power dynamics, and urban development. Ferguson serves as Editor for the *Review of Middle East Studies* and Associate Editor for the *International Journal of Islamic Architecture*. Her publications trace themes of archival mobility, legal discourses, and Mediterranean identities. Current projects investigate 'last acts' in imperial courts and the interplay between statecraft and documentary practices. Grants and Fellowships: Extensive support from ACLS, NEH, Ford Foundation, and FLAS programs. Service: Claremont Faculty Leadership Program member and academic editor roles. Ferguson’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary scholarly debates, advocating for multi-perspectival research in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Susan Ashbrook Harvey is the Willard Prescott and Annie McClelland Smith Professor of History and Religion at Brown University. Her research focuses on late antique and Byzantine Christianity, particularly Syriac studies, with expertise in asceticism, hagiography, women's roles, hymnography, and liturgical practices. She holds affiliations with the American Academy of Religion, Society of Biblical Literature, and the North American Patristic Society. Her research interests include the intersection of religion and the senses, women in ancient Christianity, and liturgical lament. Notable publications include Scenting Salvation (2006) and Knowing Bodies, Passionate Souls (2017). She has received prestigious awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and honorary doctorates from Lund University, the University of Bern, and Grinnell College. Harvey teaches courses like 'Sacred Stories' and 'Women and Gender in Ancient Religions.' Her work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary theological discourse, emphasizing marginalized voices in early Christian traditions.
Ziad Majed serves as Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for Middle East Pluralities within the Department of History and Politics, holding the Elliott E. Burdette Professorship of Middle Eastern Studies. His academic focus centers on Lebanese, Syrian, and broader Arab political affairs, with sustained engagement in civil society reform campaigns since 1994. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Political Sciences from IEP - Sciences-Po, Paris DEA in Political Sciences from IEP - Sciences-Po, Paris MA in Arabic Literature from the American University of Beirut BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut Majed's research critically examines political transitions, civil society dynamics, and democratization challenges across the Arab world. His work demonstrates deep expertise in Lebanese consociationalism, Syrian revolutionary movements, and the interplay between foreign occupation and local authoritarianism, consistently addressing themes of state failure and resistance. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a clear trajectory from Arab Spring studies toward contemporary analysis of counter-revolutionary processes, Russian and American geopolitical interventions, and the fragmentation of state authority in Syria and Lebanon. The corpus maintains rigorous focus on occupation politics, sectarian governance crises, and regional power rivalries. Professor Majed actively contributes to public discourse as Coordinator of The Arab Network for the Study of Democracy and opinion writer for Al-Quds Al-Arabi, while serving on boards of Lebanese, Syrian, and French cultural institutions and lecturing internationally at major festivals and conferences.
Reuven Amitai is the Eliyahu Elath Professor for Muslim History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in the medieval Islamic world, Central Asia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. His research spans the pre-modern history of Turks and Mongols, the Ilkhanate, the Mamluk Sultanate, Crusades, military history, conversion to Islam, late medieval Arabic epigraphy, and Palestine during the late medieval period. His current research focuses on Gaza under Mamluk rule (1260-1516). Recent publications highlight cross-cultural interactions, Mongol military strategies, and diplomatic relations in the medieval era. His scholarly work emphasizes the non-military roles of Eurasian nomads as agents of cultural change, with a comparative approach spanning ancient to medieval periods across Eurasia. Contact information: Faculty of Humanities, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Room 5134 Mt. Scopus, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel. Email: reuven.amitai@mail.huji.ac.il .
Dr. Daniel M. Parker is a Research Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of California, Irvine. He holds a Ph.D. and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (a joint program of Mahidol University and the University of Oxford). His work focuses on spatial epidemiology and spatial demography, particularly in the context of infectious diseases like malaria. He has contributed to global health initiatives addressing malaria elimination in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Syria. His research integrates geographic information systems (GIS), demographic models, and community engagement to combat health challenges in conflict zones and refugee settings. Key areas of research include malaria epidemiology, mass drug administration strategies, and the health impacts of population displacement. He has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles on topics such as spatial clustering of malaria, the effects of air raids on disease incidence, and the role of herd protection in malaria control. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address complex health systems challenges in resource-limited settings. Education: Ph.D. in Public Health (2014) Affiliations: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit Key Projects: Malaria Elimination Task Force in Eastern Myanmar, refugee health studies in Thailand-Myanmar border camps Dr. Parker’s research has informed policy on malaria control, including interventions targeting asymptomatic reservoirs and spatial analysis of disease hotspots. His work on the intersection of human migration and disease transmission highlights the need for holistic health approaches in conflict and displacement scenarios.
Najib Ghadbian serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science within the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Arkansas, with additional affiliation to Middle East Studies. He has been a frequent political commentator for al-Jazeera Satellite TV Channel since January 2000 and contributes to US, European, and Middle Eastern media outlets. His academic credentials include: BA in Political Science from United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain MA in Political Science from Rutgers State University, Newark Campus PhD in Political Science from CUNY Graduate School & University Center (1995) Dr. Ghadbian's research centers on democratization dynamics in the Arab world, Syrian political structures, Islamic movements, and US-Mideast relations. His work examines constitutional design in Syria and international dimensions of the Syrian conflict, bridging scholarly analysis with real-world policy applications through publications in journals like Middle East Journal and al-Mustaqbal al-`Arabi . His publication timeline (1997-2016) reveals evolving scholarly focus from theoretical democratization frameworks toward urgent Syrian transition issues, with recent works analyzing GCC-Syria relations (2016) and no-fly zone proposals (2015) reflecting immediate policy engagement amid the Syrian conflict. Professional roles include board membership at the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (2003-2005), the Day After Project for Syrian democratic transition, and service as special representative of the Syrian National Coalition to Washington and the UN (2013-2018). While holding significant policy advisory positions, no formal scientific awards are documented in available materials. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle East politics, Islam and politics, and contemporary regional issues. Professional affiliations span the Middle East Studies Association (2005-2021), American Political Science Association (2005-2014), and Middle East Institute (2005-2021), though details about research grants, student advising, or laboratory teams remain unspecified.
Rania Maktabi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Welfare, Management and Organization, Østfold University College. Her research focuses on political relations in the Middle East, particularly the legal status of Arab women, citizenship, and the interplay between religion, law, and politics in Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, and Egypt. Key research areas include citizenship studies , gender and law , legal reforms in authoritarian regimes , and post-Arab Spring dynamics . She has published extensively on female lawyers' mobilization , patriarchal nationality laws , and women's political participation , including the 2018 edited book Brennpunkt Midtøsten: Byene som prisme . Her notable awards include the 2014 Prize for Research Dissemination . Collaborations include projects like "The Unfolding Transformation of the State System in the Middle East" (2019–ongoing) and "Gender and Judging in the Middle East & Africa" (2016–2022). She is actively involved in the interdisciplinary research group AreaS , focusing on electoral politics, medialized politics, and women's political participation in the Middle East and beyond.
Prof. Dr. Lorenz Korn is a Professor of Islamic Art History and Archaeology at Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg since 2003. His academic journey includes studies at the University of Tübingen and Oxford, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard University. He specializes in medieval Islamic architecture, focusing on Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Central Asia, with particular attention to religious symbolism, epigraphy, and material culture. His research spans projects funded by institutions such as the DFG and Gerda Henkel Foundation, including studies on Mongol migration routes in Iran, Seljuk mosque architecture, and the Rabʿ-i Rashidi in Tabriz. He has led archaeological expeditions in Iran, Oman, and Spain, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches combining art history with archaeology and scientific analysis. Key research interests include Islamic metalwork, stucco decoration techniques, and the role of inscriptions in architectural context. Korn has authored over 60 publications, including monographs on Ayyubid architecture and co-edited volumes on Islamic art and archaeology. His work bridges scholarly rigor with public engagement, evident in exhibitions and educational outreach. Recent projects include dendrochronological analysis of the Alhambra dome and field research in Spain’s Aljarafe region. He advises students in the Islamic Art History and Archaeology master’s program, fostering next-generation scholars through hands-on training in fieldwork and artifact analysis.
Dr. Mehmet Kaya is a Lecturer in the History Department of Bingöl University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences since 2009. He holds a PhD in Republic History from Fırat University (2004) and has served as Department Head (2009-2012) and currently leads the Republican History Subdivision. His research focuses on Turkish-Iranian relations, modern Middle Eastern history, and the diplomatic history of the Republic of Turkey. Education: BA in History (Fırat University, 1987), MA in Revolutionary History (Istanbul University, 1992), PhD in Turkish-Iranian Relations (Fırat University, 2004) Research interests include 20th-century diplomacy, Ottoman-Turkish transition, and regional geopolitics. He has published extensively on topics like Iran's 1979 Revolution, Turkish-Israeli relations, and Kurdish uprisings. Recent works analyze Iran's Syria policy (2022) and Ali Şeriati's influence on the Iranian Revolution (2024). He co-authored chapters in volumes like Modern İran Tarihi (2021) and participated in international conferences on Karabakh conflicts and Iranian opposition groups. Serves as referee for Bingöl University's Social Sciences Journal.
Douglas C. Ligor is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and Director of the Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program at RAND's Homeland Security Research Division. He holds dual roles as a Senior Behavioral Scientist and academic researcher, specializing in homeland/national security law, immigration policy, space governance, and international legal frameworks. Education: J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law (2000s) and B.S. in Economics from U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1990s). Prior to RAND, he served in federal legal roles including Deputy Chief Counsel at USCIS and Assistant District Counsel at DOJ/ICE. Research focuses on border security, asylum processing, outer space regulation, and federal-state-local coordination. His work frequently addresses intersections between statutory compliance and operational realities in domains like immigration enforcement and space traffic management. Notable contributions include policy analyses on Title 42 immigration restrictions, ISIS prisoner management in Syria, and frameworks for international space traffic governance. He regularly engages in public commentary through podcasts and op-eds on topics like U.S. border policy and emerging space law challenges.
