CIS News for October 2023
Congratulations to Sarah Mohr, CIS/GTU visiting scholar, for her participation in the University of York, UK, Ventana Conference Oct 4-6, 2023: Navigating Uncomfortable Contradictions: Decolonial Routes Towards Pluriversality. Her paper is titled, “Liberation Psychology and Islamic Feminism: Navigating the Tension Between Liberatory Non-hierarchical Approaches and Islamic Tradition. Notably, the renowned decolonial scholar Dr. Catherine Walsh is a keynote speaker. The conference is hybrid and free, but registration is required: https://www.conferenciaventana.org/home
Congratulations to Sarah also for her participation in a group art exhibit, Serenity: Nature and Nurture. San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA) is the curator for the art exhibitions for the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. The exhibit runs Sept 18, 2023 – Jan 13, 2o24 from floors 3-7 at UCSF Women’s Health Center, 2356 Sutter Street. For more info: https://womenshealth.ucsf.edu/coe/serenity-nature-and-nurture
Congratulations to Dr. Mahjabeen Dhala, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of the Madrasa-Midrasha Program, for her upcoming presentations:
- “Qaḍi Nurullah Shustari and Muslim Knowledge Production in Mughal India: Polemics, Persecution, and the Paradox of Liberty.” Conference on Muslim Intellectual History in Mughal South Asia, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, UC Berkeley, Oct 6-7, 2023.
- “The Power of Giving in Shaping a Just Society: Khadija’s Legacy and Contemporary Female Muslim Philanthropes.” 7th Annual Symposium on Muslim Philanthropy and Civil Society 2023. Oct 30-Nov 3 (virtual).
Congratulations and gratitude to Sr. Marianne Farina, CSC, Interim President and Professor of Philosophy & Theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology, GTU Core Doctoral Faculty and Faculty at the Center for Islamic Studies, who has been appointed as a member of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue (NCMD) of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. This organization engages in study and dialogue discussing issues related to theology as well as common pastoral and societal concerns. The wide variety of topics include discussions of revelation, poverty, sacred texts, extremism, marriage, and religious prejudice.
The CIS is delighted to host Dr. Todd Lawson for a presentation titled, “Divine Attributes and Human Emotions in the Quran,” to be held in the GTU Dinner Board Room on Thursday October 19, 12-2pm. There may be additional programs with Dr. Lawson during his visit, so please check the CIS/GTU webpages for updates.
CIS has received a one-year grant to support a project on Muslims in the Bay Area: Leading, Bridging and Belonging. The CIS/GTU is deeply grateful for the support and funding from the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, made possible by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. This grant is part of the larger IDCL’s Grounded Knowledge Project: https://diversityandciviclife.org/2023/09/11/announcing-the-grounded-knowledge-project-micro-grant-awardees/
As part of this project, the CIS will be collaborating on programs that advance academic and community partnerships, sharing stories and creative expressions of Muslims in the Bay Area focusing on race, justice and belonging, offering grants for CIS student working groups, and creating a CIS alums network advancing leadership and mentorship. For more information, contact mjiwa@gtu.edu