St. Joseph’s College is pleased to announce the establishment of its first-ever endowed chair, The Dr. Reza Khatib and Georgianna Clifford Khatib Chair in Comparative Religion, and welcomes Egyptian-American activist for improvement in relations between Muslims and the West, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who will serve as its inaugural chair. His lecture, "Islam in the 21st Century," will take place on November 12, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the D’Ecclesiis Auditorium located in O’Connor Hall on the College’s Long Island Campus, and is free and open to the public.
Imam Feisal, noted teacher, author and activist, has dedicated his life to building bridges between Muslims and the West. He created the first Muslim organization committed to bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together through programs in academia, policy, current affairs and culture. Regarded as one of the world’s most eloquent and erudite Muslim leaders, Imam Feisal speaks frequently at major U.S. think tanks and international conferences. Founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the Masjid Al-Farah mosque, Imam Feisal was born in Kuwait and educated in Egypt, England, Malaysia and New York. Active in many national and international groups, including the Cordoba Initiative, his latest book is What’s Right with Islam IS What’s Right with America.
Funded by Dr. Reza Khatib and Mrs. Georgianna Clifford Khatib ’52, the Chair’s purpose is to promote interfaith dialog, with the study of Islam being an integral part of the initiative. Each spring, The Dr. Reza and Georgianna Clifford Khatib Chair will host a noted scholar who will lecture, lead faculty discussions and teach a course to both campuses via videoconference.
