Center for Islamic Studies Celebrates its 15th Anniversary

BERKELEY, CA — December 6, 2022 — The Graduate Theological Union’s Center for Islamic Studies (CIS) is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, a landmark milestone for the academic center.  

Since its founding in 2007, the CIS has had a truly global presence. The Center’s more than 75 students, alums, faculty, and visiting scholars represent nearly two dozen countries and speak, read, or write in more than 35 languages. The center has also produced, hosted, and co-sponsored more than 1,000 programs and public engagement events as part of its collaborative work with institutions and organizations in the Bay Area, throughout the US, and around the world. 

“I would like to acknowledge and thank all of the donors who have made so much of our work possible,” said Dr. Munir Jiwa, Founding Director of the CIS. “I am grateful for the incredible scholarship, teaching and service of our wonderful students, graduates, faculty and visiting scholars, and for their leadership and commitment to advancing dialogue, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. I also extend my deep gratitude to the many academic, civic and faith-based communities for their partnership, care, and dedication with the CIS over the years and look forward to many more years of collaboration.” 

Over the course of the last 15 years, the CIS has sought to deepen scholarly engagement with the Islamic tradition and Muslim diversity within the dynamic, interreligious and interdisciplinary context of the GTU. The CIS focuses research and scholarship on Islamic texts and traditions in contemporary contexts, supporting students pursuing Islamic studies at the master’s and doctoral levels, offering a certificate in Islamic studies, and providing graduate level courses on Islam and Muslims for students throughout the GTU consortium and UC Berkeley. 

Dr. Jiwa is particularly grateful to the Henry Luce Foundation for its support over the years, and its most recent funding in the form of a rapid response grant that has enabled the GTU to partner with Bay Area faith-based organizations’ COVID-19 response efforts, led by Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.  

To celebrate the 15th anniversary, the CIS will be hosting a reception on December 15 at 5:45pm PT. Learn more and register for the event here.