Faculty News and Annoucements

The book launch for Timsal Masud’s edited three-volume collection of Mir Anis’s poetry, Anis: 111 Marsiye, took place on December 10, 2022, at the Islamic Education Center in Chicago. The first speaker, Professor Peter Knapczyk, a scholar of Urdu literature from Wake Forest University, briefly introduced Urdu marsiya’s development. Drawing on 16th, 17th,

May Ahmar’s co-edited volume Digital Orality: Vernacular Writing in Online Spaces, was published by Springer/Palgrave Mcmillan in November 2022. The volume showcases innovative research on dialectal, vernacular, and other forms of “oral,” speech-like writing in digital spaces. The shift from a predominantly print culture to a digital culture is shaping people’s identities and relationships

Dr. Rym Bettaieb was nominated by Senior Vice Provost Soulaymane Kachani to contribute to a University guide featuring exemplary faculty innovations in teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her contribution is now featured in “Teaching Transformations: Faculty Reflections and Insights on Pandemic Practices,” a digital guide. This guide highlights

Islam and New Directions in World Literature, (Edinburgh University Press), featuring stellar contributions by MESAAS faculty: Muhsin al-Musawi, Gil Anidjar and Hamid Dabashi.   Book cover

Congratulations to Mariame Sy, Senior Lecturer in Wolof and Pulaar, who was recognized by the national African Studies Association at the recent annual meeting.  Mariam was awarded the coveted Outstanding Service Award for her relentless, creative and outstanding work advancing the study of African languages.  Mariame is the President of