A Historic Milestone
The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) has generously endowed the Indian Muslim Chair at CME, creating the first-ever academic position at Arizona State University dedicated solely to the study of Indian Muslim history, culture, and society.
This $2 million endowed chair represents the highest level of professorship within the university and will support a tenured faculty member whose teaching and research will focus exclusively on Indian Muslim Studies—a field that has not previously existed at ASU. The search for the inaugural chair holder will begin in 2026, with the appointment expected in 2027.
What This Means: This landmark achievement guarantees that CME-US will be the home for groundbreaking scholarship in Indian Muslim Studies for generations to come. The chair will deepen understanding of Indian Muslim experiences and contributions while advancing CME's mission to transform narratives and strengthen belonging.
We are grateful to Deans Kenro Kusumi and Jeffrey Cohen, Brittany Martin of the ASU Foundation, and Rasheed Ahmed, whose contributions helped make this endeavor possible. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Muhammad Munir Chaudry and Mahmood Baig for their visionary leadership in establishing this historic chair.
