Prof. Bruce B. Lawrence
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Professor Emeritus, Duke University, USA
Visiting Professor, Ibn Haldun University, Turkey
Prof. Bruce B. Lawrence is the Nancy and Jeffrey Marcus Humanities Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion at Duke University and a Visiting Professor at the Department of Civilizations Studies, Ibn Haldun University. With a career spanning several decades, he has made significant contributions to the study of religion, particularly focusing on Islamic studies and interfaith relations.
Prof. Lawrence’s research interests are vast and multidisciplinary, including the comparative study of religious movements, the complexities of institutional Islam (with a particular emphasis on Asia), Indo-Persian Sufism, and the nuanced interplay between religion and violence. He also explores contemporary Islam within the broader context of Abrahamic faiths and religious ideology.
A prolific author, Prof. Lawrence has published numerous books and articles that delve into topics such as the Qur’an’s role in the modern world, the impact of globalization on Islamic identity, and the spiritual dimensions of Sufism. His work is known for bridging the gap between traditional religious scholarship and contemporary global issues, making him a prominent figure in both academic and interfaith circles.
As an advisor to various academic initiatives, Prof. Lawrence continues to shape the discourse around religion, culture, and society, fostering a deeper understanding of the rich diversity within Islamic traditions.
Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Ibn Haldun University, Turkey
Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat is originally from Egypt and currently serves as a professor at the Department of Civilizations Studies and the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey. She is a distinguished scholar whose research interests encompass comparative political theory, changing maps of citizenship, and urban sociology.
Dr. Ezzat is known for her insightful analysis of the intersection between politics, society, and religion, particularly in the context of the Arab world. She has published extensively on topics such as modernity, democracy, and Islamic political thought. In addition to her academic work, Dr. Ezzat actively contributes to public discourse, advocating for a deeper understanding of citizenship, governance, and the evolving role of cities in shaping political identities.
Her expertise makes her a valuable advisor to the Umran Academic Research Association, where she guides scholarly discussions on civilization studies and socio-political transformations in the modern world.
Prof. Mousumi G. Banerjee
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
EFL University, Shillong, India
Professor Mousumi Guha Banerjee is the Director of the English and Foreign Languages (EFL) University, Regional Campus, Shillong, Meghalaya, India, and serves as the Head of the Department of English Literature at the campus. With a distinguished academic career, she has also previously held key administrative roles at the university’s headquarters in Hyderabad, including Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Administration and OSD for Admissions and Examinations.
Prof. Banerjee has an impressive list of published works that highlight her expertise in literature, culture, and gender studies. Among her notable books are Writings across Genres: Indian Literature, Language and Culture (2015), Daring to Write: The Two Creative Daughters of Victorian England (2015), and Emily Dickinson: Writing as a Woman (2017).
Her academic excellence has been recognized through prestigious fellowships and awards. She was the recipient of the Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2019-2020), during which she conducted research at Amherst College, Massachusetts, USA. Additionally, she was awarded the Research Associateship at the UGC-Inter-University Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences in Shimla. Prof. Banerjee’s achievements also include recognition by the President of the United States for her participation in the Department of State Exchange Program, reflecting her contributions to cross-cultural academic exchange and international scholarship.
As an advisor to the Umran Academic Research Association, Professor Banerjee brings her extensive experience in literature, education, and research, fostering a collaborative and scholarly environment.
Prof. miriam cooke
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Duke University, USA
Professor miriam cooke is the Braxton Craven Professor of Arab Cultures at Duke University. With an extensive career in Middle Eastern and Arab world studies, her research delves into modern Arabic literature, gender studies, and the critical reassessment of women’s roles in the public sphere.
Educated in the United Kingdom, Prof. cooke has made significant contributions to the academic discourse on Middle Eastern women’s studies. She is a co-editor of the Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies, a platform that promotes the scholarship of gender and society in the Middle East and North Africa.
Her work has been pivotal in exploring the intersections of literature, culture, and women’s roles in Arab societies. As an advisor to the Umran Academic Research Association, she offers valuable insights into Arab cultures and gender dynamics, enriching the association’s cross-cultural research initiatives.
Dr. Manindra Nath Thakur
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India
Dr. Manindra Nath Thakur is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi. His areas of interest include Indian Intellectual Traditions, Marxism, the Philosophy of Science, Social Science Research Methods, Literature, and Politics. His recent work, Gyaan ki Rajneeti, has gained recognition for its innovative approach and practical applications in understanding the relationship between religion and politics.
Dr. Thakur’s research focuses on exploring the complex intersections between political theory, philosophy, and literary studies, significantly contributing to academic discourse in his fields of study. He has founded several research initiatives, both at the civil and academic levels, including the Hindi journal Sablog, the academic podcast Vimarsh Cafe, and the Foundation for Creative Social Research. His expertise enriches the diverse research endeavors at the Umran Academic Research Association.
Professor Alparslan Açıkgenç
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey
Professor Alparslan Açıkgenç is an Emeritus Professor of the History of Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy and a Visiting Professor at the Department of Civilization Studies at Ibn Haldun University. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Üsküdar University. He graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Theology, in 1974 and pursued his Master’s education at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Milwaukee, completing it in 1977. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1983.
Professor Açıkgenç began his academic career as an assistant professor in 1984 and became a full professor in 1987. He has held academic positions at the Department of Philosophy at Ankara Middle East Technical University (1983-1993), the University of Chicago (1985), and Tokat University. His areas of interest include Comparative Religion and knowledge systems, contributing significantly to both philosophy and civilization studies.
Professor Farhat Nasreen
Advisor, Umran Academic Research Association
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Dr. Farhat Nasreen is a Professor of History and the Honorary Director of the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi. She also serves as the Managing Editor of the Journal of History and Sociology of South Asia, published by Sage Publications. Prior to joining JMI in 1999, she taught cadets at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
Dr. Nasreen has an extensive publication record, including six books and numerous papers with both national and international publishers. Her book If History Has Taught Us Anything has also been adapted into an audiobook. Over the years, she has delivered more than 130 papers and invited talks. Her current research interests focus on morality and ethics.
Dr. Amina Hussain
Advisory Member, Umran Academic Research Association
Assistant Professor, Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Dr. Amina Hussain is an Assistant Professor at the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Before joining JMI, she served as an Assistant Professor at Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Lucknow, and the School of Languages at Amity University, Lucknow.
A recipient of the University Medal and Certificate of Merit, Dr. Hussain secured the first position in her M.A. (English Hons) at Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University. She has also been a prestigious UGC-NET-JRF (Junior Research Fellow) with the University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Her doctoral research focused on “British Muslim Women Writers: Intersecting Gender, Culture, and Diaspora,” which she successfully defended.
Dr. Rahmi Oruç
Assistant Professor, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, Turkey
Advisory Member, Umran Academic Research Association
Dr. Rahmi Oruç is a lecturer in the Department of Comparative Literature at Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul, and co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) of the ADAB Project. He recently defended his Ph.D. thesis titled “What Do We Do with Arguments?: Situating Munāẓara in Contemporary Argumentation Scholarship.” His research introduces Munāẓara as a contemporary argumentation theory that may complement, and potentially serve as an alternative to, existing theories.
His academic interests span comparative literature, rhetoric, literary theory, digital humanities, and narratology. Dr. Oruç’s research is primarily focused on the reassessment of madrasa sciences to inform and enhance contemporary scholarship.