Curriculum Vitae
MEHNAZ M. AFRIDI
www.mehnazafridi.com
EDUCATION
P. H.D. University of South Africa, Religious Studies
Naguib Mahfouz and Modern Islamic Identity examines the shift since the advent of Islam from Islamic models of social life toward post-colonial and modern conceptions of the Islamic Identity.
Advisors: Dr. Gerrie Lubbe & Dr. Y. Dadoo
M.A. Syracuse University, New York. Religious Studies
Post-Holocaust Studies & Islam
B.A. Syracuse University, New York. English & Religion
TEACHING COMPETENCY:
Islam
Jewish & Islamic Literature
English
Cultural Diversity
Genocide Studies
Women and Religion
World Religions
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Jewish and Islamic Modern Identity
Diaspora and Transnational Studies
Environmental Studies
Feminist post-colonial theory
Literature and postcolonial studies
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Director, Public Relations, International Education and Welfare Society
Education and literacy first!
2005-Present
Lead Muslim Participant & Coordinator
Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Ethics and Islamic Center of Southern California
Muslim-Jewish Dialogue
2004-present
Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles
Board of Advisors, www.levantinecenter.org
2006-present
Arava Institute, North America & Israel
Board of Directors, www.arava.org 2006-present
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, September 2006-December 2006
Lecturer “Lecture Series: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.”
Core Adjunct and Online Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences
National University, Los Angeles 2000-present
Core Adjunct Faculty, Liberal Arts Studies
Antioch University, Los Angeles, 2001-present
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Theology
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles 2002-2005
Adjunct Faculty, Department of English
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, 2001-2002
Associate Faculty, School of Arts & Sciences
National University, Los Angeles 1998-2003
Adjunct Faculty, School of Arts & Sciences
American Intercontinental University, Los Angeles 1998-2000
Adjunct Faculty, Liberal Arts
Hamilton College, New York 1995
Part-Time Instructor, Religious Studies
Syracuse University, New York 1994-95
PUBLICATIONS:
The Middle East in Religious Perspective Richard B. Pilgrim & Mehnaz M. Afridi
A Study Guide for Instructional Development. – 1991
Religious Diversity, Walking and the City of Ruins, Academic Exchange Extra online Journal, May 2005
Islam and its Forgotten Neighbors, Journal of Textual Reasoning online Journal, UCLA Press, November 2005
Annual Humanitarian Conference: International Education and Welfare Society, Pakistan Link, February 2006
On Wafa Sultan, Pakistan Link, July 2006
Remembering Mahfouz: 1919-2006, Levantine Cultural Magazine, September 1, 2006
Elmau & Dachau: A Muslim’s Testimony, Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, October 5th 2007
Contemporary Islam and Anti-Semitism, “Not Your Father’s Anti-Semitism” Paragon Press, 2007
Muslims and Jews: Continuing the Conversation, Common Ground News, August 2008
Thinking, Being, Death, and Desire: Jacques Derrida, Edward Said, and Charles Winquist, Levantine Cultural Center Magazine, October 2008
Contemporary Readings of the Qu’ran: Cruel/Compassionate? Journal of Sacred Tropes, Brill, 2009
Mahfouz, Pamuk, and Rushdie: Modern Muslim Identity and Literature, Brill, 2009
Islamic Culture, The Routledge Companion to Literature and Science, 2009
PAPERS PRESENTED:
Global Identities and the Return to Nationalism? Boston, Harvard University, March 2009
Muslimah Monologues, Wilshire Temple, Los Angeles, February 2008
Ancient and Alive: Contemporary Readings of Sacred Texts, Columbia University, October 2008
Women and Islam: Literature, Images and Politics, University of Vermont, October 2008
Mahfouz, Pamuk, and Rushdie: Modern Muslim Identity and Literature, ACLA, Long Beach, CA, March 2008
Islam and the Future of Muslims, Tenet Medical group, Tarzana, CA August 2007
Egypt: Anti-Semitism and Literature, University of Munich, Elmau, Germany June 2007
Judaism and Islam: Revealing Commonalities, Temple Isaiah, May 2007
Spain: Jews and Muslims 1095, BCC Temple, April 2007
Justice and Faith, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, December 2006
Passion of the Prophet, University of Judaism, November 2006
Moses and Mohammed: Stories of Prophecy, Ojai Foundation, September 24th 2006
Mohammed, Art and Images, Loyola Marymount University, PMU Conference, September 2006.
Islam and its forgotten Neighbors: History, Text and Remembering, Princeton University, ACLA Conference, March 24th 2006
Sacred Tropes and the Qu’ran: Historical & Contemporary Readings, Claremont Graduate School, WESCOR, March 13th 2006
Islam and the history of Democracy? Iowa State University, Iowa, February 23rd 2006-faculty Development Seminar
Women and Islam: Dialogue & Diversity, Iowa State University, Iowa, February 23rd2006
Dialogue & Diversity: Perceptions of Women, Kehillat Temple, Pacific Palisades, November 17th, 2005
Ramadan/Yom Kippur: Remembering and Forgetting, Temple Israel, Hollywood, October 2005
Islam and Tolerance, Iranian Muslim Association of North America, October 2005
Islam and Judaism: A Dialogue, Islamic Center of Southern California & the Wallenberg Institute of Ethics, May 2005
Religious links: Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, Bronfman Youth Fellowship Program, New York City, March 2004
Value of Human Life within Islam, Bronfman Youth Fellowship Program, New York City, March 2004
Islam and Judaism: Cruel/Compassionate? Wilshire Temple, Los Angeles, February 2004
Islam, and Medieval Intolerance, Temple Israel, Hollywood, Los Angeles, 2004
Islam and Anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages, Sigi Ziering Institute, University of Judaism, Los Angeles 2004
Islam and the History of Literature, Leo Beack Temple, Los Angeles, 2003
Historical Pakistan and Israel: America and the Octopus, Antioch University, Los Angeles 2003
Understanding Islam, Seminar Beverly Hills Temple, June 2005
History of Female Spirituality and Allah, Loyola Marymount University, 2004
South Asian Women and Islam, Panwaa Association, Berkeley, CA 2003
Islam and the aftermath of 911, Baylor University, Texas, 2002
Muslim Terrorism and Islam, Baylor University, Texas, 2002
Perceptions of Women: Images and Stereotypes, Denver Colorado, AAR National Conference, 2002
Fear of Writing and Reading: Pedagogical Approaches, National University, Faculty Development, Los Angeles, 2000
Islam, Images, and Women, University of Colima, Mexico 2000
Muslim Women and Diversity, Temple Israel, Long Beach, CA 2003
Dialogues on Diversity: Pedagogy and Difference, Loyola Marymount University, 2004
Unmasking Islam: Bloody Writings and the Exiled Muslim, Boston College, Regional Conference, 1992
Women and Islam, Whittier College, 2000
Islam, Alterity, and, Others, Cornell University, 1993
Paradox of Judaism and America Syracuse University, Jewish Union, 1994
Islam and Judaism: A Comparative Approach Philadelphia AAR National Conference, 1995
MEDIA:
PBS Special: Three Faiths, One God, November 2005 Commentator
History Channel, Ten Commandments, April 2006 Commentator
Daily Breeze Newspaper, South Bay, Los Angeles, CA “Faithful Woman,” interview September 9, 2006
Grunion Gazette Newspaper, Long Beach, CA “Muslim makes Impact in Community,” interview, September 28, 2006
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:
PhD one year scholarship, University of South Africa, 2007-8
National Endowment of Humanities, Institute Grant
“Venice, the Jews, and Italian Culture: Historical Eras and Cultural Representations”
Summer June-July 2006
Summer Literature Faculty, The Lawrenceville School,
New Jersey, summer June-July 2005
IMAAN Token of Appreciation Award, October 9th, 2005, Los Angeles
Iranian American Muslim Association of North America
Summer Religion Faculty, Loyola of Chicago
Rome, Italy, June-July 2004
Coolidge Fellow Grant, Union Theological, Cross Currents, NYC Summer 2003
El Segundo High School Leadership Award, May 31, 2003
Outstanding Teaching Award, Syracuse University, 1994
Marine Corps Certification Award, Long-Distance course on Islam for Gulf Students, 1992
Hebrew University, Summer Grant, 1995
Graduate Teaching Award (Scholarship), Syracuse University, 1990-95
LANGUAGES:
Arabic: Reading Competency (Qu’ran comprehension)
Spanish: Reading & Writing Competency
German: Reading Competency
French: Near Native
English: Native
Urdu: Native
REFERENCES:
(All recommendations on file and will be sent upon request)
Dr. Carl Boggs
Sociology
National University
Los Angeles, CA 92001
Dr. Sander L. Gilman
Germanic studies
Department of Germanic Studies
Emory University
E-mail: Sander34@aol.com
Dr. Charles E. Winquist, Department of Religion
501 Hall of Languages
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York, U.S.A. 13244
(Deceased-recommendation on file)
John Sauerman
Department of History
The Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Dr. Gerrie Lubbe
Department of Religious Studies and Arabic
University of South Africa, Pretoria