The University of Rhode Island has hired four professors as part of a new initiative focusing on Islamic and Mediterranean studies.
The professors are Katrin Jomaa in Islamic religion and politics; Alan Verskin in Islamic history and culture; Alexander Magidow in modern standard Arabic; and Leslie Kealhofer in French. They were welcomed to campus during a ceremony earlier this month.
Donald DeHayes, provost and vice president for academic affairs, says the new hires and the research collaborative bring a much-needed dimension to URI. The university notes that Arabic is the third most common language in global business affairs.
Islamic and Mediterranean Studies is one of four new “clusters” recently announced by URI. The others are Sustainable Energy for the 21st Century, Water and Water Resources and Aging of Society.
