Centre to bridge cultures

Samy Mahmoud announced a partnership between Carleton University and Fatma El-Mehelmy at a signing ceremony at the College of the Humanities on May 5. Long-time Carleton supporter, El-Mehelmy has committed to pledge $140 K over four years toward the establishment of a professorship housed in the fledgling Centre for Studies of Islam, and another $30k toward the creation of a conference. Carleton will match the donation with funding of its own.

“I’m tired of explaining myself as a Muslim Canadian in this society. I am tired of explaining what I wear, what I believe, why I fast and why I don’t drink,” said El Mehelmy in her opening remarks at the event. She added that she hopes the centre will serve to educate and share knowledge about Islamic heritage with Canadians who are know little about differing cultural practices.

In addition to the fulltime professorship, the centre, which will be housed in the College of the Humanities, will also support scholarly research and education on topics related to Islam. Through lecture series, seminars, symposia combined with specialized programs for Minor and Major degrees, the centre will promote a greater understanding of Islamic civilization and core beliefs. It will also encourage discussion of Canadian Muslim identity.

The professorship in the study of Islam will be filled by September 2009.

The new centre and faculty position, builds on an earlier commitment to Carleton El Mehelmy and her husband, El-Aggan when they established the El-Aggan Family Muslim Community Award through the School of Journalism and Communication. El Mehelmy believes that community support is critical to realizing the creation of the centre at Carleton. To that end, she is committed to actively fundraise in the Ottawa community.