Making an online gift through the IU Foundation’s online giving portal, called MyIU, is quick, easy, and secure. You can make a one-time, multi-payment, or recurring gift:
Give now to support Arabic & Islamic Studies.
We appreciate the generous support of our alumni, parents, students, and friends. We are currently fundraising for our new Arabic and Islamic studies minor scholarships, but your gifts can also help us partner with central Indiana communities to host events, to conduct outreach in K-12 schools, and more. Thank you for being our partner in changing the lives of current and future students.
A program event at Alhuda mosque in Fishers explored Arab Muslim Hoosier history.
We are especially grateful to the members of our Community Advisory Board, who have made meaningful multi-year financial pledges to the program in addition to advising the program on its public outreach and helping students identify internships and other opportunities for community-engaged research and learning.
Dr. Tarick Abdo, podiatrist, was born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Indiana University and earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Abdo finished his primary podiatric medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He received his surgical training in Baltimore.
Dr. Majdi Abu-Salih, the medical director of Community Health’s pediatric gastroenterology, was born in Urbana, Illinois. Dr Abu-Salih first studied medicine at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and then completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Iowa and a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Abu-Salih is also a local volunteer Muslim leader and has served as President of Alhuda Foundation in Fishers.
Hiba Alalami, PhD candidate, is a distinguished Arab American and Muslim American non-profit leader who served as the first executive director of the Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network. In addition, she is currently the historian of Indiana League of Women’s Voters, the subject of her PhD dissertation. Ms. Alalami played a key role in the Arab Indianapolis community history project and is a volunteer board member of the Indiana chapter of American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Dr. Mohammad Al-Haddad is Naga P. Chalasani Professor and leader of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division at the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Al-Haddad, who completed fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, is an expert on endoscopy who has co-authored hundreds of journal articles. He has also appeared in the film, Arab Indianapolis: A Hidden History, where he discusses the prejudices sometimes faced by Arab and Muslim physicians.
Educated in Bangladesh and the United States, Purdue Professor of Mechanical Engineering Sohel Anwar is an expert on autonomous vehicles, lithium batteries, and wind turbines, among other environmentally-friendly technologies. His research has been cited by others thousands of times, and he has also won an award as students’ favorite professor. Prof. Anwar is an active member of the Alhuda Foundation in Fishers.
Professor Shadia Jalal is the Lawrence H. Einhorn Scholar in Oncology and the Program Leader in Thoracic Oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Jalal is an active clinician who also serves as chief scientific officer for the Hoosier Cancer Research Network. She appears in the documentary, Arab Indianapolis: Hidden History, in which she discusses the history of Arab Hoosier physicians.
Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura is the first Palestinian and Muslim elected to the Indiana General Assembly. Sen. Qaddoura, who holds a PhD in philanthropy and public policy, previously worked for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the Office of Medicaid Planning, and the Division of Health Care Strategies and Technology. In 2016, he became Indianapolis City Controller. Dr. Qaddoura grew up in and around Ramallah.
Salma Qaddourah, J.D., is the president of the Indiana chapter of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the founder of the Arab Indiana Legal Foundation. Previously an attorney at McNeely Law, she is the chief counsel of the Zidan Management Group. Ms. Qaddourah attended the IU McKinney School of Law but is a devoted fan of the Boilermakers as well as the Pacers and Colts.
Dr. Ahmad Saltagi is Director of the Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Therapy, and Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Riverview Hospital. His board certifications include critical care and pulmonary disease. Educated at Damascus University, Dr. Saltagi completed a residency at Wright State and a fellowship at the Medical College of Ohio. He is also a Certified Financial Planner.
Locally or nationally, you can stay engaged with Arabic Studies these ways:
Know of an alumnus who is doing great work for the program? Nominate them for an Alumni Award.
Contact Director Edward Curtis (ecurtis4@iu.edu) to let us know how you would like to be engaged!
