The Corporation formally accepted a $2 million donation at its October meeting from Prince Karim Aga Khan IV P’95 to fund a visiting professor of Islamic humanities. The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili branch of Islam, has a “long-standing connection” to Brown, said Vice President for International Affairs Matthew Gutmann.
His son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, graduated from the University in 1995. Karim Aga Khan received an honorary degree from Brown in 1996, according to a May 1996 University press release.
The Aga Khan gave the gift in honor of former University president Vartan Gregorian.
“Having the Aga Khan Visiting Professor of Islamic Humanities means that we can have a really prominent figure and expert in these areas at a time when the more knowledge about the Muslim world and Islam, the better,” Gutmann said.
Gutmann said the University hopes to have someone in the post for one or both semesters of next school year.
More: http://www.browndailyherald.com/gift-to-fund-new-position-in-islamic-humanities-1.2363534
Ismailimail 