Peter J. Awn

Professor Peter J. Awn, Director, Middle East Institute-Columbia University.

"On July 1, 2008, Professor Peter J. Awn took up his three-year term as Director of the Middle East Institute. He also continues to serve as Dean of the School of General Studies at Columbia.

"Peter J. Awn is Professor of Islamic Religion and Comparative Religion in the Department of Religion. He received his Ph.D. in Islamic Religion and Comparative Religion from Harvard University in 1978, at which point he joined the Columbia faculty. Previously he earned degrees in Philosophy, Classical Languages, and Christian Theology. Professor Awn’s book, Satan’s Tragedy and Redemption: Iblîs in Sufi Psychology, received a book award from the American Council of Learned Societies. In 1984 he was the first recipient of the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Award for distinguished teaching and research. In 1995 Professor Awn was awarded the Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates. Professor Awn has received numerous grants including a Fulbright and several grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was also a Principal Investigator on the Muslim Communities in New York City research project, sponsored by the Ford Foundation. In addition to his work at Columbia, Professor Awn has been Visiting Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Professor Awn has traveled widely in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, and South Asia.

"In addition to his service as Dean of the School of General Studies (GS), Professor Awn currently serves as Acting Dean of the School of Continuing Education (SCE). He has served as chair of the Department of Religion, chair of the Steering Committee of the Chairs of the Arts & Sciences Departments, and chair of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. In addition he has served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Religion, and Arts & Sciences Faculty Liaison to the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations."