Cultivating Connections

The Department of Jewish, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (JIMES) at Washington University of St. Louis was proud to host a conversation between Prof. Barak Medina of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Prof. Lee Epstein of WashU, moderated by Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, on freedom of speech as an emerging front in the context of the Israel-Hamas war.

Call for proposals from faculty for a speaker series aimed at cultivating inclusive and productive dialogue around complex topics.

Professor Lee Epstein and Chancellor Andrew D. Martin answer students’ questions about free speech on campus. Moderated by Hussein Amuri, Student Union President.

Research project to study what happens when you connect members of the St. Louis community to neighbors with migrant backgrounds, including development of an app for sharing migration narratives, and an exhibition featuring a number of nationally-recognized and local artists whose work spans a broad range of geopolitical sites and pushes the definition of “narratives” across media.

Teaching installation that examined constructions of health in relation to exclusionary ideologies of race, gender, sexuality, ability, and class.

Annual week celebrating religious, spiritual and ethical life at WashU, featuring presentation of Isserman Prizes for Interfaith and Engagement and a long-running lecture series focused on the intersection of social justice and faith.

Since 2015, members of the WashU community have dedicated a day in the spring semesters to pause, convene, and engage in conversation across perspectives, celebrate all social identities, and take steps to ensure that everyone has a seat at the table.

An educational conversation with Dr. Amer F. Ahmed, vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion and senior diversity officer at the University of Vermont, exploring Islamic culture and anti-Muslim prejudice.