March 11, 2015

Islamic studies expert to give lecture at SVSU

Saginaw Valley State University will welcome a world-recognized leader in Islamic studies for SVSU's annual Raana Akbar Memorial Lecture Series on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

Imam Achmat Salie, director of the Islamic Studies Program at the University of Detroit Mercy, will deliver a presentation titled, “Muslim Americans as Cultural, Spiritual and Political Citizens.”

Speaking on philanthropy, global ethics, architecture, democracy, spiritual values, non-violence and green housing, Salie has been invited to share his story at venues across five continents. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Darul Uloom Newcastle in South Africa, and an M.B.A. and Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

This will be Salie’s second public appearance at SVSU; he delivered the invocation during President Donald Bachand's investiture ceremony last June. His upcoming talk is free of charge and open to the public.

The annual Dr. Raana Akbar Memorial Lecture Series on Islam and Culture at SVSU was established by Dr. Waheed Akbar, a Saginaw-based orthopedic surgeon, and the couple’s children, Akbar, Zainab, and Ahmed, in memory of their wife and mother, who passed away in 2009.  Raana served on the SVSU Board of Control; Waheed currently serves on SVSU’s Board of Fellows, a community advisory board.