Explore the historical origins of Islam as a civilization and analyze the underlying causes of the conflict between various Islamic states and the United States. Mehrdad Kia received his M.A. (1980) and his Ph.D. (1986) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell College before coming to The University of Montana in 1989. He has studied the intellectual history of nineteenth century and early twentieth century Iran, the Ottoman Empire, and Transcaucasus. He has published extensively on the emergence of a new Muslim intelligentsia that focused primarily on issues of political modernization, socio-economic reform, and the relationship between the Islamic world and the West. Mehrdad Kia has won several teaching awards at The University of Montana including in 1997 the Distinguished Teacher of the Year and in 1999 the Most Inspirational Teacher of the Year. In 2000 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching directed by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education honored Professor Kia as one of the U.S. Professors of the Year. In 2002, Dr. Kia was appointed as the Director of the Office of International Programs and Assistant Vice President for Research where he coordinated and oversaw UM’s international activities. Currently, as Associate Provost for International Programs, he continues to develop relationships with international partner institutions and organizations as well as oversee international development activities.
Giving Opportunities
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Mehrdad Kia Islam and the West Friday, 1:00-2:30, Todd BuildingUM-Missoula
Above: Graphic art by Dannette Fadness
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