Dr. Jameel Haque Named New Director of the Kessel Peace Institute
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is proud to announce that Dr. Jameel Haque has been named the new director for the Kessel Peace Institute beginning Jan. 1.
Dr. Haque received his doctorate degree in history from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. While writing his dissertation, he worked for the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center. Prior to coming to Minnesota State University, Mankato, Dr. Haque taught at several City University of New York campuses and at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Since joining the faculty at Minnesota State Mankato in fall 2014, he has given numerous lectures aimed at fostering interfaith community understanding at several local churches, the Maverick Diversity Institute, and at the Lifelong Learners. Dr. Haque is one of the founders of the Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic World program at Minnesota State Mankato and currently serves as its director.
Dr. Haque assumes the role of director from Dr. Carol Glasser. Dr. Glasser served as the director of the Kessel Peace Institute for the past 4 years, beginning fall 2016. During her leadership, Glasser collaborated with campus and community individuals as well as many organizations to promote peace through education and action. Some highlights of the institute under her leadership include the Peace Awards Ceremony and Student Essay Contest, Peace Outreach Education at Loyola School, presentations by the Muslim Peacemakers Team on the current conditions in Iraq, and the Know Your Rights workshop on activism, including a workshop for DACA recipients. In addition, the institute opened up both student and community member positions on the coordinating committee, making the peace institute more inclusive and effective.
The Kessel Peace Institute, named for faculty emeriti Dr. Abbas Kessel is dedicated to the study and promotion of peace at all levels of society from the individual to the global community. The institute defines peace in its broadest sense: Peace denotes not only the absence of war or conflict but also the existence and conjunction of those factors necessary to create or enhance harmony within and among human beings. The institute seeks to pursue its goals through activities and services designated for all individuals and groups. Its programs may include the sponsorship of seminars and workshops, public lectures, artistic and cultural presentations, or other school and community-based activities. They may also include collection and dissemination of peace-related information, support for research and publications, or support for individual or group projects for the promotion of peace.
(l-r): Dr. Carol Glasser, Dr. Jameel Haque, Dean Matt Loayza
