“MSU has been doing amazing work in teaching about the eastern world,” said Ayoob, the coordinator of the MSU Muslim Studies Program. “Many people in the Muslim community saw a need to demonstrate a continued support for Muslim Studies at MSU.”

MSU began what Ayoob calls the Muslim Studies initiative shortly after Sept. 11. The initiative quickly grew into an undergraduate Muslim Studies Specialization in 2004 and a Muslim Studies Program in 2006.

International relations senior Donald Matlock said he chose to become part of the Muslim Studies Specialization because of the courses offered, the curricula and the professors that taught them, and the numerous chances to meet influential scholars from around the world.

“The field, as we are finding today, even on a domestic level — with arguments in New York City about where to build mosques to Quran burnings in Florida — is fundamentally misunderstood,” Matlock said.

“The Muslim Studies Specialization, with the unique opportunities it provides students, aims to fix this ignorance.”

Though he is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a progressive institution, Matlock said he is also excited for the future of the program.
“I am confident that, as students graduate from the Muslim Studies Specialization, they will go into the world to make long-lasting social change, making their communities a more tolerant place,” Matlock said.

“How can one not be excited about that?”

Stephanie Motschenbacher, spokeswoman for MSU’s International Studies and Programs said she is excited for the endowment and hopes it will help Muslim Studies grow.

“The new endowment is meant to help students and professionals learn more about Muslim Studies,” said Motschenbacher, who worked with Ayoob in setting up the endowment.

“It will support education, research and outreach. All are very important to the history of MSU and the field of Muslim Studies.”

At least 60 students have graduated with a Muslim Studies Specialization, and 70 more are enrolled in the program. But Ayoob said the impact goes beyond the number of students enrolled.

“There are ten times as many students who are taking a Muslim Studies class than those enrolled in the specialization,” Ayoob said.

“Not only that, but Muslim Studies brings together faculty to produce a set of issues that need to be addressed. It sort of provides the intellectual community research and teaching of the Muslim world.”