President of Islamic Society of North America to lecture on "American Muslim Women: Facts & Fiction" | Press Releases

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, professor of Islamic Studies and director of Islamic Chaplaincy at the Hartford Seminary, will be speaking at Fairfield University on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. in the Dolan School of Business Dining Room.

At the Hartford Seminary, Dr. Mattson specializes in Islamic law and early Islamic history, and her published works include articles on studies of slavery, poverty and Islamic legal theory. The Muslim chaplaincy program at Hartford, which she founded, trains students to represent their faith in colleges, hospitals, prisons, and the military. It is the only program of its kind in North America.

Born in Canada where she was raised a Catholic, Dr. Mattson converted to Islam 20 years ago, and since then has used her unique perspective to make connections between the two religious communities by preaching tolerance and understanding.

She lived in Pakistan from 1987-88, where she worked with Afghan refugee women. In 1995, she worked as an advisor to the Afghan delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Dr. Mattson now serves as president of the Islamic Society of North America, which strives to unite the Islamic people of North American and contribute to the Islamic community. The ISNA works to develop educational and social outreach programs to create good relationships with other organizations and religious communities. Dr. Mattson was the first woman, the first nonimmigrant, and the first Muslim convert to be elected President of the ISNA.

This lecture is sponsored by the Center for Catholic Studies. For questions, please contact Ms. Carolyn Arnold (203) 254-4000, ext. 3415 or Dr. Paul Lakeland, Director of the Center for Catholic Studies (203) 254-4000, ext. 2492.