Building Believing Academics
A historic evening celebrating a new partnership for Islamic higher education in America
An Evening of History
“We are witnessing history in the making tonight.”
— Dr. Yasir Qadhi
On Friday, October 23, 2026, nearly 400 guests filled Ashton Place in Willowbrook to celebrate a new chapter for Islamic higher education in America: the partnership between American Islamic College (AIC), the first Islamic college in North America, and The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA).
AIC Board Member Atty. Roula Allouch opened the program. Imam Nazir Chahin (MDiv ’22) followed with an opening du’a, and Mesut Mamaloglu (BA ’19) gave a Qur’an recitation, setting the tone and intention for the night.
Dr. Marcia Hermansen then welcomed guests on behalf of the AIC Board of Trustees. She described the partnership as “a rahmah to AIC at a time when we faced profound challenges in sustaining our operations.”
AIC President Dr. James Jones spoke about the power of partnership. He highlighted AIC’s Madrasa Pathways program, the Institute for the Study of Muslims and Islam in India (ISMI), and the Hassan Institute for interfaith engagement.
Scholars, educators, community leaders, students, alumni, and families came together to hear the vision behind the partnership, formalized in a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions on July 15, 2026, and to help build its future.
The evening honored the founders whose vision created AIC in 1981, recognized the people who carried it through its most difficult years, and called on the community to invest in a generation of leaders educated here and prepared to serve here.
To everyone who attended, sponsored, pledged, volunteered, or watched online: jazakum Allahu khayran.
Moments from the Program
What we do in our communities for the next 30 years will shape Islam for the next 300 years.
There is never a more significant investment that any of us can make than investing in the intellectual life of our community.
Knowledge is about being conscious of Allah. Anything other than that is just information.
We are two unlikely institutions who come together on behalf of Muslims and on behalf of the United States of America.
Buildings have classrooms, professors teach courses, but together we shape human beings.
This is not just about AIC and TISA, or Chicago or Dallas. It is about saving the ummah.
Leaders Educated Here, Prepared to Serve Here
Figures shared by Abdullah Mamun, President of TISA, during the program.
The partnership exists to raise imams, chaplains, teachers, and community leaders who make Islam relevant to the questions young Muslims are asking today.
Award Recipients
The Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
Honoring the community whose leaders, including Jabir Herbert Muhammad and Dr. Akbar Muhammad, helped found AIC in 1981 and lay the foundation for an institution devoted to scholarship, service, and Muslim life in America.
Mr. Sal Becovic
For exceptional generosity and leadership. At a pivotal moment in AIC’s history, he stood with the college as a major benefactor, trusted voice, and advocate for its mission and future.
Romana Manzoor
Executive Vice President of AIC, honored for 16 years of service: leading AIC’s 10-year effort to achieve accreditation in 2024 and organizing the meeting that led to the AIC–TISA partnership.
Dr. Yasir Qadhi
Speaking from the heart rather than from prepared notes, Dr. Qadhi traced his own path: ten years of study at the Islamic University of Madinah, eight years at Yale, and the realization that, in the mid-1990s, there was not a single seminary in North America where he could study his faith.
He described TISA as a different kind of seminary, one rooted here in America and focused on preparing leaders, thinkers, counselors, and community builders for the questions Muslims face today. Its hybrid master’s program lets students keep their careers, and its graduates have gone on to serve as youth leaders, masjid board members, activists, and doctoral students. With AIC, the goal is a full path from bachelor’s to master’s to PhD.
“If you can give financially, Alhamdulillah. If you cannot, make du‘a for us, and send us your best and brightest students.”
Voices of the Evening
Dr. James Jones
President, American Islamic College
Abdullah Mamun
President, The Islamic Seminary of America
Sh. Kifah Mustapha
Executive Director, The Mecca Center
Dr. Aisha El-Amin
Board Member, American Islamic College
Ustadh Ubaydullah Evans
Presidential Advisor, American Islamic College
Atty. Roula Allouch
Board Member, American Islamic College
Thank You to Our Sponsors
And to every family, organization, and individual who pledged their support during the evening.
يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَـٰتٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
“Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and will raise those gifted with knowledge in rank. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”
What Our Students Say
Help Us Reach the Goal
To fund accreditation work with the Higher Learning Commission and the new initiatives this partnership makes possible, AIC and TISA set out to raise about $1 million by December 31, with roughly half already secured before the banquet began.
If you could not join us that night, or would like to add to your support, it is not too late to be part of this historic effort.