ISNA Creates History: Elects First Woman President

The New Face of North American Muslims

Dr. Ingrid Mattson

The Islamic Society of North America (www.isna.net), the largest religious organization representing Muslims in North America, has elected Dr. Ingrid Mattson as its President. She is the first woman to head the organization.

Dr. Mattson, who earlier served as the first female ISNA Vice President, is Professor of Islamic Studies and Director of Islamic Chaplaincy at the Macdonald Center for Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT. Dr. Mattson, born in Canada, studied Philosophy at the University of Waterloo, Ontario (B.A. '87) and earned her Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago in 1999.

I am delighted for ISNA because their new leader, a dynamic Canadian born woman, will be the new face of Muslims in North America. The media and the pubic will recognize someone more like those of the dominant North American culture. I am delighted for Dr. Mattson, whom I have come to know and admire. I think she will bring a level of thoughtful and energetic leadership to ISNA which will be very good for the organization.

Congratulations all round!

Read more: http://www.isna.net/index.php?id=35&backPID=1&tt_news=769