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SIPA Faculty
Peter Awn
612C Lewisohn Hall
Director, Middle East Institute, Dean, School of General Studies
Phone: 212-854-1932
pga3@columbia.edu
Biography:
Peter Awn is Professor of Islamic Religion and Comparative Religion, Dean of the School of General Studies and director of the Middle East Institute.
Awn has previously served as visiting professor at Princeton University and has lectured widely to academic and business professionals on the role Islamic religion plays in the current political and social development of the Muslim world. Awn was the first recipient of the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Award for distinguished teaching and research. His book, Satan's Tragedy and Redemption: Iblîs in Sufi Psychology, a study of the devil in Islamic mysticism (Sufism), received an award from the American Council of Learned Societies. In 1984, Awn was the first recipient of the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Award for distinguished teaching and research. In 1995, Awn was awarded the Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates. He has also received numerous grants including a Fulbright and several grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Awn earned his PhD in Islamic religion and comparative religion from Harvard University in 1978, and holds a BA in Philosophy and Classical Languages, and an MDiv in Christian Theology.