Amanullah De Sondy, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor

• 305-284-4260
• Ashe Bldg. 507

• Email
• View CV

Professor Amanullah De Sondy earned his Ph.D. in theology and religious studies at the University of Glasgow (Scotland), with a focus on Islamic Studies.  He holds a BA Hons in Religious Studies and Education Studies with the Diploma in Education from the University of Stirling (Scotland) and played a significant role as a teacher, consultant and writer for the Scottish Qualifications Authority, an organisation linked to the Scottish Government.  Aman studied his Master of Literature (M.Litt) in Islamic Jerusalem Studies at the University of Abertay Dundee with a focus on Jerusalem between 7th -11th Centuries and continued on to complete his doctoral studies with a dissertation on ‘Constructions of Masculinities in Islamic Texts with a specific focus on India and Pakistan between the 18th and 21st Centuries’ at the University of Glasgow (Scotland), the city where he was born. He remains equally proud, both of being a Scotsman and of his Pakistani heritage..  He has studied Arabic and Islamic Studies in France, Jordan and Syria and is proficient in Urdu and Punjabi, with a particular interest in Urdu and Punjabi poetry/ghazals. 

Aman’s main academic interest is concentrated on gender and sexuality in classical and modern Islam, specifically Islamic Masculinities and will soon publish a monograph on ‘Qur’anic Masculinities in India and Pakistan between the 18th – 21st Centuries’. He was invited to serve as a steering committee member of the ‘Men, Masculinities and Religion’ group within the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and has presented and organised panels at the AAR. He has presented academic papers and public understanding of Islam talks globally from the Vatican’s Gregorian Pontifical University to the International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is currently working on a number of papers that explore issues of masculinities in the stories of Islamic prophets and has started work on a new book project that compares the Scottish bard, Robert Burns, with the Indian Mughal poet, Mirza Ghalib exploring themes of global masculinities, inter religious dialogue and bridging the cultural divide.

Aman has taught Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde and the University of Stirling in Scotland and at Ithaca College, New York in the USA before joining the University of Miami.  At the University of Glasgow he was short-listed for the Teaching Excellence Award in 2007 and his courses have received numerous positive coverage in the Scottish media.  While he was at Glasgow he was the lead researcher on a project on “Philanthropy for Social Justice in the British Muslim Societies” that was funded by the Ford Foundation ($160,000).

He has been active in interfaith dialogue events globally. Aman has twice served as an umpire at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London and ran 4 Scottish half marathons. His interest in presenting Islam and Muslims in the media has led to him making regular contributions to the media, including BBC Radio Scotland (regularly since 2006), BBC Radio 4, Sky News, PBS, CBS news. Additionally he has been called upon in the print media, including The London Times, The Economist, The Guardian, The Scottish Herald, The Scotsman, The Catholic Tablet, The Catholic Herald and The Pakistan Times. Aman also writes a blog on critical reflections on 'Progressive Scottish Muslims'. Aman was invited in May 2008 to present at the opening of weekly proceedings at the Scottish Parliament. The following courses are currently being taught by Professor De Sondy, REL 171 Introduction to Islam and REL 331 Religions of Asia, REL 370 Modern Islam - Explorations in Film, Media and Music and REL 371 Islam and Gender - Constructions of Masculinities and Femininities and the Body.

Upcoming lectures and media presentations – Spring/Summer 2012

• Presented live broadcast, 'Thought for the Day' – BBC Radio Scotland, January 2012
• Participating in the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, 60 year Celebration having written an essay for the commemorative catalogue. 'From the Vault: Building a Legacy – Sixty Years of Collecting', Friday 27th January 2012.
• 'Islam, Christianity and Judaism – The Challenge of Pluralism in the Arab/Muslim World Today' – Invited lecture at the Lenten Program at St. Mark's Episcopal Church and School, Fort Lauderdale, Fl., Tuesday 28th February 2012.
• 'The Problem of Evil and the Qur'an' – discussing Sura al-Baqarah with Rev. Dr. Jonathan Swanson's class, Department of Religious Studies, University of Miami, Wednesday 21st March 2012.
• 'Islamic Masculinity and Femininity in the Arab/Muslim World – Between the Chaste and Hedonists' – invited lecture by Professor Ralph Heyndels (Department of Modern Languages and Literature) and Professor Steven Butterman (Director of Women's and Gender Studies), University of Miami, Tuesday 27th March 2012.
• 'British Muslim Masculinities in 20th Century Britain' – Symposium on 'Men, Masculinities and Religious Change', University of Cambridge, UK, Friday 20th April 2012.
• Visiting Professor in Islamic Studies at Faculty of Theology, North-West University –Potchefstroom, South Africa, May/June 2012
• 'Islamic Studies, Gender and Sexuality', Summer Institute of the Human Rights Campaign LGBT Scholarship and Mentorship program, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, August 2012

Upcoming lectures and media presentations – Fall/Winter 2011

• TV Channel WPBT2’s ‘Viewpoint’ discussion program on ‘The Future of the Middle East’ – to be aired August 28th 2011 and September 1st 2011
• 'An overview of Islamic Thought and Practice' - Invited by Professor Haim Shaked (Director) Sue and Leanard Miller Center for Judaic Studies to present to students and public audience on 'Panoramic View of the Middle East' - University of Miami, FL. Tuesday 13th September 2011
• ‘Islam, Masculinities and Peace’ – Annual Prestigious Lecture Series at St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, FL, September 21st 2011
• 'Introduction to Islam and Muslims' - invited to present to MAIA students (Master of Arts in International Administration) - University of Miami, FL. Wednesday 28th September 2011
• 'Introduction to Asian Religions and Cultures' - invited to present to MAIA students (Master of Arts in International Administration) - University of Miami, FL. Wednesday 5th October 2011
• 'Ae Fond Kiss - a Movie' - Invited discussant of movie to the Women's and Gender Studies Program at the University of Miami, Dinner and a Film Series. Hecht Residential College, University of Miami, FL. Thursday 6th October 2011.
• Invited Discussant – 'Circumstance' the movie at Coral Gables (FL.) Art Cinema on Tuesday 25th October 2011.
• Invited Discussant - 'Arab Questions from Morocco' with Dr. Ghita El Kayat (Cultural Anthropologist) at Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, in conjunction with Women's and Gender Studies Program, the Africana Studies Program and the Minor in Arabic Studies Program. University of Miami, FL. Tuesday 1st November 2011.
• ‘Media Training Workshop for Scholars of Islam’ – Organised in collaboration with SSRC, Religion Dispatches, American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Auburn Media.  Invited by Dr. Hussein Rashid (Hofstra) and Dr Gary Laderman (Emory) – San Francisco, November 18th 2011
• ‘Beyond Sex: The Ethics of Reading Islamic Masculinities’ – Rethinking Islamic Studies Workshop, sponsored by the Islamic Mysticism and the Qur’an Group at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) – San Francisco, November 18th 2011
• ‘Beyond Identity Politics’ – Sponsored by the Status of LGBTIQ Persons in the Profession Committee at the American Academy of Religion.  Co-panelists Mari E. Castellanos (United Church of Christ), Jasbir Puar (Rutgers University) and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – San Francisco, November 19th 2011
• ‘Sufism After the “Linguistic Turn” – Study of Islam Section and Islamic Mysticism Group at the American Academy of Religion (AAR).  Co-panelists, Carl W. Ernst (UNC Chapel Hill), Vincent Cornell (Emory), Rkia Cornell (Emory), Scott Kugle (Emory), Sa’diyya Shaikh (University of Capetown) and Dale Martin (Yale) – November 21st 2011
• ‘Critical Theory and the Performance of Postmodern Masculinities’ – Men, Masculinities, and Religions Group at the American Academy of Religion (AAR).  Respondent to panel on Monday 22nd November 2011.
• ‘Thought for The Day’ – BBC Radio Scotland on 20th December 2011 and Wednesday 28th December 2011.