Hartford Seminary alum Adeel Zeb has been elected as the first Muslim President of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. Zeb earned his MA in Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations in 2012 and his Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy in 2013.

Imam Zeb is the Muslim Chaplain at the Claremont University Consortium in Southern California where he serves the chaplaincy needs of seven institutions. He will act as volunteer President for the National Association of College and University Chaplains for one year, beginning this summer.

Zeb will take over for Rabbi Dena Bodian as President of the organization.

The National Association of College and University Chaplains states on its website that it is a multifaith professional community supporting spiritual and ethical life in higher education. NACUC’s mission is, among other things, to further the spirit of ecumenicity and understanding among all religious groups as they relate to the university environment.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Zeb said, “when we were being sworn into our new positions, it felt like a civil rights movement.”

Zeb and the NACUC have great interest in expanding the religious diversity of those in chaplaincy, the majority are Christian chaplains, and in even higher positions, such as Deans or heads of religious departments.

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Zeb joins a growing list of Hartford Seminary alum in chaplaincy leadership positions across the country.

(Photo Credit: Huffington Post)