The Faculty and Board of Trustees have voted to name Dr. Yahya Michot, an internationally known scholar who taught at Hartford Seminary for 10 years, Emeritus Professor of Islamic Thought and Christian-Muslim Relations.

Dr. Michot retired from Hartford Seminary in August but plans to teach the occasional course at the seminary, including one on Islamic history in Fall 2019.

He will also continue in his position as Co-Editor of The Muslim World journal, which was founded in 1911 and has been edited at Hartford Seminary since 1938. The journal, which reaches subscribers in 65 countries, is dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of scholarly research on Islam and Muslim societies and on historical and current aspects of Christian-Muslim relations.

Since taking up his position as President on July 16, Dr. Joel N. Lohr has expressed his hope that Professor Michot might continue to remain present at the Seminary in retirement.

“Professor Michot is an internationally recognized and highly respected scholar for good reason,” President Lohr said. “His scholarship has been deeply influential and his place at Hartford Seminary as a teacher is already missed. I am delighted that the Board voted to extend this honor to such a deserving individual, and I could not be more pleased that all of this means Professor Michot will continue to be an important presence at the Seminary.”

Dr. Michot came to Hartford Seminary from Oxford (UK), where he taught Islamic theology and Arabic from 1998 to 2008. Previously, from 1983 to 1997, he taught Arabic philosophy, language, history and literature in Louvain (Belgium).

Dr. Michot has served as a consultant to various universities, international organizations and official bodies in the UK. From 1995 to 1998, he was president of the Higher Council of Muslims in Belgium.

He is an internationally recognized scholar who has published numerous articles and monographs, best known for his research on the Persian polymath Avincenna (d. 1037) and the Syrian theologian Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328).

Welcome to the ranks of faculty emeriti, Dr. Michot!