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DCA Graduate Student Symposium 2025


Call for Papers: The 2nd Annual DCA Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium

Dear Graduate Students and Young Researchers,

The Diyanet Center of America (DCA) is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Diyanet Center of America Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium, a two-day academic conference to be held on May 3-4, 2025, at the Diyanet Center of America in Lanham, MD. This symposium aims to bring together graduate students and emerging scholars from diverse fields within the social sciences to share their research, exchange ideas, and foster intellectual collaboration.

The event will feature integrated thematic panels and interactive discussions, ensuring meaningful academic exchange and fostering opportunities for future collaborations among scholars. The organizers are committed to supporting young researchers by providing a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary engagement, networking, and scholarly dialogue. We particularly encourage young researchers from the DMV area to participate and contribute to regional academic engagement.

This symposium is organized by the Diyanet Islamic Research Institute (DIRI), an emerging academic initiative of the Diyanet Center of America dedicated to fostering scholarly dialogue and advancing research excellence in Islamic Studies. DIRI promotes informed discussions on Islam and Muslim societies, emphasizing classical Islamic sciences and their contemporary relevance while supporting interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and public engagement.

Symposium Themes

The symposium welcomes research presentations from all disciplines within the social sciences, including but not limited to:

• Religious Studies & Theology

• Sociology & Anthropology

• Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy & Law

• History & Cultural Studies

• Economics & Development Studies

• Psychology, Behavioral Sciences & Education

• Communication & Media Studies

To enhance the academic experience, the symposium will feature fewer but more integrated thematic sessions, ensuring deeper engagement and discussion. The event structure will encourage interdisciplinary dialogue, allowing participants to connect across different fields and explore potential research collaborations.

Submission Guidelines

Graduate students (Master’s and Ph.D. candidates) and early-career researchers are invited to submit an abstract (250-300 words) outlining their research topic, methodology, and key findings. Submissions should be accompanied by a short bio (max 150 words) and institutional affiliation.

Key Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: April 15, 2025

• Notification of Acceptance: April 20, 2025

• Symposium Dates: May 3-4, 2025

• Final Paper Submission Deadline: May 20, 2025

Registration and Participation

Participation in the symposium is free of charge, and attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discourse with fellow academics, fostering an environment conducive to future collaborations. Travel and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of participants, but we encourage applicants to explore funding options through their affiliated institutions.

We eagerly anticipate your contributions to this enriching academic exchange and encourage you to engage in meaningful discussions across the social sciences.

Publication Opportunity

We plan to publish a booklet featuring extended abstracts and selected papers presented at the symposium.

Contact Information

For more information and abstract submissions, please contact:

Email: diri@diyanetamerica.org

Symposium Committee

  • Fatih Kanca – Assoc. Prof., Chairman, Diyanet Center of America
  • Halide Rumeysa Küçükköner – Assoc. Prof., Dicle University, Türkiye & Visiting Scholar, George Mason University
  • Cemil Aydin – Professor of Global History, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
  • Hayrettin Yücesoy – Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, History (Affiliate), and Global Studies, Washington University in St. Louis
  • Mehmet Lütfi Arslan – Professor of Management and Organization, Istanbul Medeniyet University & Visiting Scholar, George Washington University
  • Mehmet Salih Sayilgan – Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Georgetown University
  • Himmet Taşkömür – Professor of Ottoman and Modern Turkish, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University
  • Cengiz Şişman – Professor of History, College of Human Sciences and Humanities, University of Houston-Clear Lake
  • Ermin Sinanović – Executive Director, Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University; Faculty Associate in Research, Cornell University
  • Zishan Siddiqui – Assistant Professor of Medicine & Senior Physician Advisor, Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Kadir Ustun – Executive Director, SETA Foundation at Washington DC
  • Ahmet Selim Tekelioğlu – Executive Director, CAIR-Philadelphia & Research Fellow, Abu Sulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies
  • Yılmaz Acar – Academic Researcher, Diyanet Islamic Research Institute (DIRI), Diyanet Center of America

We look forward to welcoming you to the 2nd Annual DCA Social Sciences Graduate Student Symposium 2025!