Naijla Faizi joins Chaplain's staff as director of Muslim life programming
Naijla Faizi
Naijla R. Faizi has joined the Office of the Chaplain as director of Muslim life programming. A Wake Forest graduate, she succeeds Imam Khalid Griggs, an associate chaplain who served the University’s Muslim community for 17 years.
At Wake Forest, Faizi will provide support for Muslim students, faculty and staff. She will coordinate religious services, holy days and educational events, and supervise the Muslim Students Association.
“As a Muslim alumna of Wake Forest, I experienced the challenges of being a hypervisible Muslim woman on campus who was simultaneously rendered invisible by the public discourse on Islam which often prevented my fellow peers from engaging with me directly,” Faizi said. “It was the support of Imam Griggs, allied faculty and staff, and my friends in the Muslim Student Association who ultimately helped me grapple with these challenges and develop a sense of belonging. Now, as the director of Muslim life programming, I hope to cultivate safe spaces at Wake Forest for Muslim students, faculty, and staff to engage intellectually with Islam, express a diversity of personal identities, and build a vibrant campus community. “
At Wake Forest in 2014, Faizi received a bachelor of arts degree in religious studies with minors in international studies and Middle East and South Asia studies. She also studied at the University of Jordan in Amman, where she took courses in Arabic and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
As a student, she served as president of Wake Forest’s Muslim Student Association. Faizi was involved in organizing more than 30 campus-wide events focusing on faith-based issues in the media, Islamophobia and diversity within Islam. Some of her other efforts included collaborating with the University’s Admissions Office to boost Muslim enrollment and establishing relationships with leaders from other campus religious organizations to develop ongoing service projects.
Since graduation, her work experience has included stints with the Asian American LEAD organization in Washington, D.C., and the AmeriCorps VISTA for Education program in North Carolina.
She succeeds Imam Khalid Griggs, who has become well known on the campus community as a member of the staff led by Chaplain Tim Auman. Griggs, who is the Imam of the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem, recently decided to change his relationship with Wake Forest because of his new role as vice president of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA). Auman said that Griggs will continue informally as an advisor to the Office of the Chaplain.
An event will be held in the fall semester to express the University community’s gratitude for Griggs’ extensive service on campus.
Categories: University Announcement
Being Here: Salaam series of events underway on campus
A series of events known as “Being Here: Salaam” is underway at Wake Forest in September and early October.
The “Being Here: Salaam” project began Sept. 21 at Hanes Art Mezzanine Gallery in Scales Fine Arts Center with an exhibit of photographs by Todd Drake featuring Imam Khalid Griggs, associate chaplain, and other Muslims–many from North Carolina. The exhibit, which draws from Drake’s “Muslim Self-Portrait” series, will continue until Oct. 9. In that exhibit, Griggs is the only member of the Wake Forest campus community featured.
This week, portraits of 12 Wake Forest Muslim students by Drake have been hung across campus on large banners in highly visible locations, such as the atrium at Z. Smith Reynolds Library. On each banner, a student self-identifies in a particular manner. For example, one banner reads “being here as a linguist,” while another reads, “being here as a scientist.”
Categories: Events
Griggs recognized with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’
Imam Khalid Griggs, associate chaplain for Muslim life, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 40th Annual Islamic Circle of North America National Convention in Baltimore on May 23.
The award was established five years ago to honor annually two individuals who have provided exemplary service to the Muslim community in the U.S. More than 20,000 people attended the conference where Griggs received the award.
“It was a very humbling experience to have my peers from across the nation recognize the consistence of my service to the Muslim community,” Griggs said.
Categories: Staff News
Office of Chaplain hosts panel discussion on Islamophobia
Chaplain Tim Auman introduces panelists Michaelle Browers, Imam Adeel Zeb, Manzoor Cheema, Jade Brooks, Dani Moore, and Imam Khalid Griggs.
The Office of the Chaplain recently hosted a panel discussion, “Islamophobia: The Anatomy of Difference,” aimed at creating greater interfaith understanding.
The March 2 event was held in Wait Chapel and attended by faculty, staff, students and community members.
“We want people to practice deep listening, to hear personal stories about what it means to be Muslim and what Islamophobia looks like in people’s everyday lives with the goal of opening the door for relationships that include our differences – even the subtle and the most difficult ones,” said Chaplain Tim Auman, who planned the event. In his introduction, Auman encouraged talking “constructively and compassionately about difference.”
Categories: Events
Administrative support for Imam Khalid Griggs
A message from President Nathan Hatch to Wake Forest students, faculty and staff
When Imam Khalid Griggs was named Associate Chaplain for Muslim Life in 2010, I spoke about the strength of Wake Forest’s religious heritage as we sought to provide religious leadership for the University’s Muslim community. At that time, I said, “This position will promote an even broader dialogue among people of different faith traditions and encourage a greater awareness of differing beliefs, both of which are critical to enriching the quality of our campus community.”
Since then, the Wake Forest campus community has supported Imam Griggs and his efforts to build bridges among people of many faiths.
Until now, I, along with other University leaders, trustees and Imam Griggs, have not publicly addressed an ongoing campaign an alumnus has waged against Imam Griggs, as well as our University. We have found the allegations of this alumnus unmerited and his methods inappropriate, and we elected not to provide him a platform. However, a recent escalation of his tactics requires a public response.
I want Wake Forest students, faculty, staff and alumni to know where their institutional leadership stands – in full support of Imam Griggs. Imam Griggs is an experienced, well-respected religious leader whose pastoral care and interfaith engagement assist Muslim students and people of all backgrounds on our campus.
In an open letter sent to all Wake Forest alumni yesterday, Imam Griggs sought to reassure our many alumni who recently have received confusing emails from the alumnus.
Our heritage is one of affirming diversity and of supporting community members, especially when they are unfairly targeted. On behalf of the entire Reynolda Cabinet, and with the support of the Board of Trustees, I wish to publicly thank Imam Griggs for the courage, grace and commitment he has demonstrated in these difficult circumstances.
Categories: University Announcement
