Leadership team
Professor of the Islamic Mediterranean, Head of Department
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Professor of the History of the Mediterranean Islamicate World, Director of impact
Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies, Director of Student Experience
Dr Katie Natanel
As Director of Education and Student Experience (DESE), Katie is the senior lead responsible for education and student experience within the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. Her work promotes a culture of teaching and education excellence in the department, in partnership with the Head of Department and IAIS academic and professional services colleagues, student representatives and the Faculty Education team.
Email: K.Natanel@exeter.ac.uk
Director of Business Engagement, Professor of Islamic Intellectual History and Islamic Studies
Professor Sajjad Rizvi
Sajjad Rizvi is Professor of Islamic Intellectual History. An intellectual historian working on philosophy in Islam and global philosophy, his commitment to decoloniality is expressed in the desire to encourage more international students and to develop meaningful partnerships with institutions in the global south.
Email: s.h.rizvi@exeter.ac.uk
Director of Global Engagement, Associate Professor in Maritime Archaeology & Arabic
Professor John P. Cooper
As DBEI John is keen to help find opportunities to connect academic and expertise with the needs and requirements of Business, Industry and End Users.
Email: J.P.Cooper@exeter.ac.uk
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Dr Sabiha Allouche , Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Dr Rama Sahtout , Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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Dr Rama Sahtout
I am a Lecturer at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies and the Law School at the University of Exeter. My interdisciplinary research spans law, politics, and Middle East Studies, with interests in international law, human rights law, and decolonial/postcolonial theory. I am particularly interested in the implementation of refugee law concepts in the context of large-scale refugee movements, international cooperation in refugee protection, the question of Palestinian refugees, the legal and political dimensions relevant to refugees in the Middle East, and of Syria's internal displacement.
Email: R.Sahtout2@exeter.ac.uk
Director of Research, Al Qasimi Professor in Islamic Studies
Professor Nahyan Fancy
Nahyan Fancy is the al-Qasimi Professor in Islamic Studies. His main area of research is science and medicine in pre-1500 Islamic societies, and their intersection with philosophy and religion.
Email: N.Fancy2@exeter.ac.uk
Senior Tutor (UG), Senior Lecturer in Arabic Languages
Fatima Rawan
Fatima Rawan is Senior Lecturer in Arabic Studies. Fatima thrives on innovation and excellence. With over three decades of teaching in HE, she has worked on enhancing all aspects of learning and teaching, engaged with different sectors and educational institutions in the UK and overseas and won multiple awards.
Email: f.rawan@exeter.ac.uk
Department Manager
Karin Venema
I am here to help the department flourish, resolving issues and removing obstacles so academics can focus on their teaching and research. I say what I do and do what I say.
Email: k.venema@exeter.ac.uk