Georgetown University:

Yahya Hendi
Muslim Chaplain
(202) 687-4272
Healy Hall, Room 112
ymh@georgetown.edu
http://imamyahyahendi.com/index.htm

Imam Yahya Hendi is the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University, the first American University to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain. Imam Hendi is also the Imam of the Islamic Society of Frederick, Frederick, MD and is the Muslim Chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

He also serves as a member of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America. He has served as an adjunct faculty member for Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Science and Osher's Lifelong Learning Institute of John Hopkins University, Fordham University and Hartford Seminary. Imam Hendi also teaches a very popular course at Georgetown University called: Inter-religious Encounter.

Mr. Hendi's undergraduate education was in Islamic Studies and his Master’s and PhD education were in comparative religions with interest in Christianity, Judaism, comparative religions and inter-religious dialogue and relations.

He has written numerous publications on many topics, including women in Islam, women and gender relations in Islam, the second coming of the Messiah, Islam and biomedical ethics and religion and Islam in the United States.

A sought-after speaker, Imam Hendi has presented a multitude of interfaith and general lectures in the USA, Asia, Africa, Europe, central Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia and the Middle East over the past 10 years and he has been to more than 63 countries and 45 US states for conferences.

Mr. Hendi was one of the Muslim leaders who met with President Clinton during his Presidency.  He also met with the President Bush in the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy and continued to meet him many times during his presidency.

Imam Hendi often visits and lectures at churches and synagogues hoping to create a new positive relationship between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions. In his lectures, Imam Hendi focuses on issues related to gender relations, domestic violence, world peace, social, economic and political justice, and inter-religious and interfaith issues.

Imam Hendi appeared on many national and international television and Radio shows as an expert on interfaith dialogue and on Islam and Muslims (i.e. CNN, ABC, Fox, Kuwait TV, Nile TV, Pakistan Channel-II, RAI, MSNBC and Al-jazeerah).

Imam Hendi recently engaged nationally and internationally on raising awareness on issues of the 21st century which included: 1) environmental responsibility, 2) a peaceful resolution to the Arab/Israeli conflict, 3) eliminating poverty, 4) fighting against the growing sense of militarism, and 5) empowering Muslims to reform the way they practice and understand Islam.

Mr. Hendi serves on national and international interfaith councils such as the Appeal of Conscience, the National Inter-religious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East.

Imam Hendi is the founder and the Secretary General of Clergy Beyond Borders, and the founder and the president of the newly founded organization, Imams for Universe, Dignity, Human Rights and Dialogue.

In May 2002, Imam Hendi was chosen by Hartford Seminary to receive its annual “James Gettemy Significant Ministry Award” for his dedication to his Ministry and for his work to promote peace building between people of different religions. In February 2009, Imam Hendi was honored by the Baltimore field office of the FBI for fighting terrorism, drugs and violence in America.

Imam Hendi offers inter-religious and Muslim retreats, and leads Qiyyam-layl prayer and Jum'ah (Friday Services). He also councils students on academic, professional and social issues. Imam Yahya Hendi believes that with love and education--the world will be a better place to live in.

Huda Totonji, MFA, PhD
Muslim Program Coordinator
(202) 687-2884
G-01 Healy Hall
Washington, DC 20057
hat9@georgetown.edu     

Dr. Huda Totonji joined Georgetown University in 2009 as the Muslim program coordinator at the Campus Ministry. She works with a team led by Imam Yahya Hendi to create new programs for Georgetown University ’s students that raise awareness on community service, education, spirituality, and inter-religious community building. Her goal is to further promote interfaith understanding through active collaboration among Campus Ministry interfaith teams at Georgetown University .

Dr. Huda Totonji was born in Saudi Arabia. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio and her Masters of Fine Art (MFA) Degree in Art and Visual Technology from George Mason University . She gained her Islamic Calligraphy Masters Certificate (Ijazah) from Jordan. She obtained her TESOL certificate (Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages) from Portland State University . She also has a PhD degree in Fine Art from Irland. Her PhD dissertation explored the integration of text and image researching Islamic Calligraphy, Female Subjectivity, and Art and Science. Teaching as a lecturer at Dar Al Hekma College in further enriched her knowledge and exposure to academic improvement and excellence. She is an adjunct professor at the Graphic Design Department of the Art Institute of Washington. Dr. Totonji’s multi-media and eclectic art practice reflects her often existence in two cultural traditions; one of the east, and the other of the west. Being able to combine both the Eastern and Western ideology has been a constant interest in Dr. Totonji’s artistic approach. Dr. Totonji’s artwork investigates issues and questions about femininity and visual representation. Having travelled to 27 countries around the world, along with her academic and professional experience from the Middle East and the West has contributed to her ability to communicate with different age groups, faiths, and nationalities. She worked collaboratively with a Japanese American Artist on a permanent public artwork entitled “Money Tree” which stands tall on Powell Boulevard Station, TriMet, I 205 in Portland Oregon.

Dr. Huda Totonji was also selected among the 300 Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow from 75 countries, at the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow 2009 Conference in Doha, Qatar. As a well renowned international Muslim female artist, she exhibited her work internationally in the US, Saudi, Jordan, England, and Japan. As a Saudi female Artist, she participated in more than 60 exhibitions. She also had her work featured in the critically acclaimed PBS documentary entitled, “Mohammed, Legacy of the Prophet.” Most recently, her artwork was exhibited in the United Nations in NY and in Johns Hopkins University . Her artwork was chosen on the cover of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Hijrah Calendar 2007. As an invited artist, Totonji has spoken in several universities such as, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, Montgomery College, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Kansas State University, Penn State University, University of Pennsylvania, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Texas A&M University, and in Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. For more information visit: www.huda-art.com