{"id":48135,"date":"2021-09-03T17:57:31","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T17:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/?p=48135"},"modified":"2023-01-18T19:49:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T19:49:23","slug":"the-el-hibri-family-to-fund-an-endowed-executive-directorship-for-augsburgs-interfaith-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/2021\/09\/03\/the-el-hibri-family-to-fund-an-endowed-executive-directorship-for-augsburgs-interfaith-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"The El-Hibri Family to Fund an Endowed Chair and Executive Directorship for Augsburg\u2019s Interfaith Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Fuad
Fuad & Nancy El-Hibri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2019, Augsburg University established <\/span>Interfaith at Augsburg: An Institute to Promote Interreligious Leadership<\/span><\/i>. This program illustrates the many ways in which our commitment to interfaith learning and leadership can shape our work on campus and in the wider community, and this work requires a strategic leader and distinguished scholar to provide direction. Today we are pleased to announce that a significant gift has been made to make this leadership position possible: the El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0for the Interfaith Institute<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri first learned of Augsburg while researching higher education options for their son Karim, who was in recovery from substance issues. The family was looking for a university that could provide both a college education and a supportive program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNancy and I diligently explored universities for our son which offered programs like StepUP. We were surprised that we could only find a handful of schools that had anything close to what Augsburg offers. StepUP clearly stood out with its reputation, scale, and program scope,\u201d says Fuad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once Karim graduated from the StepUP program, Fuad and Nancy continued to stay engaged with the university. Initially, their support was focused on StepUP, including a significant gift towards the Oren Gateway Center where the program is housed. Fuad was among the sincere supporters who encouraged the university to create a StepUP Program Endowment, a fund that has since raised nearly $10 million to support the program\u2019s unique offerings and outstanding staff.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful for the StepUP program and the opportunities it provides to students in recovery. Karim is now the President of East West Resources Corporation, a business development and private equity firm. We are proud of his leadership skills and successful management of the business,\u201d says Fuad.<\/span><\/p>\n

As they learned more about other programs at Augsburg, the El-Hibris were impressed with how the university cares about its incredibly diverse student body. They were inspired by Augsburg\u2019s philosophy which is embodied by the newly built Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, integrating three crucial pillars of study.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our family values higher education tremendously. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of engaging with several academic institutions, including American University and Yale School of Management,\u201d says Fuad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Great
Great Returns Campaign<\/em> Chair Dr. Paul Mueller ’84, Fuad and Nancy admiring the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Dr. Peter Agre ’70 on display in Augsburg’s Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Augsburg holds a special place in their hearts though, and they have admiration for its leadership, including its tenth president, Paul Pribbenow.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Paul is an extremely impressive and effective president. He is community-minded, strategic, and a true visionary.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The El-Hibris aim is to support the university\u2019s overall strategic direction, not just individual projects. They encouraged President Pribbenow to form the President\u2019s Council, a small group of professionals and industry experts who serve as advisors to Paul and provide insights on strategic and operational matters. Fuad and Nancy currently serve as co-chairs of the council and have enjoyed getting to know the members and connecting more deeply with Augsburg\u2019s programs and possibilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Fuad and Nancy are generously establishing the <\/span>El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Directorship for the Interfaith Institute<\/b>. President Pribbenow plans to launch a comprehensive search for a candidate who will serve as a national ambassador of the interfaith movement and partner with campus leaders as a change agent for interreligious learning and living. This position will lead the Interfaith Institute while simultaneously participating as a member of the faculty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuad and Nancy\u2019s gift will help to fulfill one of the goals of <\/span>Augsburg150<\/span><\/i>, the strategic plan, <\/span>to advance the public purposes of an Augsburg education<\/span> by e<\/span>nhancing interfaith leadership on campus and nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nancy
Nancy with a group of Augsburg’s Interfaith Scholars: Abbey Garofalo ’21, Ava Fojtik ’20, Oluwatofunmi Oteju ’21, Abdikhaliq Sahal ’20, and Isaac Tad\u00e9 ’21.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe live in a world that is religiously diverse, and allowing religions to thrive is a step in the right direction. But it is not enough. Interfaith dialogue, learning from one another, and engaging together in meaningful work is what it’s truly all about. The timing now is critical and we hope this is just the beginning,\u201d says Fuad.<\/span><\/p>\n

This sort of strategic philanthropy will help to fulfill Augsburg\u2019s vision:<\/span> As a new kind of urban, student-centered university, we are educating Auggies as stewards of an inclusive democracy, engaged in their communities and uniquely equipped to navigate the complex issues of our time.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a unique opportunity to build an interfaith learning community that will be a model for all of higher education. The combination of Augsburg\u2019s interreligious student body, with Fuad and Nancy\u2019s support and counsel, will create the sort of academic and community leadership the world needs today,\u201d says President Pribbenow.<\/span><\/p>\n

The El-Hibris believe interfaith competency increases social capital and creates a thriving society. They see this gift as a catalyst for interfaith dialogue on campus and hope more people will become involved in supporting Augsburg\u2019s Interfaith Institute, both as advisers and with financial contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Two
Abdirahman Aden ’20 and Zakariya Abdullahi ’21 talk with Fuad after his presentation to a group of students, faculty, and staff in October 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe Interfaith Institute at Augsburg is not just about one individual or two or three, but a whole critical mass. The tools gained will not only solve immediate problems, but empower a whole generation of young people to respect one another\u2019s differences, find commonality, and connect with one another for the greater good,\u201d says Fuad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fuad and Nancy are delighted with what this gift will mean for the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg. They have given special praise to President Pribbenow, Matt Entenza, and Sarah Erkkinen for offering an opportunity to create what they believe will be a significant impact on society.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis gift could have a real ripple effect,\u201d says Matt Entenza, Chair of Augsburg\u2019s Board of Regents. \u201cThe El-Hibris have a remarkable vision for Augsburg to lead the way by valuing faith within a pluralistic world and actively working together to create a better society. I know this is just the beginning, and look forward to growing this effort collaboratively.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director<\/h2>\n
The El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director position is now open. You may view the position details through Augsburg’s HR website here:\u00a0http:\/\/augsburg.interviewexchange.com\/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=137435.\u00a0Interested candidates may apply for the position here:\u00a0http:\/\/augsburg.interviewexchange.com\/candapply.jsp?JOBID=137435<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2019, Augsburg University established Interfaith at Augsburg: An Institute to Promote Interreligious Leadership. This program illustrates the many ways in which our commitment to interfaith learning and leadership can shape our work on campus and in the wider community, and this work requires a strategic leader and distinguished scholar to provide direction. Today we …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":439,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7,3],"tags":[122,141,148,139,58,118,12],"class_list":["post-48135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-recognition","category-gift-announcements","category-giving-to-augsburg","tag-advancement","tag-augsburg","tag-augsburg-university","tag-donor","tag-gift-announcement","tag-giving","tag-hagfors-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/439"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48135"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48940,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48135\/revisions\/48940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/giving\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}