Zayn R. Kassam

Zayn R. Kassam is an American religious studies scholar known for her work on gender roles in Islam and Indian philosophy with 29 publications of her work as of July 2022. She was the chair of the religious studies department at Pomona College, and in January 2023, she began her term as director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies.

Early life and education Kassam was born and raised in Kenya. She attended the Aga Khan Primary Schools in Kisumu, Mombasa, and Nairobi. Kassam went on to receive her high school diploma from Aga Khan High School in Nairobi. It was here where she was first introduced to the subjects of racial and religious diversity. Upon her move to Canada, Kassam began to study literature at McGill University. Kassam was later appointed to Associate Dean for DEI and the John Knox McLean Professor of Religious Studies.

Academic awards + Award She is the author of Introduction to the World's Major Religion's: Islam (2006), editor of Women and Islam (2010) and Women in Asian Religions (2018). She is a section editor for Islam in the volume on Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism in the Encyclopedia for Indian Religions (2018).