Our Vision

Our vision at the Islamic Center is to provide a space for a pluralistic future on and off campus for American Muslims. We hope that the Islamic Center at NYU will become a spiritual and intellectual crossroads of Islam and America, creating a deep and diverse community of ambitions and resources.

Our Story

The Islamic Center at NYU serves a diverse Muslim population in the New York and the tri-state area. Located in the heart of lower Manhattan, the Islamic Center at NYU provides a safe place for individuals with multiple points of entry to learn, pray, socialize and utilize a space situated at intellectual and spiritual crossroads. Inspired by the belief that communities develop in a supportive environment, people from all backgrounds are welcomed to engage in cross-cultural experiences, social justice endeavours, civic engagement initiatives, multifaith programming, spiritual practices and religious education.

  • Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer

    Executive Director, University Chaplain

    Dr. Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer is the Executive Director for the Islamic Center and University Chaplain at New York University. He holds a doctorate in education from NYU, with a focus on the identity development of Muslim Minorities demographics in the United States. Pursuing the classical course of Islamic education, he studied in the Seminary of Karbala, Iraq, one of the most prominent centers for Islamic learning. As a faith leader and social activist, Dr. Sheikh Jaffer has lectured at various universities, seminars, and workshops across the United States, Canada, Europe, East Africa, and the Middle East. As a highly sought-after lecturer and religious leader, he regularly leads prayer services and delivers sermons across North America. Due to the political and social climate, he has been making strides in the greater New York area by taking part in several interfaith seminars and discussions with the goal of increasing dialogue with faith leaders. In 2019, Dr. Sheikh Jaffer co-founded Pillars of Peace, a non-profit established in order to address a gap in appropriate services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence from all backgrounds and in particular within the Muslim community. In addition to his roles at NYU’s Islamic Center, Dr. Shaykh Jaffer serves as a Professor of Public Service of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he teaches courses on Islamic Law and Islamic Spirituality and a Visiting Professor at the Bayan Graduate School.

  • Amira Shouman

    Senior Director

    Amira Shouman is a licensed social worker and Associate Director of the Islamic Center at NYU. With a background in student engagement, she focuses on fostering supportive, inclusive spaces through programs centered on community organizing, mental health, and creative expression. Amira holds master’s degrees in Higher Education and Social Work from NYU and also works as a psychotherapist in Harlem.

  • Dr. Marwa Assar

    Psychologist

    Dr. Marwa is a psychologist and psycho-spiritual teacher specializing in counseling and education rooted in Islamic teachings and viewed through an Islamic psychological lens. With a doctorate in psychology and over a decade of study in both psychology and Islamic tradition, she focuses on helping individuals achieve spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. She is the founder of The H.O.M.E Institute, where she teaches her Heart Over Mind & Ego (H.O.M.E) approach to psycho-spiritual wellness, offering tools for inner peace, self-awareness, and connection to God.