Brandeis hired Maryam Sharrieff as interim Muslim Chaplain beginning on Sept. 14. Sharrieff will work with the Muslim community on campus, including the Muslim Students Association, the chaplains and others to “respond to the needs of a spiritually diverse campus community,” said Sharrief in an email to The Brandeis Hoot.

The previous Muslim Chaplain, Imam Dr. Talal Eid, left the university after nine years, accepting a position as Imam at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, according to an email from Dean of Students Jamele Adams, sent to the Brandeis community on July 20.

Sharrieff said she has enjoyed her work at Brandeis thus far, writing, “I have been empowered with spiritual and intellectual tools to edify, enlighten and illuminate the true essence of the students I serve.”

In terms of her role on campus, Sharrieff said she will “be available for pastoral care, multi-faith dialogue, shared community service, educational and leadership development, advocacy and social justice outreach.”

Sharrieff speaks four languages: Arabic, English, Hebrew and Italian. She received her Master’s in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, where she concentrated on a wide range of subjects, including Islamic studies and gender “and its linguistic implications in the Qur’an and the Torah” and “female scholarship in Islam and Judaism.”

Sharrieff is involved with Parliament of World’s Religions Conference, finds that food is an excellent way to foster connection between different cultures and noted she has “a knack for cutting edge technology.”

Considering how much she has enjoyed her role at Brandeis, Sharrieff said should would be open to taking on a permanent role.