Religious leader Imam Amir Duric appointed to the role of Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life at Hendricks Chapel.
Imam Amir Durić, a scholar with a deep commitment to pluralism, mutual understanding, and interfaith cooperation, has made a significant and transformative impact on Syracuse University through his dedicated service at Hendricks Chapel. After serving as Muslim chaplain since 2017, Durić was recently promoted to Assistant Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life, a role that expands his leadership capacity to foster interfaith engagement, spiritual wellness, and ethical development university-wide.
Key achievements and impacts of Imam Durić at Syracuse University include:
- Expansion of Muslim student life: Durić has been instrumental in creating the first Muslim Student Life endowment and boosting student participation by 500% through innovative programs and outreach.
- Founding the Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship in 2023: This initiative, co-founded by Durić, models cooperation and dialogue across faiths, fostering a more inclusive and understanding campus environment.
- Recognition through multiple awards: Durić has been honoured with several accolades, including the 2023 One University Awards, the 2024 Award for Excellence by an Organizational Advisor, and the 2025 CNY RISE Center’s Community Service Award, highlighting his leadership and community service.
- Being named an Interfaith America Innovation Fellow: This recognition underscores Durić's innovative approach to interfaith cooperation and campus inclusivity.
- His leadership is praised as embodying the chapel’s values of compassion and inclusivity, preparing students to engage thoughtfully in a diverse and global society.
Prior to his Syracuse tenure, Durić's background includes significant interfaith and community work rooted in his native Bosnia and Herzegovina, including leadership roles in Islamic community organizations, humanitarian work, and efforts promoting pluralism and cooperation.
Hendricks Chapel, where he serves, is the spiritual hub of the university, home to more than 25 religious and spiritual groups and hosting 2,000+ annual programs aimed at fostering religious, moral, and ethical life on campus. Within this context, Imam Durić's work deeply impacts the university’s commitment to promoting diverse faith traditions and dialogue.
In summary, Imam Amir Durić's interfaith work and leadership at Syracuse University have significantly expanded Muslim student engagement, fostered cross-faith relationships, and enhanced spiritual and ethical life on campus, solidifying his role as a key figure in the university’s mission to prepare students for global citizenship in a diverse world.
Imam Durić is also a member of the board of directors for Interfaith Works of Central New York and has held various roles within the Islamic Community of North American Bosniaks. Prior to his service at Syracuse University, he served as an imam in several communities and co-founded a humanitarian non-governmental organization, Sadaka, in his hometown.
As we look towards the future, there is an upcoming announcement for a new Muslim chaplain at Hendricks Chapel. However, it is clear that the legacy of Imam Amir Durić's interfaith work and leadership at Syracuse University will continue to shape and inspire the university community for years to come.
- Imam Amir Durić's influence extends beyond Muslim student life, as he has also fostered collaboration in the realms of fashion-and-beauty and education-and-self-development, with his Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship encouraging cross-cultural exchange and personal growth.
- His ongoing commitment to pluralism, mutual understanding, and interfaith cooperation at Syracuse University aligns with the lifestyle of promoting inclusivity and ethical development that extends beyond religious and spiritual life.
