The Department of Religion at UF (UF Religion) is pleased to announce that Prof. Terje Østebø is to be appointed as chair of the Department of Religion.
As he will be on sabbatical during academic year 2017-18, his appointment has an effective date of August 16, 2018.
Prof. Østebø came to UF in 2010 from the NLA University College in Bergen, Norway, having received his Ph.D. in 2009 from Stockholm University. An expert on Islam, especially Salafism on the Horn of Africa, he has in addition to an active research agenda been engaged in consultancy and policy advising on Islam and politics in Africa.
Prof. Østebø holds a joint appointment in the Department of Religion and the Center for African Studies, where he is coordinator for the Islam in Africa Working Group. He also serves as director of the Center for Global Islamic Studies, and he previously served as graduate coordinator for the Department of Religion.
Prof. David Hackett, Graduate Student Advisor and professor of American Religious History at UF, said, “I am confident that Prof. Østebø will provide excellent leadership for the department, and we very much look forward to working with him.”
Likewise, Østebø shared, “I am eager to continue the good work of my predecessors.” He said, “There are limits to what a chair can do alone and I look forward to working together with faculty, students, and staff.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Østebø on his appointment.
Given Dr. Østebø’s sabbatical next year, it was necessary to arrange acting departmental leadership for the 2017-18 academic year. The college is pleased to confirm that Dr. Jim Mueller has agreed to continue his outstanding service as acting chair in the meantime.