Welcome to the IIS Alumni Voices Podcast.
In this episode, we are honoured to sit down with Professor Karim H. Karim, the inaugural IIS Alumni Recognition Award winner. Professor Karim shares insights into his early days at the IIS, his remarkable career journey, and much more.
About the Alumni Recognition Programme
Established in 2024, the Alumni Recognition Programme seeks to acknowledge IIS alumni who have demonstrated a career of exceptional service, professional leadership, and outstanding accomplishments.
About Prof Karim H Karim
Professor Karim has an extensive record of over three decades of scholarship, service, and leadership. His designation as Chancellor’s Professor is the highest honour given by Carleton University for scholarship of outstanding merit with substantial international impact, research leadership and continued active participation in the development of research excellence. Professor Karim has a worldwide reputation as a leading scholar of media representations of Muslims and diasporic communications. He has had visiting appointments at Harvard, Aga Khan, and Simon Fraser Universities. Professor Karim has delivered keynote addresses in several countries, and his critically acclaimed publications have been cited widely. He was the inaugural winner of the Robinson Book Prize and has received media coverage in six continents.
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Motivation to join IIS
06:18 Programmes offered in the early days at IIS
08:35 Student life at IIS in the early days
11:23 Experience of leading IIS as the director
15:58 Navigating multiple roles over the years
33:18 Ismaili digital media
42:44 IIS alumni and the role of media
48:27 Sources of inspiration
54:07 Career trajectories
59:53 Advice to fresh graduates of the IIS