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Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM CT
Where: Library, Main Bldg, ÇàÂ¥´«Ã½

On behalf of ÇàÂ¥´«Ã½, it is with great joy and gratitude to God that we extend this invitation for you to join us for our first graduation ceremony since the onset of the pandemic. This occasion marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge — for the love of God and the service of the creation.

We would be honored to have you join us for this celebration of student achievement and to join us in prayer for the continued success of our graduates, both in this life and the next!

Pakistani American neurologist best known for his discoveries concerning the genetic and molecular abnormalities underlying the neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Dr. Siddique’s distinction extends beyond the laboratory. He is a true “man of letters,” an intellectual whose passion for knowledge encompasses vast landscapes of human thought.

This honorary degree acknowledges not only his long and impactful career as a scientist but also his lifelong embrace of learning in its widest sense, embodying the very essence of a liberal arts education that AIC champions. Dr. Siddique stands as an inspiring figure, demonstrating the harmonious coexistence of rigorous scientific inquiry and a deep appreciation for the humanities, a confluence that enriches both the individual and the world.

Alia J. Bilal serves as Chief Executive Director at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a nonprofit community organization based in Chicago that fosters health, wellness, and healing in the inner-city by organizing for social change, cultivating the arts, and operating a holistic health center. Alia co-leads and oversees the administration, strategic development, communications, and program implementation of the organization.

In her 15 years at IMAN, Alia has helped the organization grow from a small nonprofit with an operational budget under $1 million to an organization with over 100 full-time staff members, a federally qualified health center, multiple campuses in Chicago and Atlanta, and an operational budget of over $20 million.