Learn more about Professor Barlas and the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity.

Asma Barlas, director of the College’s Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity, and professor of politics in the School of Humanities and Sciences, was recently named the Spinoza Chair at the University of Amsterdam for the spring 2008 semester. As a distinguished visiting scholar, Professor Barlas will give public lectures, discuss her work with faculty, teach a course for graduate students and pursue her own research. Dr. Barlas was selected by a committee that included all professors of philosophy, the dean of the faculty, the rector magnificus of the University of Amsterdam and two professors from other faculties of philosophy in the Netherlands.

The Spinoza Chair is named for Benedict de Spinoza, a 17th century Dutch philosopher. Past holders of this prestigious visiting professorship include Albrecht Wellmer, Richard Rorty, Axel Honneth, Stanley Cavell, Sheila Benhabib, Hilary Putnam, Judith Butler, Hubert Dreyfus, Nancy Fraser, Bruno Latour, and John Dupre.