Zeyneb Sayilgan

Dr. Zeyneb Sayilgan is the Muslim Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies, where her research focuses on Islamic theology, Christian–Muslim relations, and the intersection of religion and migration. Her personal experience of growing up in Germany as the daughter of Muslim immigrants from Turkey informs her academic work and engagement in Christian–Muslim dialogues. Dr. Sayilgan is also an affiliated faculty member at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria and has taught at The Catholic University of America and the Washington Theological Consortium. She previously served as a residential chaplain at Georgetown University, where she advised students from all backgrounds. 

She holds a PhD in theological and religious studies from Georgetown University, an MA in Islamic studies from Hartford Seminary, and a BA/MA in Islamic studies and public law from the Johannes Gutenberg University. 

She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Religion and Refugees Project from MPI’s Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative.