Professorship History

The BHAGWAN MAHAVIR PROFESSORSHIP IN JAIN STUDIES was established at Florida International University on April 16, 2010. The Jain Education and Research Foundation presented a ceremonial check in the amount of $600,000 to FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. With the State of Florida matching funds, this has resulted in an endowment in excess of $1,000,000 to fund the professorship. Professor Nathan Katz, a specialist in the religions of India and former chair of the Department of Religious Studies, was named the first Bhagwan Mahavir Professor. During May, 2014, Dr. Steven Vose was appointed Bhagwan Mahavir Assistant Professor.

The Bhagawan Mahavir Professor(s):

- aids in advancing this gift to high levels, including a Chair and a Center devoted to Jain Studies,

- meets with Jain communities in North America, India and elsewhere to discuss the project

- coordinates study-in-India Jainism programs

- networks with scholars of Jainism internationally

- directes two samanis from India to teach at FIU

- coordinates a “Network for Jain Studies” to support faculty and student exchanges between FIU and JVBI (and other institutions as appropriate)

- organizes an annual academic lecture or symposium to be held around the time of Mahavir Jayanthi

-organizes ab abbuak general interest lecture or symposium to be held around the time of Mahavir Nirvan,

- directs {a: http://jainstudies.fiu.edu/studyinindia/scholarships) scholarship programs to enable American students to study Jainism in India

-directs the Latika and Rajiv Jain Graduate Fellows in advanced Jain Studies.