Dr. Matthew Kuiper’s scholarship focuses on classical and modern Islam, inter-religious relations and religious propagation. He lived in South Asia for many years, and has traveled throughout the Muslim World. Kuiper joined Hope’s religion faculty in 2021. His second book, Da‘wa: A Global History of Islamic Missionary Thought and Practice, was published by Edinburgh University Press in 2021. Before joining Hope’s religion faculty, Kuiper served as a professor of religious studies at Missouri State University.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Kuiper’s research interests include classical and modern Islamic history, Islamic da‘wa or mission, Muslim-Christian relations and the religious history of South Asia.

Education

• Ph.D, world religions and world church, University of Notre Dame, 2016

Honors, Grants and Awards

• Frequent presenter and participant in societies like the American Academy of Religion, International Qur'anic Studies Association and Middle East Studies Association
• Islamic Studies Chair, Midwest Region of the American Academy of Religion, 2017–present 
• Research Grant Awardee, Center for Islam in the Contemporary World, Shenandoah University, 2019
• Shaheen Award for Outstanding Ph.D. graduate in Humanities, University of Notre Dame, May 2017
• Notre Dame Presidential Fellowship in Humanities and Social Sciences, 2011–2016
• Louisville Institute Doctoral Fellowship, 2013–2015

Selected Publications

• Da‘wa: A Global History of Islamic Missionary Thought and Practice, Edinburgh University Press, 2021
• Da‘wa and Other Religions: Indian Muslims and the Modern Resurgence of Global Islamic Activism, Routledge, 2017
• Numerous refereed articles, book chapters and other writings

For more on his publications, see his Academia site.

Outside the College

Dr. Kuiper and his wife Laurie have three teenage children. He enjoys time with family, watching his kids’ extra-curricular activities, traveling around the U.S. and the world, hiking and jogging, and a good cup of coffee. Follow Dr. Kuiper on Twitter.