Osman Simsek, Imam, Muslim Chaplain and Educator Appointed as Trinity’s New Director of Muslim Life

Rajsi Rana ’26

News Editor

On Oct. 1, 2024, Trinity College appointed Osman Simsek, an imam (Muslim religious leader and educator), as the new Director of Muslim Life. The role of Director of Muslim Life at Trinity serves to “connect, engage, motivate, and inspire the College’s diverse Muslim population,” according to Trinity’s announcement earlier in October. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted a “Meet the Imam” dinner event on Oct. 10, 2024, welcoming Simsek and his family to Trinity College after his initial start. The students present at the event “immediately accepted [Simsek’s family] as part of their Trinity family.”

Simsek is a scholar in theology and Islamic chaplaincy. He completed a madrasah education, or higher education in the Islamic Sciences, equivalent to a Ph.D. in theology and Islamic sciences, as well as a master’s in Islamic chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education training. In an interview with the Tripod, Simsek discussed his beginning at Trinity: “I’ve felt warmly welcomed by both students and staff. In the first two weeks, I met many kind people and felt their support. Their kindness has given me energy and hope. I feel a lot of positive energy here, and I’m eager to contribute to the growth of the Muslim community and the peaceful atmosphere at Trinity.”

Simsek was born in Turkey and began his journey there with traditional Islamic studies. Since then, he has worked as a Muslim chaplain in both hospitals and universities. Additionally, he has published six books and edited 20. At Trinity, he plans to continue writing academic articles and essays.

As Director of Muslim Life, Simsek hopes to “build a strong, welcoming Muslim community on campus where students feel supported both spiritually and physically. I want to work on interfaith initiatives. I believe Trinity’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths, and I want to help create an environment where we can learn from each other. Additionally, I desire a Muslim community that is not closed off but one that shares the joys and sorrows of everyone.”

Jana Safy ’25, MSA’s president, said in an interview with the Tripod, “My main goal, before anything else, is to have a set system for everything being done. For example, Ramadan at Trinity is usually catered through Chartwells, but [previously], sometimes the food would be expired or have alcohol in it. It would be nice to be an organization functioning with adults.” Safy was one of the students on the search committee looking for a new Director of Muslim Life. The search ran from “November to now, almost a full year,” Safy said.

Prior to Simsek, Trinity had not had anyone in the position of Director of Muslim Life since 2017. For the last seven years, the position’s duties were completed by part-time faculty of Muslim Staff and Advising, as well as the MSA E-board coordinating events such as Ramadan meals.

Simsek, toward the end of his interview with the Tripod, said, “God knows my services are not lip service. This is coming from my heart. I really want to live in a peaceful environment, and I really want Muslim people and the other members of this community to love each other and respect each other. We may not have 100% agreement — our understanding of God may be different, our understanding of the hereafter may be different. But we share common ground.”