Roger Allen Named Sascha Jane Patterson Harvie Professor of Social Thought and Comparative Ethics

Roger Allen, professor of Arabic and chair of the department of Near Eastern languages and civilizations, has been named the Sascha Jane Patterson Harvie Professor of Social Thought and Comparative Ethics. Dr. Allen is the author of numerous articles and translations, in addition to a major study on the Arabic novel and an anthology of critical writings. His current research concerns the broader field of Arabic literature, including the challenges of evaluating literary works in light of post-colonial complexities.

The first person to obtain a doctorate in modern Arabic literature at the University of Oxford, Dr. Allen joined the Penn faculty in 1968. He served as faculty director of Penn’s Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business from the program’s inauguration in 1994 through 2006. He is currently serving as president of the Middle East Studies Association.

The Sascha Jane Patterson Harvie Professorship was established in 2008 with a bequest from Dr. Fred H. Harvie in honor of his wife. The chair is intended to support a faculty member who is engaged in the study and teaching of the ways in which societies, cultures, and religions of the world have addressed the central ethical and moral issues of their times.