PEORIA -- A Bradley University professor is the speaker for a Peoria Area World Affairs Council program "Islam and US Foreign Policy, New World Diplomacy, Old World Heritage," at 7 p.m. on Thurs. Sept. 17 in Olin Hall 168 on the Bradley campus.

Speaker Jason Zaborowski began at Bradley in 2006, where he teaches courses on religion in the Middle East.

He holds a Ph.D. from Catholic University's department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, where he focused on Arabic, Coptic, and Syriac literature of the Middle East.

According to his Bradley U. website, he "teaches Islamic studies from historical and linguistic perspectives, always injecting Arabic cultural and language observations into the classroom dynamic, and engaging students with Islamic primary sources. His topic of special interest is the Coptic Christian community of Egypt. He researches their literature in Coptic (the last stage of ancient Egyptian language) and Arabic, examining their fascinating history of cultural interchange with Muslims and others. Dr. Zaborowski's research often deals with social change of religions in the Middle East, from pre-Islamic times to the modern period."

The World Affairs Council states his topics will include: How do religion and politics work in foreign policy decision-making processes? What kind of an impact should religion have in a world that is as diverse in religions as it is in cultures and politics? Tension over Judeo-Christian influences versus Islamic influences is a more recent phenomenon that may be passing. (He will) look at the long and rich history of relations between the United States and our esteemed international partners in the Muslim world, and how those relations may proceed in the future.

This event is free to students with a valid student ID, For BU students, it also applies to the Global Scholars Program.

Tickets purchased in advance by September 14 for the presentation are $5.00 for Peoria Area World Affairs Council Members and $10.00 for non-members. All tickets purchased at the door are $10.00 each, regardless of membership.

On-line registration for this event is available at http://artstix.artspartners.net, or you may send payment to PAWAC, 1501 W. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625.

More information is available from the Council's website, www.pawac.org or by calling (309) 677-2454.