Karen Hunt Ahmed

Karen Hunt Ahmed received a BA and MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and a PhD from The University of Chicago. Her current position is Director for Institutional Advancement at East-West University in Chicago. She also serves as Deputy Executive Director for the World Engagement Institute. She was formerly President of Chicago Islamic Microfinance Project, a not for profit economic development organization providing business education and Shari'a compliant microcredit to entrepreneurs in Chicago, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance and Management at DePaul University. 

Dr. Hunt Ahmed has worked in the banking sector in Chicago and in private equity in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her research interests include culture and identity, financial empowerment, Islamic finance, microfinance and the socialization of economic behavior. Her edited volume, Contemporary Islamic Finance: Innovations, Applications and Best Practices was published by Wiley & Sons in 2013. A forthcoming book entitled Inside Islamic Finance: An Industry and its Culture will be released in 2017.

Education B.A., Psychology, Washington University, magna cum laude

MBA, Washington University

Ph.D, 2007, Psychology: Human Development, University of Chicago

Academic Positions Adjunct Lecturer of Global Mangement, Finance, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2016-present

Adjunct Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago, 2015-2015

Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance and Management, Finance and Mangement, College of Commerce, DePaul University, 2007-2012

Other Professional Experience Chief Operation Officer, Crescent Capital Management, LLC, 1997-2005

Project Analyst, Arabian General Investment Corporation

Commercial Real Estate Analyst and Commercial Banking Credit Analyst, American National Bank and Trust Company

President, Chicago Islamic Microfinance Project, 2009-2014

President, Jongosi Advisors LLC, 2015-present

Education Academic Positions Other Professional Experience