EVENT: Lecture Addresses the Role of Religion and Diversity in the Military

WHO: The community is invited to attend a lecture by Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Abuhena Saifulislam, as he discusses the role that religion and diversity play in the military.

TIME, DATE, PLACE: 6 p.m. on Friday, July 9, at Sloan Auditorium in the Robert B. Goergen Hall on the University's River Campus.

WHAT: Sponsored by the David T. Kearns Center at the University of Rochester, Chaplain Saifulislam will draw on his experiences as the second Muslim Chaplain in the U.S. Navy and the first Muslim Chaplain ever assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps to discuss the role that religion and diversity play in the military.

The event is free and open to the public.

ABOUT ABUHENA SAIFULISLAM: Chaplain Lieutenant Commander Abuhena Saifulislam was born and raised in Bangladesh. He came to the United States to attend college and later enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Chaplain Saifulislam was commissioned as a Navy Chaplain in February 1998 and was the first Muslim chaplain to participate in the exercise "Bright Star" in 2001 in Egypt with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. He also was the first Muslim Chaplain to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2002 and later deployed to Afghanistan in support of NATO International Security Assistance Force. He is currently assigned to Headquarters Naval District Washington in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Saifulislam's personal decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, among others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information about the event, call 585-275-7512.