TIRTHANKAR SUMATINATH PROFESSORSHIP ESTABLISHED AT UT-AUSTIN
The Academic Liaison Committee (ALC) of JAINA has partnered with the University of Texas at Austin to establish
the Tirthankar Sumatinath Distinguished Professorship in Jain Studies. The position is supported by a $1 million
endowment marking the 24th professorship funded by ALC donors and will reside in UT-Austin’s Department of Asian
Studies.
Announced at a celebratory event at JVB Houston on July 19, 2025, the occasion brought together faculty, donors, diplomats, and Jain leaders from across North America. The program began with a soulful recitation of the Navkar Mahamantra by Samanijis from Houston and Miami.
Philanthropist Dr. Jasvant Modi emphasized the community’s shift from building temples to building centers of learning, while Dr. Sulekh Jain highlighted Jainism’s global academic relevance and ethical teachings.
The professorship will support year-round courses and research in non-violence, ethics, sustainability, wellness, and interfaith dialogue, reporting to Prof. Donald R. Davis, Chair of Religious Studies.
With this milestone, UT-Austin joins a growing network of nearly 55 universities across 13 countries offering Jain Studies — a vision nurtured by ALC and its long-standing partnership with ISJS Pune, which has trained over 1,200 scholars globally.
Click here for the news release
Announced at a celebratory event at JVB Houston on July 19, 2025, the occasion brought together faculty, donors, diplomats, and Jain leaders from across North America. The program began with a soulful recitation of the Navkar Mahamantra by Samanijis from Houston and Miami.
Philanthropist Dr. Jasvant Modi emphasized the community’s shift from building temples to building centers of learning, while Dr. Sulekh Jain highlighted Jainism’s global academic relevance and ethical teachings.
The professorship will support year-round courses and research in non-violence, ethics, sustainability, wellness, and interfaith dialogue, reporting to Prof. Donald R. Davis, Chair of Religious Studies.
With this milestone, UT-Austin joins a growing network of nearly 55 universities across 13 countries offering Jain Studies — a vision nurtured by ALC and its long-standing partnership with ISJS Pune, which has trained over 1,200 scholars globally.
Click here for the news release
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