Religious studies’ Justine Howe named faculty director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women

The Office of the Provost at Case Western Reserve University recently announced that Justine Howe, associate professor and chair in the Department of Religious Studies, has been appointed as the new faculty director of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women. 

A respected scholar and engaged campus leader, Howe brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to this role, along with a deep commitment to teaching, research and fostering meaningful community connections. 

Building a hub for research 

In this part-time appointment, Howe will focus on strengthening the center’s role as a hub for research and interdisciplinary scholarship. 

“We have many faculty, from across all units of the university, pursuing scholarships related to the center,” Howe said. “I see the center as a community of scholars who not only conduct collaborative and creative research, but also enhance its impact through public and community-engaged scholarship.” 

Drawing on her interdisciplinary expertise and longstanding involvement with the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, Howe plans to support work that examines gender across various disciplines—from medicine and law to STEM, the humanities and the social sciences. 

She is especially interested in catalyzing inquiry into issues at the intersection of gender with ethics, health, technology, and arts, literature and culture. 

Creating opportunities for collaboration 

In addition to research and student support, Howe is eager to expand opportunities for students, faculty and staff to collaborate through the center. She envisions new undergraduate research projects under faculty guidance, as well as seminars, workshops and grant programs for graduate students and faculty. 

“These initiatives will generate exciting scholarship while building intellectual community across campus,” she noted. 
 
Under Howe’s leadership, the center will report to the Office of the Provost while maintaining strong connections to the Division of Student Affairs. This structure will help support faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and students, while fostering collaboration, broadening research and advancing scholarship. 

“This transition allows us to support the center’s work more intentionally and to expand opportunities for collaboration across the university,” said Joy K. Ward, provost and executive vice president. “We look forward to working closely with Tina, Student Affairs and the entire team as they continue to serve as a valuable resource for our entire campus community.” 

About Howe and the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women 

Howe joined Case Western Reserve University in 2013. She specializes in contemporary Islam, with a focus on Muslim American communities, and is the author of Suburban Islam (Oxford University Press, 2018) and editor of the Routledge Handbook of Islam and Gender (2020). Her scholarship has been widely published and supported by national grants, including from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Association of University Women. 

The Flora Stone Mather Center for Women is a space for gathering, learning, and collaboration—open to all members of the university community. It serves as both a welcoming environment and a hub for programs and partnerships that promote engagement, research-informed action and student success. 

Learn more about the center at case.edu/centerforwomen.