Call for Papers in Presenter Symposium on "Identity, Agency, and Career in Islam"

86th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM 2026)

31 July – 4 August 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA

We are currently preparing a proposal for a Presenter Symposium on "Identity, Agency, and Career in Islam". Global shifts in the geopolitical, environmental, demographic, and technological landscape are introducing unprecedented levels of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) into labor markets and employment relations. This unprecedented global shift also demands greater attention to organizations' diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, particularly regarding how religion and intersectionality shape identity and agency, and how they influence career outcomes. Duffy, Reid, and Dik (2010) argue that religion and work constitute core elements of one's life and call upon scholars to investigate various ways in which religion and spirituality interact with career.

While there is much research on how Muslims are subject to religious discrimination (e.g., Haq, 2015; Latif, 2024), there is less research on the intersection of Muslim faith, identity, and agency and its impact on career outcomes. To ensure organizations can best structure themselves to effectively formulate and implement policies and programs that nurture and develop talent, we need more research and dialogue through an intersectional lens on religion, identity, and career. Such scholarship can allow managers, policymakers, and labor leaders to create an equitable and inclusive workplace for our employees more effectively and collaboratively.  Through this symposium, the purpose is to address the following questions: 

1.     Triple Bind or Triple Strength? Navigating Faith, Family, and Careers in Islam

2.     How Muslimness Fits in the Workplace: Context and Narratives

3.     Negotiating Identities: Sacred Roots and Secular Routes for Muslims in Western Societies

4.     Non-Muslim, Colonial, Neo-liberal, and Feminist Lens on Islam and Career

If you are working on a similar topic, we look forward to your contribution to our symposium.

As a next step, please submit by December 23^rd a 2- to 5-page summary of your paper (excluding references), using the Google form: https://forms.gle/2umo9uZMQVxrfSKG7

Please use Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, 1-inch (2.5cm) margin all around. References may be single-spaced. Also, format the in-text citations and the references as per the AOM guidelines.

Important deadlines to keep in mind:

·       December 23^rd: Detailed Abstract (Two- to five-page synopsis of your paper as per AOM style)

·       December 30^th: Reviewed Comments to the contributors

·       January 7^th: Revised Detailed Abstract incorporating reviewers' feedback

·       January 11^th: Symposium submission by organizers

We look forward to receiving your detailed abstract by December 23^rd

Please note that we are also planning a special journal issue on the topic.

Symposium Organizers:

Samina M. Saifuddin, Morgan State University; Ruby Latif; Rana Haq, Laurentian University; and Shaista Khilji, George Washington University

Rana Haq (She/Her/Elle) PhD, MBA