CICW President
Dr. M. Yaqub Mirza
DR. M. YAQUB MIRZA was a founder and President of the Center for Islam in the Contemporary World at Shenandoah University. He was also a founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Management Group, Inc. Sterling negotiates mergers, acquisitions, and sales of various-sized companies located in different parts of the world. In addition, Dr. Mirza had more than forty years of experience in stock investments and portfolio management.
He authored Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building, published by White Cloud Press in 2014. The CICW published the 2nd revised edition in 2025.
Dr. Mirza was a founding trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amana Mutual Funds (current assets over $8 billion), which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also served on the boards of numerous other organizations, including several for-profit and not-for-profit, as well as academic institutions. He was a member of the International Advisory Council of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia. He was a member of the Board of Advisors, Byrd School of Business, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia.
Dr. Mirza was a member of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah University. In addition, he was a member of Finance Committee (budget of about $100 million) and Chairman of the Investment and Endowment Committee of Shenandoah University. He was a member of the Council of Advisors, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University.
Dr. Mirza had received numerous awards and much recognition for his work in entrepreneurship and community service, including the 2002 Entrepreneur Award by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (San Jose, California); 2006 and then 2017 Award Recipient – Byrd Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University; 2012 Recognition Award for Community Service by the American Muslim Alliance; 2013 Award from the Muslim American Coalition Council and Public Affairs Council and the ISNA Community Service Award 2015. The Board of Trustees, Shenandoah University recognized Dr. Mirza’s contributions with a “Resolution of Appreciation” – October 2018.
Dr. Mirza held a MSc from the University of Karachi (1969), a PhD in Physics (1974) and an MA in Teaching Science (1975) from the University of Texas at Dallas. He passed away on December 3, 2025.
He authored Five Pillars of Prosperity: Essentials of Faith-Based Wealth Building, published by White Cloud Press in 2014. The CICW published the 2nd revised edition in 2025.
Dr. Mirza was a founding trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amana Mutual Funds (current assets over $8 billion), which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also served on the boards of numerous other organizations, including several for-profit and not-for-profit, as well as academic institutions. He was a member of the International Advisory Council of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), International Islamic University Malaysia. He was a member of the Board of Advisors, Byrd School of Business, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia.
Dr. Mirza was a member of the Board of Trustees of Shenandoah University. In addition, he was a member of Finance Committee (budget of about $100 million) and Chairman of the Investment and Endowment Committee of Shenandoah University. He was a member of the Council of Advisors, Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University.
Dr. Mirza had received numerous awards and much recognition for his work in entrepreneurship and community service, including the 2002 Entrepreneur Award by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (San Jose, California); 2006 and then 2017 Award Recipient – Byrd Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series, Byrd School of Business at Shenandoah University; 2012 Recognition Award for Community Service by the American Muslim Alliance; 2013 Award from the Muslim American Coalition Council and Public Affairs Council and the ISNA Community Service Award 2015. The Board of Trustees, Shenandoah University recognized Dr. Mirza’s contributions with a “Resolution of Appreciation” – October 2018.
Dr. Mirza held a MSc from the University of Karachi (1969), a PhD in Physics (1974) and an MA in Teaching Science (1975) from the University of Texas at Dallas. He passed away on December 3, 2025.