Mohammed Ba-Aoum

Mohammed Ba-Aoum integrates his identity as a Muslim and as an interfaith leader into his scholarship and leadership on campus. A doctoral student in Industrial Engineering, he is passionate about making education and research more meaningful and relevant to local and global development challenges. Mohammed brings an interdisciplinary background to his work, with diverse experiences and relationships.

His nominator described him this way: “He is an exemplary engaged leader and citizen scholar. Considering that interfaith work is a critical component of social justice, Mohammed understands the need to support the preparation of students of diverse worldviews and belief systems to work and lead in a globally focused, multi-cultural, religiously diverse world.”

Mohammed is a multi-faceted example of civility, serving as an agent of change in multiple environments to help make the world more humane and just. He is dedicated to engaging students in meaningful dialogue on values, religion, and social justice in multi-faith contexts. His clear comprehension of the challenges of interfaith cooperation and his dedication to promote peace, open dialogue, understanding, clearing stereotypes, and generating positive action in the community are remarkable.

Mohammed said simply, “Civility for me is living by the Golden Rule, which has a version in all major religions and secular worldviews: treating others as you would like to be treated. I demonstrate respect by showing to the individual that I understand their individual needs and that they are entitled to appropriate treatment regardless of their identity or condition.”

Mohammed is a 2021 Virginia Tech Graduate School Diversity Scholar, with a project to promote interfaith engagement in partnership with Synergy: Interfaith Collective at Virginia Tech, a student organization he helped to found and leads as its president.

Mohammed also received a Racial Equity and Interfaith Cooperation Award from the Interfaith Youth Core, a national non-profit that support interfaith engagement on university campuses. He recently completed Common Ground, the Interfaith Leadership Training offered by the Virginia Tech Interfaith Program, and he is an esteemed member of the Virginia Tech Interfaith Advisory Council.

Mohammed said, “I learned to embrace ambiguity, value diversity, and be flexible in setting goals and planning my future because I realized that interests and opportunities change at different stages of life. Also, I discovered that crafting my character and identity and educating myself is a never-ending process. I try to be open about how I see myself and participate in educational programs and transformative experiences to explore my inner and outer worlds on a regular basis. Success requires some individual effort, but it can never be the result of a one-person effort, so I am eternally grateful to those who have helped me. Remembering this inspires me to do the same and assist others. I believe that giving rather than receiving is the key to success.”

Mohammed, for reminding us all that civility is a complex yet gratifying endeavor, and for your devotion to promote interfaith understanding and respect at Virginia Tech, I am proud to present the Aspire! Award for CIVILITY to Mohammed Ba-Aoum.