Faculty of the Week: Hina Muneeruddin

By ELLEN JIN, ERIN HAN, and ALLEGRA LAI

Anika Bhatnagar / The Exonian

Instructor in Religion Hina Muneeruddin, also known by her students as Ms. M, has been part of the Exeter community for two years and has brought a warm and welcoming presence to all students and faculty who interact with her. Muneeruddin teaches a plethora of classes in the Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy Department, including Religion and Popular Culture, Islam, and Ethics of the Marketplace. She also serves as a club advisor for Middle-Eastern North African Society (MENAS), Sub-Continent Society, and as part of the dorm faculty in Kirtland House. 

Students and faculty alike describe the guidance and joy Muneeruddin brings to the people around her. Instructor in Religion Thomas Simpson said, “Ms. Muneeruddin is unique and irreplaceable, and we need many more people like her. Her work in support of Muslim students, LGBTQ+ students, MENAS, and the Subcontinent Society is indispensable.” 

Lower Izyaan Burney agreed: “She’s very chill and really relatable. That’s one thing I really admire about her: you could talk to her about anything and she’s a very good person to go to for advice.”

Likewise, Muneeruddin herself reciprocates those sentiments towards the Exeter community. “I was drawn to the people of Exeter and the warm welcome I received from not only my department, but also from various community members,” she said.

Many of Muneeruddin’s students commented on her understanding of the students and making herself available when they needed help. Prep Ashley Gong said, “I feel that being in Ms. Muneeruddin’s class is really relaxed because talking to her is really comfortable, and she’s always so nice and so open to talk with students - to consult with her after class or to just to chat with her.” 

Lower Gene Sunthornrangsri echoed this sentiment. “I think she’s really kind and she’s really understanding of the students. She’s really open about stuff; she doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable when you go up to talk to her.” 

 “I really appreciated how kind and welcoming she was. Every time I stepped into her classroom, she made me feel seen and open to be myself,” lower Audrey Dent agreed. 

 “I admire everything about her. She is a great teacher; she’s a great person; she even has an awesome fashion style—if you see her on campus she’s always wearing the most amazing clothes,” upper Keon Osei added. “Someone should sign her as a model.”

Students also commented on Muneeruddin’s skillful facilitation of Harkness discussions. “During class, she always gives really constructive feedback to students. She always shows that she’s really engaged with us and our conversation, which makes us more confident in the things that we say,” Gong said. 

“She leads the conversations really well, so she brings out points that we didn’t think of before,” Sunthornrangsri agreed.

Lower Anne Wang commented on Muneeruddin’s efforts to help and make sure all her students learned effectively. “Ms. Muneeruddin really put in the effort to help us understand the material we learned in class,” she said. “In the middle of the term, a lot of people in the class were having a hard time comprehending the readings, and so she had us do part of it in class so that we could have a discussion about it as we read.”

“I think Miss M is a really good facilitator for Harkness. If I sat forward or made an indication that I want to speak, Miss M would immediately know this and then she would give me an opportunity to speak,” lower Meg Xu added. 

As a colleague, Simpson boasted of Muneeruddin’s extensive knowledge on the subject of religion. “She brings such depth of training in Islamic Studies, the religions of South Asia, and women’s and gender studies,” he said. “She has brought fresh perspectives and resources, especially to our courses on Islam, Religion and Popular Culture, Ethics of the Marketplace, and the Politics of Possibilities. I learn from her daily.”

Muneeruddin’s interest in religion and teaching stemmed from her fascination with analyzing societal dynamics and its intersection with religion. “I have always been interested in the ways religion intersects with race, gender, and sexuality in our society,” she said. “Observations of this intersectional and interdisciplinary approach can tell us a lot about how a society operates and about who holds power in that society. Uncovering the relevancy of such insights, not just in contemporary times, but also when analyzing history, has continued to fascinate me, and has made evident the importance of teaching such epiphanies to students.”

Both outside and inside of the classroom, Muneeruddin’s passion is palpable, and her warm presence is contagious. “Ms. Muneeruddin has such a deep passion for liberation and justice, and her devotion to her students and her scholarship is exemplary,” Simpson said. “You can sense immediately how brilliant and compassionate she is once you meet her.”

Fellow Instructor in Religion Kaitlyn Martin Fox recalled her first encounter with Muneeruddin. “We first met at her on-campus interview to be an instructor at PEA. She immediately stuck out as an amazing candidate because she is so sharp and passionate about teaching.”

Martin Fox continued, “But my favorite memory of that day was sipping tea together as she changed from beautiful heels to combat boots because the heels were new and gave her blisters. She was effortlessly genuine and funny in those moments, willing to be vulnerable and herself even in this new setting. I appreciated that so much.” 

“I appreciate that she brings humor and depth of thinking to everything she does,” Martin Fox continued. “She’s brilliant and kind, which makes her wonderful to be around,” she continued, “She knows how to see and affirm others with warmth and welcome, which is such a beautiful gift to bring to work with teenagers. I think she helps students—not just in her classes, but also across campus—accept and be excited about who they are.”

Lower Izyaan Burney, a co-head of the Subcontinent Society, echoed this sentiment. “I really just admire her care and her love towards her students,” he said. “She’s really caring, she carries herself with so much poise and grace, and I feel like she actually makes an effort to get to know you outside the classroom. She’s not just a teacher who’s like ‘Okay, here’s the Harkness discussion,’ does it, and then leaves. Instead, she wants to build that Harkness discussion outside of the classroom in a way, and she wants to get to know you outside the classroom too.”

Upper Adele Mamedova, a new co-head of MENAS, elaborated, “I think she’s the perfect mix of professional and friendly, and she’s very approachable. I feel like you can really talk to her about anything, and she really reacts as a friend and faculty in one.”

“I feel like she’s also like a friend,” Xu added. “I wave to her and sometimes I’ll talk to her, and I don’t have that with all my teachers. It’s just really nice to have that with her.”

Whether within the classroom, at a club meeting, or just in a spontaneous conversation on the paths, Muneeruddin’s distinct presence, radiating warmth, compassion, and wit stand as true assets to the Exeter community.