Upon invitation by President Robert Zimmer of the University of Chicago, CAIR-Chicago commemorated the life and accomplishments of the late Dr. Amadou Cisse at the 492nd Convocation Ceremony held at the Rockefeller Chapel. Gerald Hankerson, Outreach Coordinator of CAIR-Chicago, attended the ceremony. Dr. Cisse, 29, was killed November 12 after successfully defending his doctoral dissertation near his home on-campus. For his doctoral research, Dr. Cisse studied atomic oxygen erosion, presenting his dissertation on how molecules diffuse and migrate through films made of large molecules called polymers. He was posthumously awarded his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry, with all the rights and recognition that officially made him a scholar of the academy. He had previously attended Bates College in Maine earning degrees in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Throughout the weeks following Dr. Cisse’s death, memorials were held by members of the University, international student communities, and Muslim communities. He was remembered as a loving son and brother, helpful friend and student, bright teacher and scholar, proud Senegalese and devout Muslim.

His family did not attend the Convocation.

The University will be coordinating the collection of funds for the Amadou Cisse Family Support Fund. Contributions made to this fund are not gifts to the University, are not tax-deductible, and will be deposited in a local bank. All funds will be given to the family to be used at their discretion. If you are interested in making a contribution to this fund, please send your contribution to the Amadou Cisse Family Support Fund, c/o University of Chicago Bursar, 5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637.

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