Imam Khalid Latif is the Executive Director and Community Chaplain for The Islamic Center of New York City and serves as Director of Campus Support with Muslim Campus Life, a national initiative supporting Muslim students in higher education. He previously served as the University Chaplain for New York University (NYU) and Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, where he also held faculty positions in the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He continues to serve as Visiting Faculty at Bayan College of Chicago Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary.
Imam Latif was appointed the first Muslim chaplain at NYU in 2005, and in 2006, became the first Muslim chaplain at Princeton University. After a year of serving both institutions, he committed full-time to NYU, where in 2007 his position was officially institutionalized. Under his visionary leadership, the Islamic Center at NYU grew into the first-ever established Muslim student center at an institution of higher education in the United States.
His work helped shape a dynamic and inclusive Muslim community that emphasizes both spiritual growth and civic engagement. Imam Latif has been a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, social justice, and community service. His efforts have brought him to global platforms, sharing stages with figures such as Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, while also working on the ground in refugee camps, conflict zones, and disaster-stricken regions, raising millions of dollars in humanitarian relief.
Through his public scholarship, teaching, and pastoral care, Imam Latif has carved out essential space for young American Muslims to authentically embrace and celebrate their identities, while amplifying their voices in broader societal conversations.
In 2019, he co-founded Pillars of Peace, a nonprofit addressing gaps in services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, particularly within the Muslim community, and currently serves as its board president.
A highly sought-after speaker, Imam Latif has shared his insights with audiences worldwide and has been featured in media outlets such as the Huffington Post, BBC, NPR, CNN, the New York Times, New York Magazine, The Colbert Report, Katie Couric, Newsweek, Time, BET and GEO TV.
He has been named a Global Interfaith Visionary by the United Nations Temple of Understanding (2010), one of 100 NYC Luminaries by the New York Public Library (2011), one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by Georgetown University’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talaal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (2009 & 2010), a Millennial Leader for Social Justice by Auburn Seminary (2011), listed to the Christian Science Monitor’s “30 Under 30” list (2012), a Hollister Award recipient for his outstanding work in the Multi-faith World (2012), a Brass Crescent Award for Best Writer for his award-winning “Ramadan Reflection” series for the Huffington Post (2012 & 2013), a distinguished alumni service award from New York university (2014), a “New NY Abolitionist” for his work around trafficking and forced marriage (2015), named to the inaugural “Mic 50” list by Mic.com, a celebration of the next generation of impactful leaders, cultural influencers, and breakthrough innovators from around the world (2015), received an Honorary Doctorate of Theology from Washington & Jefferson College (2016), the MLK Humanitarian Award from NYU (2017), a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Wardlaw + Hartridge School (2018), an Outstanding Alumni Award from NYU’s Division of Student Affairs (2019), a Faith & Social Justice Movement Honoree by Sojourners (2019), an awardee of the Global Center For Muslim Life (2020), an inaugural honoree of the Eid Collective (2021), a Community Leadership award receipient by MCN (2022), was named to City & States Inaugural Power 100 List of Influential Faith Leaders in NY (2022), an Appreciation Award from The Al-Maghrib Institute (2023), was the inaugural recipient of “The Imam Khalid Latif Award For Leadership” from the Black Muslim Initiative at NYU (2024), an Appreciation Award from The Aida Youth Center (2025), and most recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Islamic Center at NYU (2025.)
Imam Latif continues to be a transformative voice and bridge-builder, dedicated to fostering healing, equity, and spiritual well-being in both local communities and across the globe.