Dr. Bilal Ansari to Speak at Prestigious ACPE Conference

Dr. Bilal Ansari, Co-Director of the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy program at HIU, has been invited to speak at the ACPE 2026 Annual Conference. The invitation comes at the recommendation of the Association of Muslim Chaplains, highlighting Dr. Ansari’s national standing as a scholar-practitioner in spiritual care and education.

The conference, themed “Elevating Community, Deepening Practice,” will take place from Oct. 10 to 14, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. The ACPE is widely considered the gold standard in spiritual care and education, bringing together a diverse, multidisciplinary, and multifaith community of Certified Educators, Chaplains, and Pastoral Counselors dedicated to transforming human suffering.

The invitation carries added significance given the national shortage of CPE educators, which threatens the pipeline of trained chaplains needed in hospitals, hospices, prisons, and community settings. Dr. Ansari has expressed pride in HIU's role in addressing this gap. Through its MA in Chaplaincy program, the university has prepared several graduates to navigate the rigorous path toward becoming CPE Educators. Two prime examples of this success are alums Jawad Bayat ‘15 and Syazana Durrani '23. Jawad Bayat, also an HIU Board of Trustees member, became the first Afghan-American and the fourth Muslim ACPE Certified Educator in the organization’s history. Meanwhile, Syazana Durrani is expected to become a fully certified educator at this year's conference.

Dr. Ansari’s presentation will explore the intersection of spirituality, community, ethics, and social justice, drawing on his extensive experience in chaplaincy and interfaith leadership. The session will be a key moment for the 450-500 attendees to engage with strategies for strengthening the spiritual care workforce.

Congratulations, Dr. Ansari!