ingrid mattson received a phd in near eastern languages and civilizations from the university of chicago in 1999. she then served as a professor of islamic studies and christian-muslim relations from 1998–2012 at hartford seminary in connecticut. during that period, she founded the first accredited graduate program for muslim chaplains in america. for a number of years she was also the director of the macdonald center for the study of islam and christian-muslim relations at hartford seminary.