the center was officially inaugurated in 2006. during the same year, clark left university of colorado at boulder and subsequently the center to become assistant professor at the school of communication at university of denver. she remains a close collaborator of the center and maintains a good relationship with hoover. in 2007 journalism and mass communication hired a new assistant professor, nabil echchaibi, who specializes in identity politics among young muslim in the arab world and in diaspora. he is now the associate director of the center.