Idris Kabir Syed

Idris Kabir Syed is a Professor in the Department of Africana Studies

A native of Kent, Ohio, Mr. Syed graduated from Kent State University with a B.A. in English and Pan-African Studies in 1994, an M.Ed in Community Counseling in 2001 and a MFA in Ceramics in 2014, as well as completing core coursework towards a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology at Cleveland State University. 

As an undergraduate at Kent State, Mr. Syed was actively involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including Editor of Black United Students' biannual publication, Uhuru, Middle East Chair of Progressive Students Network, as well as an active member of the May 4th Task Force. As a graduate student and after receiving his M.Ed., Mr. Syed extended his involvement in community development through family counseling practices in Cuyahoga, Summit, Mahoning and Portage Counties. Upon return to Kent State as a faculty member, Mr. Syed has continued local community engagement as faculty adviser to the May 4th Task Force from 2009-2019, Students for a Democratic Society, 2019- present, and Students for Justice in Palestine, 2021-2024. 

As an artist and ceramicist, Mr. Syed has shown his work both nationally and internationally. His work and studies have allowed him to travel widely across Asia and, in 1996-1997, Mr. Syed taught English both at Chosun University and at a private language institute in Gwangju, South Korea. In 2004, he was invited to, and participated in, an international ceramics conference/workshop in Aomori, Japan. He has presented workshops and lectures about art at colleges and art centers across the country and internationally.  

Because of his multiple interests in Pan-African Studies, his counseling practice, and his art, Mr. Syed's research interests and courses taught are, accordingly, widely varied. He has published articles on topics ranging from literature to Buddhism, as well as Art and Pan-African Studies. He has also presented papers (on topics ranging from politics to popular music) at conferences in the United States and internationally.

Over the past 2 years Mr. Syed has also been actively engaged as a Yoga teacher working with incarcerated adults and children through the Prison Yoga Project in Cuyahoga County.