LOS ANGELES, CA, October 07, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hany N. Takla has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Takla has established a distinguished career as a leading authority in Coptic studies, with more than four decades of professional experience. Since 1979, he has served as the founding president of the St. Shenouda the Archimandrite Coptic Society, an organization dedicated to preserving the Christian heritage of Egypt among the global Coptic diaspora. Under his leadership, the society has become a central hub for research, teaching and publication in the field of Coptic studies. In 1992, he assumed the role of director of the St. Shenouda Center for Coptic Studies at the society, where he continues to oversee extensive research initiatives and manage multiple libraries, including a manuscript library housing over 320 manuscripts and thousands of digital images from collections worldwide.

In 2014, Mr. Takla expanded his contributions by becoming director of the St. Shenouda Coptic Cultural Museum, furthering his commitment to cultural preservation and education. His expertise in Coptic language, biblical texts, literature, liturgical services and manuscripts has earned him recognition as a pioneer in his field.

Mr. Takla's academic appointments reflect his dedication to advancing Coptic scholarship globally. Since 2022, he has been coeditor-in-chief of the Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia, hosted by Claremont Graduate University, where he has also served as adjunct professor and coeditor-in-chief since 2023 and 2022 respectively. He is additionally an adjunct lecturer at St. Athanasius College at the University of Divinity and at St. Athanasius and St. Cyril Theological School since 2022 and 2015 respectively. From 2022 to 2023, he was adjunct assistant teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame.

Earlier in his academic career, Mr. Takla lectured at the University of California Los Angeles from 2008 to 2011 and served as secretary of the Eleventh International Congress of Coptic Studies for the International Association of Coptic Studies from 2012 to 2016.

His professional journey also includes three decades as a structural engineering associate with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power from 1981 to 2011. During this tenure, Mr. Takla developed Microsoft Access applications for the department, demonstrating versatility across disciplines.

Mr. Takla's scholarly achievements are extensive. He authored a master's thesis on the state of preservation of the Coptic Old Testament that has been published and is widely referenced in academic circles. Over his career, he has published more than 100 articles on various aspects of Coptic studies—many in book form and some available online—solidifying his reputation as a prolific author and thought leader.

Among his most notable accomplishments is being honored with a Festschrift planned for publication by Brill Publisher in Europe, featuring approximately 26 articles contributed by 30 collaborators from multiple countries—a testament to his international influence and legacy in Coptic studies. A significant milestone under Mr. Takla's leadership was making the Coptic Bible accessible on mobile devices worldwide for research and study, a pioneering achievement that opened new avenues for global scholarship.

Mr. Takla's professional affiliations include membership in several esteemed organizations: the American Research Center in Egypt, the American Society of Civil Engineers (lifetime member), the American Society of Papyrologists, the Canadian Association for Coptic Studies, the International Association of Coptic Studies, the Society of Biblical Literature and fellow membership with the St. Shenouda the Archimandrite Coptic Society.

Mr. Takla's educational background laid a strong foundation for his multifaceted career. He earned a Master of Arts in Coptic Studies from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and received an Excellence Award from Macquarie University in 2008 recognizing his outstanding academic performance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of California Los Angeles, awarded in 1978. Additionally, he is a California certified civil engineer—a credential that supported his technical work with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Takla is deeply engaged in civic activities. He volunteers with St. Shenouda the Archimandrite Coptic Society and his local church community and serves as head of the scientific advisory board for Saint Mark Foundation for Coptic Studies. His creative output includes major publications such as "Coptic Civilization: Two Thousand Years of Christianity in Egypt," published by American University in Cairo Press in 2014, and "Christianity and Monasticism," also released through AUC Press. He attributes his enduring success to divine guidance, acknowledging that providence has played a pivotal role throughout his life's work.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Mr. Takla immigrated to the United States before turning 15 years old, a move that enabled him to inspire an entire generation in Egypt and abroad to study their heritage using primary source manuscripts previously inaccessible to many scholars. He was among the first to travel internationally to obtain copies of manuscripts and create microfilm and digitized versions, efforts that sparked transformative change within his field.

Mr. Takla is also known for his devotion to family; he cherishes time spent with his two daughters and his wife of 45 years. He also enjoys studying Coptic language and history and appreciates sports in his leisure time. Looking ahead, he aims to build a group capable of continuing the mission he began at age 12—ensuring ongoing preservation and accessibility of Coptic heritage resources for future generations—and plans to make more Coptic texts available electronically for broader public access worldwide.

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