Houston's iconic sanctuary names new leader for future growth

New Leadership at Rothko Chapel

The Rothko Chapel, a prominent landmark in Houston, has appointed Abdullah Antepli as its new president. Antepli will take on this role starting September 1, succeeding David Leslie, who retired after a decade of service. This change marks a significant moment for the chapel as it continues to evolve and expand its mission.

Antepli brings with him extensive experience in leadership, scholarship, and advocacy across higher education and the nonprofit sector. He is recognized globally for his work in cross-religious and cross-cultural dialogue, emphasizing pluralism and intellectual diversity. His appointment aligns well with the chapel’s commitment to fostering a space where art, silence, and justice converge.

“I am excited and deeply committed to joining the Rothko Chapel,” said Antepli. “This sanctuary is a place where the sacred, the artistic, and the just come together. I look forward to working with the Rothko Chapel family to shape its next chapter. In a world increasingly divided along religious, partisan, and ideological lines, the Rothko Chapel offers a sacred space that brings art, silence, and justice together. I am honored to help steward this space forward.”

Background and Achievements

Antepli is a Turkish-born American imam and a scholar who bridges faith, ethics, and public policy. He currently serves as the director of POLIS: Center for Politics at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy and is also a professor of the practice of interfaith relations. He integrated the Civil Discourse Project into POLIS, enhancing the center's focus on civic and moral dimensions of public life.

He is a senior fellow on Jewish-Muslim relations at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, where he founded and co-directs the Muslim Leadership Initiative. Antepli has led faith-based humanitarian efforts in Myanmar and Malaysia and served as Wesleyan University’s first Muslim chaplain. His roles have included associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program and interfaith relations at Hartford Seminary, as well as Duke University's first Muslim chaplain and director of its Center for Muslim Life.

He has also held the position of associate director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center. Antepli completed his graduate work at Hartford Seminary and his undergraduate studies at Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey. Notably, he is the only Muslim chaplain to have delivered prayer at the House of Representatives, first in 2010 and again in 2017. In 2018, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Strategic Vision and Future Plans

Troy Porter, chair of the board, expressed confidence in Antepli’s ability to implement the chapel’s ambitious strategic plan. “Abdullah’s spirit, values, and successes resonate deeply with the Rothko Chapel’s mission,” Porter said. “We are confident that he will successfully guide the Chapel into its next chapter as a convening space for spiritual exploration, artistic expression, and the pursuit of justice.”

The chapel is currently undergoing significant changes and expansion. Last year, it announced a $42 million investment for a campus expansion. This includes new buildings north of the existing Chapel on the other side of Sul Ross St., such as an Administration and Archives Building, the Kathleen and Chuck Mullenweg Meditation Garden, and a new Program Center.

The chapel, which has long been a place for contemplation, temporarily closed after Hurricane Beryl caused significant damage last summer. It reopened in December following necessary repairs, funded by a Bank of America grant.

A Legacy of Interfaith Sanctuary

Founded by Houston philanthropists Dominique and John de Menil, the Rothko Chapel was dedicated in 1971 as an interfaith, nonsectarian sanctuary. It remains open every day of the year, free of charge, offering a unique space for reflection and community engagement. With Antepli at the helm, the chapel is poised to continue its legacy while embracing new opportunities for growth and impact.