A recognized expert in Islamic philosophy and theology, Professor Shams Inati specializes in the study of metaphysics, the problem of evil, and Islamic philosophy and theology, with particular emphasis on the teachings of Ibn Sina (Avicenna).

While studying for her doctorate at SUNY Buffalo, she earned the position of SUNY Intercampus Fellow. Following that, she won numerous awards and grants, including a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant, an Andrew Mellon Fellowship in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, a United States Department of Defense grant, and the prestigious honor of being named a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Balamand in Lebanon. Dr. Inati has also been a Presenter of the Walter Powell Distinguished Lecture Series in Philosophy at Linfield College and has served as a visiting scholar at the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies in Amman, Jordan.

In addition to her teaching position at Villanova University, Professor Inati has also proved to be a prolific writer. Her work includes eight books and tens of articles and encyclopedia and dictionary entries. Recent works include a book titled Ibn Sina’s Physics and Metaphysics published by Columbia University Press, and an article "The Place of Aesthetics in Islamic Philosophy" in the Journal of Oriental Studies. She also served as a General Editor with Khaled Abou Fadl for Introducing Islam Book Series published by Mason Crest.