Sir Azyumardi Azra, CBE (Jawi: ازيومردي ازرا) was born in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on March 4, 1955. He is prominent as one of Indonesian public intellectuals, Muslim scholar and former Rector of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta. He graduated from Department of History, Columbia University (1992). He is known as a prolific books writer; member of advisory board of a number of international organizations such as UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Currently, he is the Director of Graduate School, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta.In 2010, he received the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire, an honorary order from the United Kingdom.