Mareike Winkelmann received her MA in Theology from the University of Kampen in 1999. Her research dealt with Islam in India and attempted to revisit history in order to find new approaches for a theology of reconciliation. In 2000 she obtained her Mphil from the ISIM after investigating the early history of Muslim women's education in India. Winkelmann's interest in Islam in India, women's education, and theology then formed the basis for her PhD research at the ISIM between 2001 and 2005.