Amer F. Ahmed—a nationally recognized DEI practitioner and thought leader—has been appointed as UVM's Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Ahmed will assume the role on July 1, 2021.

Ahmed has almost 20 years of experience advancing inclusive excellence strategies that span disciplines and operating areas while creating new opportunities for collaboration. Ahmed is known for his success in bridging religious, secular, and spiritual identity with broader DEI and social justice work. In addition, he brings a strong focus on intercultural and global education.

“Dr. Ahmed’s energy, intellect, and experience align seamlessly with our commitment to further advancing our strong foundation in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said UVM Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia A. Prelock. “His visionary leadership and ability to balance overarching campus initiatives with targeted strategies for specific populations will benefit our entire community.”

"I am excited to join the University of Vermont to build on a legacy of broad-based commitment to DEI and Inclusive Excellence,” said Ahmed. “By leveraging the good work already underway, and further cultivating collaborative partnerships, we will enhance UVM's strengths and create synergies that will translate into a more holistic and inclusive educational experience for all students."

Prior to his most recent role with Dickinson College as executive director of equity and inclusivity, and chief diversity officer, Ahmed held a faculty appointment at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and was a dean and director of the Intercultural Center at Swarthmore College. He served at the University of Michigan for seven years, developing strategies for strengthening and implementing support and retention services for communities of color. Ahmed has acted as a consultative resource for higher education institutions and organizations across the United States and Canada, and has previously worked with faculty, staff and students at UVM, including with former Vice President for DEI Wanda Heading-Grant, and current Senior Executive Director and Director of the Center for Cultural Pluralism Sherwood Smith.

Ahmed has also delivered keynote speeches and presented at numerous national conferences on subjects including racism, intersectionality, and confronting Islamophobia. He is a leader in advancing Hip Hop curricular, co-curricular, and experiential pedagogy.

In his new role, Ahmed will help advance strategic DEI initiatives and oversee the Center for Cultural Pluralism, the Prism Center, the Mosaic Center for Students of Color, the Women and Gender Equity Center, and Interfaith Education and Engagement.