Dawah - Amer Ahmed
Amer is an individual with an eclectic personal and professional experience. As a spoken word poet, Hip Hop activist, intercultural diversity consultant and college administrator, he channels his diverse experiences into work geared towards effective change serving to create mutual benefit for all. Born in Springfield, Ohio to Indian Muslim immigrants, Amer has dedicated his life to engaging and facilitating diversity across human difference. His studies in Anthropology and Black Studies have been enhanced by powerful study abroad experiences in South Africa and Nepal. Amer’s education, world experiences and his Indian-Muslim-American upbringing helps him understand the need for respect and dignity of all people.
During Graduate School at Indiana University, Amer served as an Associate Instructor, PR Officer for the Muslim Student Union (during 9/11) and also became integrally part of strengthening Diversity and culture on campus through a fast-growing non-profit organization named Hip Hop Congress (www.hiphopcongress.com). Amer now serves as Co-Chair of their Board of Directors, which has become the largest grassroots Hip Hop organizational network in the world.
Following his graduate studies, Amer served as Director of Intercultural Programs at Loras College in Dubuque, IA and later at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. His education, global experience and prominent role in the Hip Hop Congress assisted him in addressing pressing issues of Diversity on these campuses. In addition, Amer is also opening up important discussion and dialogue regarding Islam in a post-9/11 context both in the world and in the U.S.
Throughout his career, Amer has consistently addressed all forms of marginality that impact how individuals experience institutions and issues of social justice that continue to face traditionally marginalized communities. In addition, he bridges this work with the field of Intercultural Communication emphasizing developmental approaches to Intercultural competency. Such approaches have been useful in his work on Organizational, Leadership and Student Development and Assessment as well as in Workshop facilitation and Public speaking. Amer is continuing this work as a member of SpeakOut: Institute for Democratic Education and Culture, Associate Faculty at the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication and as Associate Director for the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. He is also currently pursuing a Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education.
Amer strives to be an inspiration to young people who see purpose in the pursuing of their ideals. He stresses the need to identify one’s own talents, abilities in order to reach positions in which we can enact what he calls “Practical Idealism”. Today, his work continues to communicate that the Hip Hop generation has an opportunity to shape its own future through passionate energy and a dedication to create effective positive change.