Bridging the Gap between Islam, Islamophobia and Contemplative Pedagogy
Bridging the Gap between Islam, Islamophobia and Contemplative Pedagogy
A webinar with Dr. Amer F. Ahmed
Founder and CEO of AFA Diversity Consulting
Originally broadcast live on Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Free and open to all, with a $10 optional, suggested donation
Watch the webinar:
Islam is not a spiritual tradition that is broadly represented, engaged or understood in the contemplative education community. As a result, there is limited representation of Muslims (who comprise 1.7 billion people on earth) in the field. Meanwhile, U.S. higher education has broad representation of Muslims among faculty and students. This disconnect has resulted in missed opportunities to broaden exploration for the true far-reaching potential of the contemplative educational community. As an Indian-Muslim American and an Intercultural Diversity Consultant, Dr. Amer F. Ahmed will draw from his experience to share with participants his own personal journey into contemplative education.
Participants in this session will engage:
- Foundational information about Islam and Islamophobia
- Historical context about Islam as relevant to current-day realities
- Consider connections between Islam and contemplative practices
- Opportunities to create space for Muslims in contemplative education
About the Presenter
Dr. Amer F. Ahmed is an organizational strategist who helps institutions and leaders address diversity and inclusion, equity, race, and intercultural development through consulting, coaching, group facilitation, and keynote speeches. A frequently requested speaker nationwide, Dr. Ahmed’s approach is grounded in social justice and commitment to community. He brings his identity as the son of Indian Muslim immigrants and extensive years as an intercultural and diversity consultant as the sources of a pivotal understanding of the depth of diversity and inclusion work. Throughout his career, Dr. Ahmed has worked with large organizations, higher education institutions, non-profit agencies, schools and community groups to create understanding and change among key constituents and institutional leaders.
His thought leadership and keen sense of the latest trends informs his approaches to helping groups address potential areas of opportunity to grow and develop. Dr. Ahmed incorporates deep theoretical knowledge of the field combined with a variety of methods including storytelling, discourse on current events and connections to art and music in order to move audiences to profound awareness of issues and next steps. He has published key opinion pieces and has been featured in media such as MSNBC, documentary film, and other national press outlets for his commentary and critical perspective on news and significant topics in society.
Dr. Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of AFA Diversity Consulting, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to enhancing the development of organizations through efforts around leadership, professional development, assessment, and strategic change. In addition to his consulting work, he is also a Faculty at the Summer and Winter Institutes for Intercultural Communication, and is a member of SpeakOut: Institute for Democratic Education.