Rasheeda Ahmad, EdD

Assistant Professor, Education
Coordinator of the Graduate Special Education Certification Programs

Dr. Rasheeda Ahmad is an assistant professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Special Education Certification Programs at Cabrini University. Dr. Ahmad teaches in the Educational Specialist Department. Since the spring of 2013, Dr. Ahmad has served as a full-time faculty member at Cabrini.

Prior to entering higher education, Ahmad taught social studies abroad at the American International School in Nigeria. Upon returning home, she has taught as a certified teacher of the Gifted and Learning Disabilities.

Ahmad received her Masters in Special Education & Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction from West Virginia University. At West Virginia University, she received the highly competitive WEB Dubois Fellowship for academic excellence. She also received a Predoctoral fellowship at Le Moyne College to complete her dissertation and taught there for several years before relocating to Philadelphia.

Dr. Ahmad’s dedication to social justice is an important thread that connects her professional and personal life and supports her commitment to the Mission of Cabrini University. She advocates for and assists various diverse groups who have difficulty negotiating policies and practices in the school environment.

Dr. Ahmad has presented at various workshops and conferences nationally and internationally on effective equitable and inclusive teacher practices that meet the needs of learners with diverse abilities. She has been involved in creating a library of over 2000 books for a school in Ghana in collaboration with Humanity First, a non-profit organization. Ahmad also received a Faculty Scholarship & Innovation Grant faculty to offer in-service training for teachers in Ghana.

Her scholarly interests focus on how race, power & privilege shape educational experiences for marginalized students. She has served on various advisory boards & task force committees related to strengthening educational practices for students with disabilities and urban students.

Area of Expertise

Universal design for learning, High leverage practices in Special Education, narrative pedagogy in teaching and learning, Critical Disability Studies, and the intersectionality of race, disability, gender, and power as influences on teacher preparation and student outcomes.

Presentations

Panelists at the Pittsburgh Racial Summit. February 13, 2021, "Absolute Justice, Kindness, and Kinship: A new approach to Criminal Justice Reform"

{Rasheeda Ahmad, Amber Gentile, Alia Sheety) National Association of African American Studies, Feb 15, 2021 "Support Networks that Influence Resilience, Persistence, and Graduation of Black Female DoctoralStudents in Predominantly White Institutions (PW’s)"

Ahmad, R. (Review of Religions). (2020, June, 14). Racism [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.reviewofreligions.org/

Ahmad, R. (2019, October). Panel presentation The black male as world citizen and cultural ambassador at the National Association for African American Studies Conference hosted by Nazareth College

Ahmad, R. Sheety, A., Ratmansky, L. (2018, June). Presentation Courageous Conversations: Exploring Emotional and Cognitive Responses to Boosting an Interfaith Restorative Community at the Annual Conference of Peace and Justice Association (PJSA) Revolutionary Nonviolence in Violent Times: 50 Years Since 1968 June 29, 2018 (Philadelphia, PA)

Ahmad, R. Sheety, A., Ratmansky, L. Presentation at the IIRP Conference Leading and Sustaining Change Title: “Whose Religion Matters?: Exploring Emotional and Cognitive Responses to Boosting an Interfaith Restorative Community.” May 1, 2018 ( Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Ahmad, R. Sheety, A., Ratmansky, L. Presentation at the IIRP (International Institute of Restorative Practices) Learning in the 21st Century: A Restorative Vision, Title: “Whose Life Matters? Using Restorative Approaches to “Unveil” the Impact of Social Power and Privilege in Society” October 23, 2017. (Bethlehem, PA.)

Gentile, A., Buzilowicz, M., Ahmad, R. Presentation at the CAST’s Annual UDL Symposium UDL for Social Justice. Title: “Integrating SIOP and UDL to Pursue Social Justice.” August 2, 2017 (Boston, Massachusetts)

Publications

Ahmad, R. (2019). The black male as world citizen and cultural ambassador: Embracing multiple identities in Harushimana, I., Alfred, M. V., and Davis, RD. (Eds.). (2019). A paradise to regain: Post-Obama insights from women educators of the Black diaspora. Myers Education Press