Expansions in IDEA
Sayeeda Rashid. Photo: Patrick Montero.
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Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) is excited to announce a new member of our team! Following a national search launched in Fall 2022, Sayeeda Rashid (they/them) will join the IDEA team as Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity and Access (AVPIEA) on March 1.
In this newly-created position, Sayeeda will develop and lead initiatives, programming, and resources that advance Haverford’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and antiracism and enhance student and employee development and campus climate. They will develop assessment tools for the continuous improvement of programs and initiatives, and will collaborate with strategic community partners to spearhead fundraising and grant development.
Sayeeda has served Haverford College since January 2022 as the Director of the Center for Gender Resources and Sexuality Equity (GRASE), and member of the Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (SDEI) Team. During their time as the Director, they’ve done incredible work within our Haverford and alumni communities. Some of this work has included mentoring students, especially their student interns. Together, they led programming and initiatives for GRASE’s 40th anniversary, Women’s History Month, Campus Pride Month, LGBTQIA+ History Month, Trans Resilience Month and Transgender Day of Remembrance. They also held Haverford’s first Lavender Graduation and brought back the Drag Ball. As the staff advisor to QHouse, they’ve worked relentlessly to recruit LGBTQIA+ students to become residents and then supported their annual programming.
Dean John Mcknight and Associate Dean Raquel Esteves-Joyce expressed support for Sayeeda’s appointment, sharing that they “will miss Sayeeda at the GRASE center but are both happy they will remain at the College and that their many talents, intersectional perspectives, and areas of expertise can be fully expressed in this new role.”
Before Sayeeda’s time at Haverford, they had more than 10 years of experience across social services, municipal government, and grassroots coalitions working to create equitable change within intersectional, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks. Former positions include serving as a Coordinator at the City of Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs in the Mayor’s Office developing municipal policies, city-wide initiatives, and programs affecting LGBTQ+ communities.
We are thrilled that Sayeeda will contribute to Haverford’s diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and antiracism efforts in this new role. Please join us in welcoming them to the IDEA team!
