Education
University of Pennsylvania | Master of Social Work
University of Pennsylvania | M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership
Mount Holyoke College | B.A., Psychology
Biography
Sayeeda Rashid (they/them) is a social justice advocate, community organizer, and queer, non-binary, South Asian immigrant. They joined Haverford College in January 2022 as the Director of the Center for Gender Resources and Sexual Education (GRASE). As the Director, they develop programs, workshops, and initiatives cultivating an equitable and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+, women, and femme students at Haverford. Sayeeda also works within the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Team under the Dean’s Division.
Sayeeda is a loyal advocate for marginalized communities, including Trans and Queer individuals, BIPOC, immigrants, first-generation college students, and survivors of systemic violence and trauma. Their commitment to racial, social, and economic equity took root during their early years as a Bangladeshi, Muslim immigrant from Saudi Arabia and navigating immigration and social systems post-9/11.
They come with more than 10 years of experience across social services, municipal government, and grassroots coalitions working to create equitable change with intersectional, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks. Formerly, they served as a Coordinator at the City of Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs, a subdivision of the Mayor’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, developing municipal policies, city-wide initiatives, and programs affecting LGBTQ+ communities. They also worked as the Resource Director at the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition leading the work of developing and implementing a movement-oriented fundraising and capacity building strategy to advance immigrant rights across the state.
Sayeeda is a proud first-generation college graduate, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College, and a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership from University of Pennsylvania. They also serve on the Board of Directors at the Gender Justice Fund as well as the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee.