Alif Ahmed

Alif Ahmed is an associate research scientist at Global TIES for Children, where he uses evidence-based data to evaluate educational programs that promote early childhood education in emergency and conflict zones. His research interests broadly explore how policies and program related to immigration impact health and mental health of unauthorized immigrants and their families.

Previously, he has worked on program development with local government and non-profit organizations centrally focused on development of effective, culturally sensitive psychometric tools to adequately capture the needs of historically oppressed groups. As a licensed clinical social worker, he provided counseling to immigrant families who faced a multitude of unique systemic barriers.

He has also concurrently founded two social enterprises; a non-profit dedicated to empowering immigrant women’s rights called Capacity Building and Research Development LLC and Dreamers Hymn Inc. focusing on immigration justice. These two entities are managed by educators, researchers and social justice advocates who engage in participatory action research to inform deliverables such as psycho-education on topics related race, power, privilege and oppression for immigrant service providers, mental health counseling and legal referral for immigrant children and families. 

Alif has a B.S. in Applied Psychology from New York University and M.S. in Advanced Clinical Social Work from Columbia University.