Biography

Kali-Ahset Amen is the Civic Engagement Director for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. With more than 15 years of experience in participatory program design, qualitative social research, and organizational management, Kali-Ahset leads work that connects city leaders with residents, builds trust in government, and improves communities and resident lives. Prior to her work at the Center, Kali-Ahset served as the inaugural Executive Director for the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University. Throughout her career Kali-Ahset’s work has helped communities, academic institutions, and civic partnerships engage resident voices and co-create solutions that address opportunities and challenges that range from space preservation and reuse to reproductive policy. Her past experience includes serving as an Assistant Research Professor of Sociology and Managing Director of the Billie Holiday Center for Liberation Arts at Johns Hopkins University; the Associate Director of the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University; and the John Lewis Fellowship Director for Humanity in Action.

In addition to her work at BCPI, today Kali-Ahset serves on the board of directors for the ACLU of Maryland and chairs the Maryland State Commission on African American History and Culture.

A graduate of Emory University and Columbia University, Kali-Ahset holds a Ph.D. in sociology and a B.A. in African studies. In addition, she has completed fellowships and certificate education at the Harvard Extension School, Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, and the David J. Sencer CDC Museum.