Eight weeks into the quarantine due to COVID-19, many Americans are exhausted, confused, and fearful. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country that fear has fueled racism and xenophobia based on the origins of this particular pandemic.

Arshad Ali, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of educational research with the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the George Washington University. His research examines the construction of racial identities through exploring questions of democracy, liberalism, and modernity in the lives of youth. He is concerned with how young people from historically marginalized communities come to make sense of urban life in the United States, and how they find meaning in their lives through understanding the manifestations of political and cultural ideologies in daily action.

Dr. Ali most recently served on a panel of presenters for the webinar, “Anti-Asian Racism During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which was part of a collaboration among MGH Institute of Health Professionals, MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Emotional Student Wellness, and the Let’s Talk Conference.

Dr. Ali was the inaugural guest on the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development produced podcast, EdFix discussing Muslim youth identity and the promise of public education.

Ali is available to talk by phone, email, Webex, or Zoom.