Vice President of Education
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Ahmad Ward began his position as education assistant with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) in 1999. His primary responsibilities included coordinating outreach programs and preparing educational materials relating to African-American history. He now serves as the vice president of education, where his responsibilities include public programming, public speaking and outreach programs; scheduling and installing temporary exhibitions; and teacher workshops and training sessions.
Ward is a member of the Smithsonian Affiliates Advisory Board and the Jekyll Island Management Institute Selection Board. He serves on the board of CaringMen Inc., which is an organization dedicated to providing mentors to at risk students at Bessemer City Middle School. He is also active at Metropolitan AME Zion church in the children’s education department, male chorus and Sons of Varick.
Ward is a native of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He received a BA in art from Elizabeth City State University in 1997 and a MA in museum studies from Hampton University in 1999. He is married to Dafina Ward and they have two daughters, Masani Ashiya and Aminah Elon.