Iman Ali
About Iman Ali
Iman Ali is a Wendland Cook Academic Fellow at Vanderbilt University, actively involved in various academic, political, and social initiatives across multiple organizations.
Current Positions
Iman Ali is currently engaged in multiple roles across various organizations. She holds the title of Wendland Cook Academic Fellow at Vanderbilt University. She also works with Arena as part of the Arena Academy, contributes to The LBJ School of Public Affairs under the Lyndon B. Johnson Campaign School, and is involved with New Leaders Council Kentucky. Additionally, she leads the Prichard Groundswell Initiative in Kentucky and serves as the Policy and Programming Coordinator for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) in Washington, DC. Apart from these positions, she advises the Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter in Washington, DC.
Previous Work Experience
Iman Ali has held several noteworthy positions in the past. She was an Ignite Change Fellow at EMILY's List in 2020 and worked with the Congressional Hunger Center's Zero Hunger Academy in Washington, DC, for one month the same year. She was a Policy Fellow for the Committee on Rules and Administration at the United States Senate from 2018 to 2019. Ali also served as an Intern for the Committee of Appropriations at the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 and contributed as an outreach volunteer to Andy Beshear’s gubernatorial campaign from 2018 to 2019.
Education and Fellowships
Iman Ali has an extensive educational background. She earned a Master's degree in Economic Justice and Near East Studies from Vanderbilt University and a Master's degree from Harvard University. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky, attaining a Bachelor of Arts in Health Society and Populations. Ali has also participated in several fellowship programs, including the New Leaders Council 2021 Fellowship, the EMERGE 2021 Fellowship, and the Wendland-Cook 2022 Fellowship.
Advocacy and Initiatives
A committed advocate in multiple social spheres, Iman Ali focuses on promoting healthcare accessibility, expanding voting rights, and pushing for thoughtful education reform in Appalachia. She founded Imancipation, a social media project designed to act as a resource hub for political, academic, and social initiatives dedicated to aiding underrepresented communities. Additionally, she serves on the KY Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board, underscoring her dedication to child welfare and protection.
Involvement in University Leadership
During her academic career, Iman Ali was actively involved in university leadership roles. She was the Vice Chair for Operations and Evaluations for the Student Government Association at the University of Kentucky from 2017 to 2018. Additionally, she served as Editor in Chief of Odyssey during her three-year tenure in the Greater New York City Area.