Rashad Nelms, JD
About Rashad Nelms, JD
Rashad Nelms, JD, serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Indiana University Bloomington, where he focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. With extensive experience at the World Food Programme, he has held various leadership roles and has a strong academic background in law and political science.
Current Role at Indiana University Bloomington
Rashad Nelms serves as the Associate Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Indiana University Bloomington, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he focuses on creating and implementing innovative diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) academic and professional development initiatives across the university's seven campuses. He collaborates with the Vice President of Human Resources on DEI efforts, including executive leadership programming for non-instructional personnel. His responsibilities include developing and monitoring university-wide DEI performance metrics and accountability strategies.
Previous Experience at World Food Programme
Rashad Nelms has extensive experience with the World Food Programme (WFP), where he held multiple roles over several years. He served as the Director of the Corporate Ambassadors Programme and Special Assistant to the WFP Executive Director from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he worked as a Program Officer in the Reporting & Information Unit from 2011 to 2013. His responsibilities included managing government donor relations and policy development, with roles spanning from 2004 to 2011 in various locations including Rome, South Sudan, and Pakistan.
Education and Qualifications
Rashad Nelms holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Michigan. He furthered his education at the University of Michigan Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree. Additionally, he studied at the College of Executive Coaching, enhancing his skills in leadership and organizational development.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
At Indiana University, Rashad Nelms actively solicits and manages new funding for diversity and inclusion initiatives through grants and fundraising. He serves as a key advisor to the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, contributing to the enhancement of institutional effectiveness across the university's campuses. His work focuses on creating a more inclusive environment for students and staff.