Ahmad Boyd was promoted to become the first ever Director of the King NU P.R.I.D.E program, Northwestern’s holistic student-athlete development program in May of 2023.
In his current role, Boyd will lead the department’s holistic development efforts for student-athletes including major initiatives such as award shows, fall welcome back event, and supporting community engagement. In addition, Boyd will have oversight of the Leadership Institute, cultivating world class leaders by inspiring and encouraging students to actively engage in leadership development opportunities. Boyd will also serve as an advisor to a majority of our student-leadership and affinity spaces including the student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and Engage that includes the Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA), International Student-Athlete Alliance (ISA), and Athlete Alliance supporting our LGBTQ+ student-athlete and allies.
"I'm grateful to Dr. Gragg, Janna Blais and Maria Sanchez for this opportunity, and ecstatic about the future of student-athlete development here at Northwestern," said Boyd. "The chance to continue enhancing the foundation on which the King NU P.R.I.D.E. program was built is truly exciting. My goal has always been to support the holistic needs of our student-athletes and I'm privileged to be able to do so here at Northwestern where sincere advocacy for student-athlete development has resulted in this comprehensive vision."
Boyd joined Northwestern in the summer of 2021 as Assistant Director of Career Enhancement and Employer Relations, after serving as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Support Services at Chicago State University. The two-time Ithaca College graduate also worked at his alma mater and Colby College early in his career. In Evanston he is a steering committee member of the department's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Task Force in addition to chairing the Education and Engagement advisory group from 2021-2023. Nationally, he is the chair of the Membership, Retention and Recruitment Committee for the National Association of Academics and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). Additionally, he is the most recipient of the 2023 Kenneth Miles Professional Promise Award, given to emerging professionals who serve student-athletes and have dedicated their energy to the association and its mission.
In his current role, Boyd will lead the department’s holistic development efforts for student-athletes including major initiatives such as award shows, fall welcome back event, and supporting community engagement. In addition, Boyd will have oversight of the Leadership Institute, cultivating world class leaders by inspiring and encouraging students to actively engage in leadership development opportunities. Boyd will also serve as an advisor to a majority of our student-leadership and affinity spaces including the student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and Engage that includes the Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA), International Student-Athlete Alliance (ISA), and Athlete Alliance supporting our LGBTQ+ student-athlete and allies.
"I'm grateful to Dr. Gragg, Janna Blais and Maria Sanchez for this opportunity, and ecstatic about the future of student-athlete development here at Northwestern," said Boyd. "The chance to continue enhancing the foundation on which the King NU P.R.I.D.E. program was built is truly exciting. My goal has always been to support the holistic needs of our student-athletes and I'm privileged to be able to do so here at Northwestern where sincere advocacy for student-athlete development has resulted in this comprehensive vision."
Boyd joined Northwestern in the summer of 2021 as Assistant Director of Career Enhancement and Employer Relations, after serving as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Support Services at Chicago State University. The two-time Ithaca College graduate also worked at his alma mater and Colby College early in his career. In Evanston he is a steering committee member of the department's Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Task Force in addition to chairing the Education and Engagement advisory group from 2021-2023. Nationally, he is the chair of the Membership, Retention and Recruitment Committee for the National Association of Academics and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). Additionally, he is the most recipient of the 2023 Kenneth Miles Professional Promise Award, given to emerging professionals who serve student-athletes and have dedicated their energy to the association and its mission.