Halleh Ghorashi is born in Iran and came to the Netherlands in 1988. Since 2012 she is Full Professor of Diversity and Integration in the Department of Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Between 2005 and 2012 she held the prestigious position of PaVEM-chair in Management of Diversity and Integration at the Department of Organization Science at VU Amsterdam. From 2015 to 2022, she has been the theme leader Diversity, Inclusion and Resilience at the Institute for Societal Resilience (ISR), Faculty of Social Sciences, VU Amsterdam and the initiator of the research lab: Refugee Academy within ISR. 

Ghorashi's research focuses on issues such as diasporic positioning, refugee's narratives, cultural diversity, emancipation and inclusion with the particular focus on power dynamics in society and organizations. She combines expertise in narrative approach, ethnographic research and experimental engaged methodology in her research. In 2018, she is started with NWO-VICI project: Engaged Scholarship and Narratives of Changes in Comparative Perspective (in cooperation with University of Johannesburg in South Africa and UCLA/UCSD in the United States).

2022- Member of the State committe against Discrimination and Racism.

2021 Amsterdam Impact Award 2021 for reserach about refugees and diversity.

2020  Appointed as member of KNAW (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences).

2019  FSW (Faculty of Social Sciences) Research Prize, VU Amsterdam.

2018  Appointed as Crown member of the SER (Socio-Economic Council).

2011  Best PhD supervisor award (chosen by PhD students). Faculty of social sciences. VU Amsterdam.

2008  Winner of the Triomfprijs—for societal contributions to the empowerment of black, migrant and refugee women in the Netherlands

2006  Winner of the VU Media-Magneet (Social Impact)

2005  Winner of the VU-Best Teacher’s Award. Nominated as the best teacher of the faculty of social sciences and chosen by VU students as the best teacher at VU Amsterdam.

2021-present - Diversity in a Democratic Context, Bachelor Sociology, VU Amsterdam.

2014–2024 - Social Continuity and Change, Master Sociology, VU Amsterdam.

2011–2016 - Culture and Identity in Organizations, Master Culture, Organization and Management, Dept. of Organization Science, VU Amsterdam.

2007­–2008 - Masterclass: Management of Diversity. This masterclass brought together professionals from Dutch organizations, policymakers and refugees participating in the refugee empowerment project Van Binnen naar Buiten.

2006 - Masterclass: Management of Diversity. This masterclass brought students together with female migrant professionals to discuss issues on diversity in the workforce.

• Movisie | Utrecht | lid raad van toezicht | 2018-01-01 - present
• Stichting Oranje Fonds | Utrecht | Bestuurder | 2018-12-01 - present
• De Amsterdamsche Kring | Amsterdam | lid | 2021-01-01 - 2026-01-01
• Amsterdam Museum | Amsterdam | Comite van aanbeveling | 2023-01-01 - 2025-12-31
• voorzitter van de wetenschapscommissie van het KNAW-NIAS | Amsterdam | voorzitter van de wetenschapscommissie van het KNAW-NIAS | 2023-01-01 - 2027-05-01
• Stichting AIquity | amsterdam | Adviseur | 2023-09-01 - present
• UAF | Utrecht | Adviseur | 2025-02-05 - present
• COMMISSIE VRIJHEID VAN MENINGSUITING | KNAW Amsterdam | | 2025-09-23 - present
• beoordelingscommissie Adriana Hoogerbrugge Fonds | KNAW amsterdam | voorzitter commissie | 2026-01-01 - present
• KNAW commissie voor de Vrijheid van de wetenschapsbeoefening van Wetenschapsbeofening | Amsterdam | lid | 2026-01-01 - 2028-05-01

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