Dr. Asad Rahim is a scholar, educator, and leadership facilitator dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Black community leaders. Born and raised in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, he founded The Black Leadership Lab to give South Side residents the opportunity to deepen their political understanding, strengthen their sense of self, and cultivate compassionate leadership.

Dr. Rahim is currently a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he teaches civil rights, constitutional law, and courses examining race and gender inequality.

He received his law degree from Harvard Law School and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. His research and teaching focus on racial justice, educational inequality, and the social forces that shape Black life. His scholarship has appeared in the California Law Review, UCLA Law Review, Boston University Law Review, and Law & Social Inquiry, among other publications. At UC Berkeley, students awarded him The Visionary Award in recognition of his teaching and mentorship.

Through The Black Leadership Lab, he is expanding his work beyond the university to create spaces where community members—particularly those without access to traditional forms of higher education—can develop the insight, courage, and relationships needed to lead meaningful change. In doing so, he aims to cultivate a new generation of thoughtful, principled leaders committed to strengthening Black communities in Chicago and beyond.

Education

B.S., Babson College
J.D., Harvard Law School
Ph.D., UC Berkeley