The Chaplain’s Office is pleased to introduce Tariq Ameer, who has been appointed Director of Muslim Student Life and Associate Chaplain. Vice-President for Equity and Community, Dr. Donald Outing, informed the Lehigh community of Mr. Ameer’s appointment, noting that “Tariq stood out as an excellent candidate in a very competitive search, and we are fortunate to have his talents as Director moving forward.” Mr. Ameer, Outing added, impressed the search committee with his “passion for supporting individuals of diverse backgrounds and beliefs.”
Mr. Ameer will join the Chaplain’s Office as a teacher, counselor, spiritual resource and religious leader. As Director of Muslim Student Life he will provide spiritual and emotional support to Lehigh’s Muslim community. As Associate Chaplain he will serve the entire Lehigh community. University Chaplain and Professor of Religion Studies, Rev. Dr. Lloyd Steffen, co-chair of the search committee with Dr. Outing, noted, “We are pleased to have found a gifted, sensitive and unusually well-trained person to help us address the spiritual needs of our growing Muslim community. Tariq’s experience, skills and communication abilities will benefit our entire Lehigh community.”
For the past six years, Mr. Ameer has been serving as Chaplain at the Northern State Prison in Newark, NJ. His previous positions include teaching at the MECCA Center in New York and performing chaplaincy work at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.
Mr. Ameer is an honors graduate of Morehouse College, where he majored in Business Administration. He received a Masters of Divinity Islamic Chaplaincy degree from the Bayan Islamic Graduate School through Chicago Theological Seminary, and his theological training includes certification in Clinical Pastoral Education.