Hira Ahmad

Hira Ahmad is a Council of Michigan Foundations Philanthropy Fellow, in partnership with the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, where she is supporting Great Lakes grantmaking and the Foundation’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Prior to joining the Erb Family Foundation, Hira served as an Oak Ridge Institute Fellow at the Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office in Region 5. There, she helped advance environmental justice grantmaking, supported community engagement efforts, and made scientific research accessible for public audiences. She also contributed to water quality and children’s lead safety projects in Michigan and managed a federal database tracking environmental progress in the Great Lakes region.

Hira earned her bachelor’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from DePauw University and her Master of Science in Conservation Biology and Environmental Justice from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. Her commitment to environmental equity was recognized with the River Network’s Emerging Leader Award.

Hira is inspired by young leaders working toward a more just and sustainable future. Outside of work, she enjoys reading fiction, spending time along Midwest lakeshores, and experimenting with new baking recipes.