Seval Yildirim

Seval Yildirim is a Professor of Law and serves as the UB Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer. She specializes in law and religion, secularism, Muslim identity, populism, and free speech. Her research explores comparative secularism, populism patterns, and diminishing free speech protections in the U.S.

Education:

• J.D. and LL.M. from New York University School of Law
• M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University
• B.A. in Politics and Women’s Studies from Randolph-Macon Woman's College

Her administrative experience includes roles as Vice President for Diversity Initiatives at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs at California State University, San Bernardino. She has also held faculty positions at Harvard Law School, UC Berkeley School of Law, Villanova University School of Law, and NYU.

Pro Bono & Advocacy: Served as pro bono counsel for ACLU and grassroots organizations on individual rights cases.

Grants & Outreach: Led initiatives in inclusive pedagogy, faculty/student recruitment, and community fundraising. Experience spans diversity strategy, equity frameworks, and institutional transformation in higher education.