Eboo Patel

Eboo Patel is a civic leader, speaker, and author who believes diversity is a treasure, faith is a bridge, and cooperation across our differences is the key for everybody to thrive. Recognized as “one of America’s best leaders” by U.S. News & World Report, he is the Founder and President of Interfaith America, the nation’s leading interfaith organization. Under his leadership, Interfaith America has grown into a $25 million-per-year organization that that partners with universities, businesses, and civic organizations to bridge divides, reduce prejudice, and strengthen pluralism.

Eboo served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council and is a recipient of the George W. Bush Institute Citation. A leading voice on diversity, democracy, and higher education, he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in addition to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He has delivered hundreds of keynote addresses and authored five books, including We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. A Rhodes Scholar and Ashoka Fellow, he earned a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University.