Zithri Ahmed Saleem, Ph.D.
Information scientist and social impact advisor | Public Scholar
I’m Zithri. I work with leaders and entrepreneurs to improve the systems, products, and services people and communities depend on every day. Subscribe to stay connected and get practical insights to inform your work!
Interested in working together? Request a consultation.
Join Me at Zithri’s Desk
With so many claims about AI and technology, how do you know what deserves your attention, investment, or trust? I examine technology's real and imagined impacts through research, analysis of current events, and firsthand work with leaders and their teams to design, test, and evaluate solutions.
Zithri's Desk is where I bring those perspectives together, examine what new technologies can do, where they fall short, and offer insights and resources you can put to use in your work and everyday life.
CURRENT PROJECTS • Q4 2026
Featured on My Desktop
This quarter on my Desktop: two reports in development — one on modernizing community development finance and another on designing pathways to permanent housing. Take a look and request an early copy below.
01 • Forthcoming report
Modernizing Community Development Finance
Small businesses throughout the United States face gaps in access to capital, technical assistance, and information. See how Rainier Valley Community Development Fund is modernizing its business intelligence systems to better serve Seattle small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Scheduled Release: March 20, 2026
Request Early Copy
02 • Forthcoming report
Designing Pathways from Housing Insecurity to Permanent Housing
Housing insecurity is increasing nationwide due to shifts in healthcare, public funding, and labor markets. Based in California, Harmony Homes for Healing is developing national model to scale transitional housing, wraparound services, and pathways to permanent housing.
Scheduled Release: Feb 18 2027
Request Early Copy
01 • Forthcoming report
FEATURED ON ZITHRI’S DESK…
Lessons from the Work
My research and practice tackle important challenges across sectors through the lens of information science. In Lessons from the Work, I take you behind the scenes to see how communities, leaders, and organizations use information and technology to meet people's needs and what their practice reveals.
ALSO ON ZITHRI’S DESK…
I'm blessed to work with amazing people and to have learned so much from the places and experiences life has brought my way. In On My Journey, I share a more personal side of my life through photographs, short videos, and reflections on where I've been, what I love doing, and what I still hope to experience.
On My Journey
COMING SOON: Reflections on a Ten-Year Doctoral Experience
CONTACT
Let’s Connect
Working on something interesting, or know someone I should meet?
I welcome opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, explore projects, and hear stories worth sharing. Whether you're reaching out directly or making an introduction, I'd like to hear from you.
Our digital lives connect us to opportunity, services, and one another. They also raise questions about who controls our information and how it is used. This article explores what digital migration could mean for individuals and organizations weighing technology choices, community responsibilities, and the freedoms they want to preserve.