Prof. Dr. Tanvir Ali joined the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) as lecturer in 1980. He was promoted to the highest academic status of professor in the Department of Agri. Extension on 30.9.2006. He is presently working as Director, Division of Education & Extension. He has served UAF on various academic/administrative positions. His services as Director, Advanced Studies from 2003 to 2007 were highly appreciated by the academic community. In addition to working as Chairman, Department of Agricultural Extension (1999-2003, 2009) he remained member of various advisory committees/statutory bodies of the University.

Born in 1957 in a remote village in the vicinity of Gojra, District T.T. Singh in a farm family (whose ancestors were migrated from India before partition), he received his primary and secondary education in the nearby rural schools. He learned some agricultural knowledge and skills on his farm when he was just a school going kid. He did his masters degree in Agri. Extension in 1980 with honours from UAF. Later he went to the States in 1987 and completed his Ph.D. from University of Minnesota, USA with specialization in extension evaluation. He has so far produced 14 Ph.D. scholars and more than 30 M.Sc. (Hons.) degree holders. He is member of the supervisory committees of a number of students pursuing their doctoral degrees in rural sociology, horticulture, forestry, and poultry production. Currently he is supervising 5 Ph.D. scholars. His current research interests include: sustainable livelihoods, participatory extension, qualitative research and gender studies. In addition to 62 research papers and a number of research reports/ popular articles, he is the author of 4 books/booklets and 3 chapters in edited books published out of Pakistan. As principal investigator he has completed two research projects funded by HEC and ALP in addition to a number of projects under promotion of research scheme. He got Star Award in 2003 from South Asia Publications. He was ranked among the top few for better incentives for teachers for the year 2007 and 2008. He has worked as consultant/ resource person with Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, Aga Khan Rural Support Program, Community Action Programme (CAP), The Brooke, and various governmental and non governmental organizations in the country. He served as Senior Researcher, National Centre for Competence in Research (NCCR), Switzerland. He has also acted as member of the regional advisory board of NCCR (North-South) South Asia. He is an active member of many international professional associations/societies such as AIAEE, USA; INSEE, India; AgREN, UK., HRDN, Pakistan. Prof. Dr. Tanvir Ali has the credit to serve as convener of National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) for Agri. Extension twice; member editorial / management boards of three international journals; and patron of Zarii Digest - a quarterly extension publication of UAF. He desires to establish an FM Radio station at the Division under technology transfer initiatives, initiate B. Ed./ M.Ed. Programs of studies, and offer Agri. Journalism as a major subject to undergraduate students at the University.