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Abdimalik Buul

Visiting Executive of Educational Excellence

California Community College System

Dr. Abdimalik Buul is currently serving a two year visiting executive of educational excellence role at the California Community College Chancellor’s office.

During this tenure he will assist in ensuring equal employment opportunities and initiatives are connected to the classroom. He is also
an award-winning professor, antiracist activist, and emancipatory educator. He is an innovative dynamic leader within the San Diego community and throughout the state of California. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in community based counseling and social justice, both from San Diego State University (SDSU). He completed his doctorate work in Educational leadership with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC). He is a Professor and Transfer Center Director in the counseling department at San Diego City College. Dr. Buul is also a lecturer at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he teaches Restorative Practices and Conflict Transformation to students in the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Recovery & Trauma-informed Care MA in Education with concentration in Counseling program. .He serves as a taskforce member on the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Equity Diversity and Action Committee.

As an active community leader, he serves on serval boards and roles including

  • Board member at large for African American Male and Educational Development Network (A2mend),
  • Board Member for the board for the United Taxi Drivers Union in San Diego.

He was the first Somali ever to be hired as a tenure track faculty member at Southwestern Community College where he served in the following roles:

  • Coordinator of the Umoja program
  • Faculty Chair of the Black Alliance
  • Academic senate senator for the School of Counseling and Student Support Programs.
  • Chair of the Political Action Committee for SCEA.

In 2019 he was awarded the Golden Apple for being the faculty member of the year at San Diego City Community College, it is the first time such a recognition was given to a faculty member from the Student Services department. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Ocean leaf emerging leader award. He’s a published researcher and scholar practitioner who uses social justice and activism as his guiding pedagogy for change. He has published articles, conducts research and facilitates training on the following topics:

  • Antiracism
  • Diversity Equity & Inclusion
  • Curriculum trauma
  • Black Males Success
  • Restorative Justice Practices
  • Leadership & Community Development
  • Parent & Community Engagement
  • Student Leadership & Activism

Dr. Buul has been leading statewide efforts in race conscious practices and antiracism trainings. He is the second oldest of 13 and is a proud father to a two –year old daughter named Salma and has been married for seven years to his wife a nurse practitioner Sudi.