Phoenix
2012 Director’s Community Leadership Awards
| Phoenix | Dr. Mohamed Ali Abukar |
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The Phoenix Division is pleased to honor Dr. Mohamed Ali Abukar, the founder of a nonprofit organization that helps Somali immigrants assimilate to American culture, as a recipient of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award. Dr. Abukar is the founder and president of the Somali American United Council of Arizona, formed to assist the state’s growing Somali population by helping immigrants secure necessary social services and find jobs. Dr. Abukar is considered a respected elder in the Somali community. In 2012, Dr. Abukar attended the 20th anniversary session of the FBI Citizens Academy program in Phoenix. After he graduated, Dr. Abukar worked with the FBI to organize a Community Relations Executive Seminar Training (CREST) program with the Somali community. The CREST took place at the Somali American United Council Center, where attendees learned about civil rights, human trafficking, and cyber and white-collar crime programs. Prior to immigrating to the United States, Dr. Abukar was chairman of the National Production for the Government of Somalia until Somali President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. Dr. Abukar holds a doctorate of philosophy in public administration with an emphasis in agricultural extension management. He holds numerous advanced degrees and served as adjunct professor at Utah State University from 1998 to 2005 and at Grand Canyon University from 2005 to 2008. |