cwendt@suradacademy.org

Cheryl is passionate about helping others with their personal and educational goals. Cheryl has spent the majority of her career as a public educator, in various roles including School Social Worker, Special Education Director, and Executive Director. As a Faribault community member, she is excited to offer Surad Academy as a school choice for students to learn, grow, and soar.

smohamed@suradacademy.org

Prof. Said Mohamed serves on Surad Academy's board, bringing robust expertise in human services and education. With a master's in Human Services and a doctorate in Educational Leadership, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to educational advancement. As tenured faculty at Minneapolis College, he shapes tomorrow's leaders while passionately advocating for charter schools. He firmly believes charter schools empower communities through localized decision-making with educational models tailored to specific community needs and aspirations.

amadar@suradacademy.org

Dr. Madar is the Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is the medical director of the Utilization Management of Hennepin HealthCare and an academic hospitalist in Internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.

Dr. Madar previously held positions include Medical Director of Inpatient Medicine and Surgery at Hennepin
HealthCare hospital-care ring.

Dr. Madar received his medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine (School of Medicine) Le Sapienza, Mugadisho (
Somali National University); he completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Hennepin County Medical
Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He completed leadership in Healthcare training offered by the Society of
hospital medicine and subsequently, the “LEAN in Healthcare” from Belmont University Massey, Pennsylvania,
USA.

Dr. Madar received a Master's in health economics policy and Management from the London School of Economics
and political science (LSE), London, United Kingdom.
In his work in improving healthcare quality, Dr. Madar established a Quality Improvement (QI) program in
Somaliland by incorporating the QI course into the curriculum for the College of Medicine and Health Science,
University of Hargeisa. Dr. Madar founded the Somalilander-American health association (sahainfo.org), an a501-
3-c non-for-profit Medical Charity organization based in the USA.

Faysel Ali is a visionary leader and community advocate currently serving as the Managing Director of DeepGEO for the Somaliland and East Africa region. In this role, he is at the forefront of introducing nuclear energy as a sustainable solution to the region’s energy challenges. His work focuses on demystifying nuclear technology through civic engagement, promoting energy independence, and supporting the adoption of low-carbon solutions.

Faysel’s leadership journey is grounded in his deep commitment to equity, inclusivity, and social justice. As former Executive Director of the Faribault Diversity Coalition in Minnesota, he championed community-building initiatives that uplifted underrepresented groups through education, advocacy, and cultural engagement. He also served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Faribault, where he contributed to long-term city planning, infrastructure development, and policy guidance to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.

With a background in Liberal Arts and fluency in both English and Somali, Faysel brings a unique blend of cross-cultural communication, strategic planning, and organizational leadership to every role he undertakes. His approach bridges global innovation with local empowerment, making him a key figure in shaping sustainable futures for diverse communities both in the U.S. and East Africa.

amohamed@suradacademy.org

Science Teacher - Surad Academy

With four years of teaching experience, including two years working with children aged 3–6 and one year with children aged 6–9 using the Montessori method, Asma is a committed and adaptable educator. She holds a Bachelor of Education with a specialization in Montessori education, blending child-led learning with structured guidance. Currently teaching science, Asma aims to spark curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that nurture each child's natural desire to learn.