Page 9 - CCAPS Commencement Event Program

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Salma Hussein is assistant principal at Central High School in St. Paul, the state’s oldest high school, whose motto is “Many traditions, one school.” As a University of Minnesota student, after much academic trial and error, Salma enrolled in the CCAPS Inter-College Program
and realized that what really resonated with her was leadership in youth development and working toward a just society. Graduation with courses in these areas was the first rung on her ladder to achieving
her goals. She went on to earn a U of M master’s degree in social work, and then joined South High in Minneapolis as a school social worker. She also worked for the U of M Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Before long, she had another realization, which was that by obtaining a K-12 principal license, she could do for students what her ICP adviser had done for her: listen to their stories, cultivate joy, and help them create roadmaps for success. And she’s still not finished studying. Salma is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in education, with a focus on research in equity and social and emotional learning. She says that all students deserve to have opportunities made available to them and to have people who believe in them, and she is especially motivated to increase access to mental health resources.
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