Kenzu Abdella

From Wikitia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Kenzu Abdella
Add a Photo
Born1964 (age 59–60)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
NationalityCanadian
CitizenshipCanada
Education
  • Masters degree in applied mathematics
  • Ph.D in applied mathematics
Alma mater
  • Trent University
  • University of Alberta
  • The University of Western Ontario
OccupationMathematics researcher

Kenzu Abdella is an Ethiopian born Canadian mathematics researcher. [1] Abdella is most notable for his role in creating the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association; an association for which he served as President during the arson attack on Masjid Al-Salaam mosque. [2]

Academic career

Abdella was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1964. In 1982, Abdella attended an International Baccalaureate World School called United World College in Italy. While attending, a classmate of his encouraged him to go to Canada. Abdella completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, a masters degree in applied mathematics at the University of Alberta, and a Ph.D in applied mathematics at The University of Western Ontario. [3]

After a 4 year stint with Environment Canada from , Abdella joined Trent University in 1997 as a research professor. Abdella left Trent University for 4 years to work at Qatar University, from 2008 to 2012, after which he returned to Trent.

Community and activism

Kawartha Muslim Religious Association

When Abdella returned to Peterborough and found that there was nowhere for muslims to pray. After years of using private homes and rental units, Abdella helped organize the purchase of an old church that could be used as a mosque. Abdella served on the board of directors as vice-president and President from 2003-2008 and 2012-2016. [3]

In 2015, the mosque was the victim of an arson attack that lead to $80,000 in damages. Abdella, being the president of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, was often the face of the Peterborough muslim community. [4] In 2017, Abdella was named the 13th most influential person in Peterborough.[5] In 2016, he was honoured by the Rotary Club of Peterborough for international service. [6]

Abdella's work with the KMRA has lead him to be involved with the growing Syrian immigrant population in Peterborough. In 2016, he joined a new family as a partner to help them open a restaurant in downtown Peterborough called OMG: Oasis Mediterranean Grill. [7]

International work

During the 4 years that Abdella worked at the Qatar University, he was researching ways to use climate models to help advise the Qatari agricultural industry how to more effectively manage crop production during droughts and erratic climate patterns spurred by climate change. He was hired as a part of a $1.03 million grant from the government of Qatar. [8]

In 2007, Abdella organized a textbook drive for students at Addis Ababa University. [9]

References

  1. "Dr. Kenzu Abdella". Trent Euclid. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. "PETERBOROUGH SHUL HELPS MOSQUE STRUCK BY ARSON". CJ News. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Peterbio". My Kawartha. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  4. "cbc news". CBC. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. "The 20 Most influential people in Peterborough". My Kawartha. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  6. "Rotary Club Winners". The Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  7. "Syrian refugee family opens new restaurant in downtown Peterborough". Kawartha Now. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  8. "Qatar turns to Trent University for math solutions to food insecurities". The Peterborough Examiner. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. "Faculty Textbook Donations to Impact Students Across Ethiopia". TrentU. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

External links

This article "Kenzu Abdella" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.