Asma Abdi (she/her)

Born and raised in San Diego, Asma Abdi is a proud first-generation Somali-American and a child of Somali immigrants who resettled as refugees in San Diego. Asma brings a strong background in philanthropy, policy advocacy, and community engagement to her work. She

currently serves as the Philanthropy Coordinator at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), managing donor relations, coordinating grant requirements, and driving impactful fundraising initiatives.

Previously, as a Policy Associate at PANA, she led local policy initiatives on housing and immigrant rights, including her instrumental role in passing San Diego’s landmark Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance. Asma also worked as a Human Rights Organizer at Alliance San Diego, where she provided direct legal services to immigrant communities.

Asma holds a B.A. in Literature from the University of California, San Diego, with a minor in Ethnic Studies. During her time at UCSD, she was a Chancellor’s Associates Scholar and interned at the Center on Global Justice. Before transferring to UCSD, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from San Diego City College, where she coordinated the Social Justice and Education Conference, organized student demonstrations, and participated

in the Umoja program.

A two-time published author, Asma is passionate about storytelling as a tool for empowerment. Beyond her professional work, she has volunteered with organizations such as San Diego Refugee Tutoring, Pillars of the Community, and interned for the Center on Policy Initiatives’ in their Students for Economic Justice program.

In her free time, Asma enjoys strength training, exploring new places, and spending time with loved ones. Her lifelong commitment to social justice, rooted in her identity and experiences, drives her dedication to creating a more equitable, inclusive, and progressive San Diego.