Arif Bakar ’19 MAE has been named a 2025 Bush Fellow by the Bush Foundation. Selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, Bakar is one of 29 individuals eager to put his self-designed leadership plan into action through the time and resources being facilitated by the prestigious fellowship.
Originally from Ethiopia, Bakar moved to Minnesota in 2005 to begin a decade-long career in social work. He later became interested in education, seeing transferable skills in the field and earning a scholarship through Augsburg’s East African Students to Teachers (EAST) program—now Thrive—which made it possible to pursue a new career path with a Master of Arts in Education. Bakar gained classroom experience as a science teacher at Lincoln International High School in Minneapolis and later founded Bultum Academy in Columbia Heights, the first charter school in North America to teach Oromo as a world language.
Bakar said completing the extensive application and interview process for the Bush Fellowship was a deeply reflective experience, reminding him of how he has evolved and articulating his direction for the future.
“When you’re balancing school, work, and raising a family, you don’t always get the chance to stop and think about your own story,” said Bakar. “Going through the application made me reflect on where I came from, the people who influenced me, and the challenges that shaped my leadership journey. It was emotional at times—remembering my childhood, the struggles, and how far I’ve come. It reminded me that real leadership often comes from lived experience, resilience, and the inner drive to make a difference.”
After careful selection by the Bush Foundation, each fellow receives up to $150,000 to support their bold vision and their commitment to strengthening leadership skills. For Bakar, this means setting an example for his children and his community by pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership through St. Mary’s University. Bakar also plans to study global education models and teacher preparation methods in Japan, Finland, and Singapore.
“I want to throw myself into their culture and see it for myself from a quality standpoint. I want to experience as much as I can and bring that to my school and eventually pass on to other schools that want to replicate,” said Bakar.
Created by Archie and Edyth Bush in 1953, the Bush Foundation works to inspire and support creative problem solving—within and across sectors—to make the region better for everyone. The foundation works through open grantmaking programs to develop, test, and spread great ideas, equipping selected fellows throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share this geography.