Lumumba Shakur, Lead Instructor

Lumumba Shakur works as the lead instructor for Tayba Foundation which includes directing course development, student outreach, mentoring, and responding to questions submitted by students. Converting to Islam in 1997 right before college, he studied classical Islam through notable online and distance learning organizations due to a lack of classically trained scholars in his region. 

He also worked extensively in residential treatment centers after college which gave him familiarity with a very similar population as Tayba's current student body.

In terms of his personal religious studies, Lumumba’s study of fiqh, usul, hadith, aqida, and logic online has been supplemented through personal readings, conversations with scholars, and weekend retreats. He also recently graduated from a 3-year Classical Arabic Program which also occurred through distance learning. 

Due to his personal path of acquiring knowledge, he is intimately aware of the challenges Tayba's students face in trying to learn through distance learning programs. Honored by the opportunity to help the character development of those who are often neglected by society, his primary role is to help refine the “nuts and bolts” of class offerings while assisting clients in their quest to master materials and successfully adapt what they have learned as part of their overall personal development and growth as returning citizens and future contributing members of the American Muslim community.