Cawo Abdi

Cawo Abdi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). Her research focuses on educational disparities, refugee integration, and cultural norms within Somali communities, particularly addressing topics such as the achievement gap, opportunity gap, and female genital cutting (FGC) practices. She holds a 2012 Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellowship and leads collaborative projects funded by NIH, including a study on FGC consequences. Her work intersects public health, gender studies, and sociocultural dynamics.

Key research contributions include analyses of Somali refugee women’s narratives on sexual health, intergenerational cultural transmission, and familial influences on healthcare decisions. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals like Qualitative Health Research and Culture, Health and Sexuality, and contributed to edited volumes such as Arab Family Studies. Her recent NIH-funded project (2018–2024) explores healthcare interventions for FGC-related consequences.

Abdi’s media engagements include expert commentary on race, resistance, and the Black community’s responses to societal trauma, reflecting her commitment to bridging academic research and public discourse.