Ahkinyala Cobb-Abdullah, Ph.D. is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Union National Research Institute and as an Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Ecology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Cobb-Abdullah has studied the toxic effects of metals in animal systems and her current research interest focuses on atmospheric deposition of metal pollutants in urban garden soil and plant tissues.

Dr. Cobb-Abdullah is very passionate about helping students to prepare for STEM careers. She strives to increase diversity in STEM by facilitating a STEM career seminar series, assisting students with securing STEM internships, mentoring students through the graduate school application process and in general helping students to better prepare for their desired STEM career. Dr. Cobb-Abdullah is very committed to community outreach, striving to increase STEM exposure for students in under-served communities.  She conducts STEAM workshops, works with community organizations to host STEM fairs,   participates in community garden programming and works as  a STEM advisor and mentor.  

Dr. Cobb-Abdullah is the wife of Dr. Makola Abdullah and mother of two children, Mikaili and Sefiyetu.