Abdulrahman Bindamnan grew up in Yemen. After graduating high school there as valedictorian of his country, he ventured to the U.S. for further education in 2016. He first earned a BA in psychology and religion from the University of Miami in 2020; then, two years later, he received an MSEd in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania, where his Master’s work was featured in Penn GSE News. In 2022 he began doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota. He is currently completing a dissertation that examines the effect of childhood trauma on adult learning, human development, and international development strategy.
Now fluent in English as well as Arabic, both in speaking and writing, he has published numerous articles in English in the professional and popular literature. In many of them he aspires to be a cultural conduit between Middle Eastern and Western culture and religion.
His publications have appeared in the International Journal of Educational Development, International Studies in Sociology of Education, Material Religion, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Star Tribune, The Minnesota Reformer, Acton Institute, Middle East Forum, American Institute for Yemeni Studies, and Heterodox Academy. And he is a contributing author at Psychology Today, where he has published over 50 articles.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Comparative and International Development Education
University of Minnesota (2022-Present)
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in International Educational Development
University of Pennsylvania (2020-2022)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology and Religion
University of Miami (2016-2020)
- “Zero generation” foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities
- International educational development
- Childhood trauma and adult learning
- Rhetoric and composition
- Islam and modernity
- Yemen
Academic Publications
Kelley, J., Watson, A. N., & Bindamnan, A. (2023, September 12). More than meets the eye: Community cultural wealth as a theory for mentoring international students. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2023, 83–92.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, June 15). Wild Experiment: Feeling Science and Secularism After Darwin. Material Religion.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, May 26). The Grant Writing Guide: A Road Map for Scholars. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Bindamnan, A. (2022, December 9). Learning, Marginalization, and Improving the Quality of Education in Low-income Countries. (D. A. Wagner, N. M. Castillo, & S. G. Lewis [Eds]). International Journal of Educational Development.]
Bindamnan, A. (2022, November 22). Schooling As Uncertainty: An Ethnographic Memoir in Comparative Education by Frances Vavrus. International Studies in Sociology of Education.
Professional Publications
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 26). What I learned when I met Houthi rebels in Yemen. MinnPost.
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 26). A primer on the Houthis attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Minnesota Reformer.
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 18). I knew Houthis in Yemen. Here's what Americans need to know... Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 8). In this new year, will Minnesota face up to its old problem? MinnPost.
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 6). A new strategy to combat Islamophobia. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, December 4). War is everywhere — just look around and you’ll see it. Minnesota Reformer.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, October 31). The long hard journey of Arabs in America. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, August 1). Laws aside, 'no' is still the right answer on drugs. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, July 4). As an international student, I've seen how race affects admissions. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, June 15). Freedom of Religion Is Inherently Good. Religion & Liberty Online, Acton Institute.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, June 14). Minnesota’s future: Does the cold weather make this state isolating? Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, April 21). Yemeni stampede a familiar tragedy in a chaotic land. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 28). Wokeness, Fear of Criticizing Islam Threaten Muslim Progress. Focus on Western Islamism.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 9) As a Muslim, I Defend Freedom of Religion and of Speech. So What Happened at Hamline University? Heterodox Academy.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 2). As a Muslim from Yemen, I am not offended by an instructor showing a piece of art. Minnesota Reformer.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 18). As a Muslim, I’m not offended by prophetic caricatures. MinnPost.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 10). I fled to U.S. for education, not indoctrination. Star Tribune.
Bindamnan, A. (2022, May 5). The Need to Secularize Islamic Education in Yemen. American Institute for Yemeni Studies.
Bindamnan, A. (2022, April 15). Some Students, Like Me, Come to the U.S. from War-Torn Areas. Few succeed. Philadelphia Inquirer.
Psychology Today Articles
Bindamnan, A. (2024, January 8). The Power of a Liberal Arts Education. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, November 21). Does an Ivy League Degree Really Help Secure a Job? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, November 14). On Finding the Right Time to Write. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, November 8). The Social, Cultural, and Legal Challenges of Dual Citizenship. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, September 13). Psychological Effects of 9/11 on Muslim Americans. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, June 29). Culture Should Unite Us, Not Divide Us. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, June 16). How Stereotype Threat Theory Helps Explain the Accomplishment Gap. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, April 9). Stories Captivate Our Attention and Imagination. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, April 6). Generosity to Foreigners: Leading By Example. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 27). How to Become More Confident, in Both Mindset and Behavior. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 20). Why Some People Sleep Better Than Others. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 19). If Speaking Is Silver, Then Silence Is Gold. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 16). Personal Problems Often Have Socially Structured Causes. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 14). Trying to Multitask Well? Just Focus on One Thing. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 6). The Philosophy of Showing Kindness to Strangers. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, March 3). 3 Tips to Improve Student Mental Health. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 28). To Be Happy, Make Others Happy. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 24). So, Who Are You? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 14). How Does Narcissism Influence Autocratic Leaders? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 13). 3 Strategies to Conquer Imposter Syndrome. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 10). The Mental Health Crisis in Colleges and Universities. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 8). Well-Being Is Inherently Holistic. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, February 1). 3 Eastern Strategies To Treat Depression. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A., Gopen, G. (2023, January 31). How Do Readers Read? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 28). How Does the Body Register War? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 26). 5 Ways to Create an Inclusive Classroom. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A., Bulgier, V. (2023, January 24). Social Causes of Loneliness. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 21). Challenges Zero-Gen Women Face: A Case Study. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 17). 3 Keys to Success in College. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A., Subih, M. (2023, January 12). From Yemen to Harvard: Why Not? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A., Wilfert, A. (2023, January 10). How Can Positive Psychology Help Minority Students? Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2023, January 9). 3 Things You Should Know About Muslim Mental Health. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (2022, December 24). The First-Generation vs the Zero Generation Experience. Psychology Today.
Bindamnan, A. (November 30, 2022). Who Are the “Zero-Generation Students”? Psychology Today.