Kareem Nulan

Kareem Nulan
Kareem Nulan

Kareem is a native of Denver, Colorado and attended Howard University. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Hartford. Prior to joining the Suffield faculty as Associate Director of College Counseling in 2017, Kareem was a college counselor at Gulliver Prep and MacDuffie School. He also worked in admissions at Trinity College and as an underwriter at the Hartford Life Insurance Company. 

Kareem decided to pursue a career in education after volunteering for the YMCA Minority Achievers program. He has held various positions in public schools, social service agencies, and educational non-profits supporting students in underserved communities. Kareem lives on the Suffield campus with his wife, Leykia, and two sons, Khalil and Ajani. He coaches wrestling and tennis and is a dorm parent.

Where were you born? 
Denver, Colorado

What do you love about where you are from?
The big city that feels outdoorsy where people are generally friendly and Mexican food

What would you recommend if someone was traveling to where you are from for 24 hours? 
Red Rocks, The 16th Street Mall, LODO, and City Park

What would you tell them to do/where would you tell them to go?

  • Red Rocks: Natural beauty with fantastic architecture. A great place to watch the sunrise. 

  • City Park: Museum, zoo, and take an iconic picture of downtown with the mountains in the backdrop. 

  • Five Points: Learn about the Black influence on the city.

  • Cherry Creek: High-end shops and beautiful homes.

  • Santa Fe Drive and Art District: One can see the Mexican influence on the city.

  • Union Station: Historic site with lots of great food.

  • 16th Street Mall and LoDo: Downtown, you will find a little bit of everything along with great nightlife. 

  • Brown Palace: End the night at the city's historic hotel. 

What do you love about where you live now?
Suffield allows us to day trip as far south as Philadelphia or as far north as Portland, Maine.

What is your favorite thing about day-to-day life at Suffield Academy? 
Walking to work, the gym, the dining hall, and friends’ homes. 

What is the first thing you do every morning when you get to work? 
Take a deep breath

Who is your favorite artist? 
Nas, the music artist

Which of your roles at Suffield Academy do you relish the most? 
Dorm Parent: I hear the most exciting stories and learn all kinds of facts about the world.

What is something your Suffield Academy family might not know about you?
I am shy.

What is your favorite book? 
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by don Miguel Ruiz 

What is the one word that you live by? 
Gratitude

What is something you believe one can never over-invest in? 
Mental, physical, and spiritual health.

What is your favorite hobby? 
Fitness and exercise 

What advice would you give a new teacher at Suffield Academy?
Listen more. Talk less. Be patient.

What is the most important life lesson for someone to learn? 
"This too shall pass."

What is/are your prized possession(s)? 
Life

What is your favorite song of all time? 
Too many, but off the top of my head:

  • "Money Maker" by 2 Chainz (reminds me of life at an HBCU)

  • "Green Light" by John Legend feat. André 3000 is a happy dance song.

If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would you dine with? 
Malik el-Shabazz or Malcolm X. In his short time on earth, he lived three very different lives.

Who is your role model? Inspiration? 
Denzel Washington (actor/philanthropist) 

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? 
West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea, Liberia, etc.) to learn more about my ancestral background

What is your favorite food? 
Soul Food 

What has been the most interesting thing you have learned from a student? 
Dropshipping and online marketing.