Mikal currently serves: as the Planning Team Leader for the Islamic Leadership Training and Development Program; an Emeritus Resident Imam of Masjidullah, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA and; as a Chemistry and Physics Instructor at the New African Ummah Online School.During his tenure in Al-Islam, he has served in a variety of capacities including an Account Manager/Bookkeeper for a National Weekly Newspaper, a Math, Chemistry and Biology instructor at the University of Islam, the Director of Adult Education at Masjid Muhammad of Philadelphia, Cultural Development Chairman and Convener for the Family Nights of Music.At Masjidullah, he has served on various committees, and as an Arabic Instructor, Director of the Islamic Studies Institute, Masjid Administrator, Director of Masjidullah's Men's Association Training and Development Program, an Organizational Development Consultant, Recognition and Appreciation Benefits Banquet (RABB) Chairman, Executive Committee Chairman, Special Projects Chairman, Family Life Conference Chairman, Governmental Infrastructure Commission Chairman, an Islamic Studies Instructor at Masjidullah's Madressatul Islamiyyah, the Masjid Chief of Staff, as Assistant Resident Imam and as Resident Imam.He also served as an multi-faith participant of the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and currently serves as the Assistant Northeast Regional Convener of the Imams in the Association of Imam W.D. Mohammed and Chairman of its Subcommittee for the Islamic Leadership Training and Development Program.
Outside of his Masjid activities, Mikal had worked as an Environmental Engineer, the Regional TRI Coordinator, a Program Analyst, an On-Scene Coordinator and currently serves as the Chemical Accident Prevention Programs Team Leader for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region where he lead a team of professional engineers and scientists that are responsible for Chemical Safety Audits, Chemical Accident Investigations, and the Risk Management Programs at various types of private and public facilities where toxic and flammable chemicals are used in the States of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mikal currently serves as a Project Officer which involves daily management of multi-million dollar contracts for biological, nuclear, chemical and oil spill emergency and remedial responses.He has received a Gold Medal for Excellence in Government Service, seven Bronze Medals for Commendable Service, the highest award offered at the Regional level, and two Special Achievement Awards for Outstanding Performance from the EPA.
Prior to joining EPA, Mikal served as a Process Engineer and Operations Trainer with ARCO Petroleum Products Company where he provided regular unit surveillance, solved non-routine operating problems, conducted energy conservation and corrosion control projects, optimized process unit operations and provided supervision for special unit turnaround situations.He trained veteran and new employees on Refining Fundamentals, new operating and computer control equipment, edited, revised, developed, authored and coauthored various training and operating manuals. He also served as a trainer for the Refinery's Quality Improvement Program (QIP) where he trained foremen, supervisors and managers on QIP principles. Mikal was a steering committee member of ARCO's Civic Action Program where he served on the Political Action Subcommittee.
Mikal has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University where he has also done graduate course work in Polymer Chemistry, Engineering Geology, Hydrology, and Groundwater Hydrogeology.He is student of Imams, the late and great Warith Deen Mohammed (RAA), Muhammad Abdul Aleem, Amin Muhammad and Sheiks Luqman Ahmad and Yusuf Mullan, a graduate of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University’s Intensive Shariah Workshop from the Institute of Arabic and Islamic Sciences in America, a graduate of the U.S Army's Primary Leadership Development and Officer’s Basic Courses, and a graduate the U.S. EPA's Greater Leadership Opportunity and Executive Leadership Programs. He has served a both a non-commissioned and commissioned U.S. Army Reserve Officer and has received several Army Achievement and Commendation medals and a veteran of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom where he assisted the citizens of Iraq in restoring their water, sewer, chemical and refinery infrastructure systems while serving as a member of the U.S. Army’ Special Operations Force’s Civil Affairs Brigade.Mikal and his wife, Shirley Jones Shakur, currently reside in a suburb outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.