Leadership
Dr. Rakhu joins her daughter and mother for their regular in-pool play and bonding sessions.
Dr. Ayanna Rakhu, PhD
Founder & CEO
I remember the joy I found in swimming as a young child. It was my first competitive sport and my first love. However, my story is a rarity in the African-American community. Sixty-four percent of African Americans do not know how to swim. This lack of swim in my community has resulted in devastatingly high drowning rates. I embarked on my PhD to explore in-depth the reasons why most Black families don’t swim and to develop an effective solution. In 2022, I completed my thesis and launched the SER Model to more effectively prepare the next generation of aquatic masters. This goal gave life to Sankofa Swim International. Now, working closely with our partners and volunteers, we dare to be a force of change in aquatics and in the lives of children and families everywhere.
To this mission, I bring over 20 years of experience in aquatics and a passion that started at the age of six when I first learned to swim. This passion fueled me as I swam competitively for five years and began my aquatic career as a lifeguard at age 16. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles, as an instructor, supervisor, and administrative roles in aquatic programs. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from McKendree University and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology from the University of Minnesota. I earned my Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity.
I am an avid swimmer, lifeguard, scuba diver, and USA Swimming coach, who remains committed to increasing swim skills in communities across the African diaspora. Most importantly, I am a mother and wife, passionate about nurturing the full potential of our human family.