Westerville school board to appoint first Somali Muslim woman, filling vacant seat

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Westerville schools have filled a Board of Education vacancy left after a board member left midterm on Aug. 31 after 25 years of service.

The Westerville Board of Education announced Friday it will vote to approve Anisa Liban to fill the seat left by Nancy Nestor-Baker's resignation.

"Our school board members spend countless hours working to provide the best possible education for our students,” Liban said. “As a mother of a young child and leader in central Ohio's immigrant community, I look forward to supporting this work and addressing the needs of all students, especially our underserved and growing student population." 

Liban is the CEO of Somali Community Link, a Columbus nonprofit that supports immigrants and refugees. She is also a consultant at Immigro Consulting, serves on the Board of Directors for local nonprofit Our Helpers, and is a POWER commissioner for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs POWER Initiative.

Board President Kristy Meyer said the Board is excited to have Liban join, especially given her experience in policy and working with immigrant and refugee communities.

"She is also the first Somali Muslim (woman) to join the Westerville City Schools Board of Education," Meyer said. "Our district is rich with a large Somali population and her appointment ensures our Board better reflects our full community."

The district said the Board is anticipated to appoint and swear in Liban at the Sept. 23 Board meeting. Once appointed, she will fill out the rest of Nestor-Baker's term, which expires Dec. 31, 2025.