Um'rani began her academic career as an instructor in the English Department at UIC and later began teaching in the Department of African-American Studies, where she continues to hold a teaching position. She specializes in the teaching of African-American literature, English Composition and research writing. Her teaching positions in various University departments led to her accepting increased administrative responsibilities. She has moved from assistant director to associate director to director of programs designed for underrepresented and underserved students. She holds two bachelor degrees, a masters degree and is a candidate for a doctoral degree. Her educational philosophy is that students who are often overlooked by the ivory towers of academe because of their ancestry and racial background are the ones who should be empowered educationally to excel in those institutions. She views her work as part of a divine mission designed to enrich the lives of not only the student participants and their families, but to provide the world in which we live with a constant flow of young intelligent, talented, articulate, capable, honest, sane, caring human beings, who are ready, willing and able to make this world a better place to live.