Meet Our Team

Ayub Elmi

Owner/CEO

Ayub is the founder of Beyond The Spectrum and a native of Minneapolis, MN. He received his B.A. in Social Sciences at Cleveland State University and M.A. in Social Sciences at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. While living in New York City Ayub worked for NGO'S funded by IGO's such as the United Nations which focused on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution. In 2020 Ayub left New York and moved to Minnesota to start working on his passion project. Two years later Ayub founded Beyond The Spectrum which was inspired by a family member who was diagnosed with Autism. Ayub witnessed how ABA positively impacted his family member life and wanted to be able to create a center that provided high quality therapy in his community which could offer the same impact for the youth.

Alexis Waldin

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

Alexis has worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities since 2004. She earned her Bachelor Degree at UW-Stout in Vocational Rehabilitation with a concentration in Special Education Counseling in 2012. She went on to pursue her Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from St. Cloud State University in 2013. In 2015, shortly after graduation, Alexis passed her board exam and is currently a practicing Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She supports Beyond the Spectrum as the Advanced Certification Holder/BCBA ensuring the quality of the programming and therapists are exceptional. She has worked with a wide variety of individuals ranging from 18 months to 21 years of age. She has expertise in communication development, behavior modification, life skill development, medical compliance, social skill development, staff training and management, and organizational practices.

Rukiya Hassan

Qualified Supervising Professional (QSP) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Rukiya Hassan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has been in practice and providing therapy services for children and adolescents in a school and clinical setting since 2012. She has experience working with diverse populations focusing on early intervention work with children and adolescents with various diagnoses including autism, depression, anxiety, emotional/behavioral dysregulation, adjustment, trauma, and various learning disabilities. Rukiya is an advocate for children and adolescents who are differently abled. The foundation for any success in therapy is strong positive relationships with our clients, she strives to create a space of safety and positive relationships for our clients to thrive. Rukiya received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration in 2007 and my Master's Degree in Social Work in 2011. In her spare time, she love to travel, spend time with family and read. 

Amal Abdinur

Level 1 Supervising Manager, Licensed professional clinical counseling (LPCC) 

Amal Abdinur, MA Amal received her MA in Counseling and Psychology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Amal is working towards her licensed professional clinical counseling (LPCC) licensure. Amal speaks Somali and English. She has experience working with children, adolescents and adults in areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, life transitions, and relational problems. Her treatment approach is strength based, focusing on the individual strengths that each person uniquely possesses. Amal utilizes CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, and trauma focused approaches. She is committed to empowering her clients with tools, skills, and knowledge they need to perform optimally in their daily life.