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Hatem Bazian
Hatem Bazian is a co-founder and Professor of Islamic Law and Theology at Zaytuna College, the 1st Accredited Muslim Liberal Arts College in the United States. In addition, Prof. Bazian is a lecturer in the Departments of Near Eastern and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Bazian between 2002-2007, also served as an adjunct professor of law at Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He teaches courses on Islamic Law and Society, Islam in America: Communities and Institutions, De-Constructing Islamophobia and Othering of Islam, Religious Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. In addition to Berkeley, Prof. Bazian served as a visiting Professor in Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California 2001-2007 and adviser to the Religion, Politics and Globalization Center at UC Berkeley. In Spring 2009, Prof. Bazian founded at Berkeley the Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project at the Center for Race and Gender, a research unit dedicated to the systematic study of Othering Islam and Muslims. Prof. Bazian in Spring 2012 launched the Islamophobia Studies Journal, which is published bi-annually through a collaborative effort between the Islamophobia Research and Documentation Project of the Center for Race and Gender at the University of California at Berkeley, the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative for the School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University; the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding at the University of South Australia, and Zaytuna College. In addition to academic work, Dr, Bazian is a weekly columnist for the Turkish Daily Sabah Newspaper and Turkey Agenda online magazine. Dr. Bazian is founder and national Chair of American Muslims for Palestine, board member of the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Muslim Legal Fund of America, President of Dollar for Deen Charity, and Chair of Northern California Islamic Council.
Main Al-Qudah
Dr Main is an experienced lecturer in Islamic Studies. In his teaching career, he has provided instruction and training to learners at schools as well as college level. He also served as an Imam of several Islamic centers throughout the United States and abroad. Additionally, he is a certified as a memorizer of the whole Qur’an with an Ijazah (License) to teach it to others. Currently the shaykh is an assistant professor of Islamic studies in the American Open University and an Imam of MAS Katy Center in Houston Texas. He was the acting academic dean and Assistant professor at Islamic American University and a research assistant at Al-Yarmook University.
Mohamed R. Beshir
Dr. Mohamed Rida Beshir is a Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. He holds a PhD in Telecommunications and a Master’s in Engineering from Carlton University as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications from Alexandria University. In addition, he has pursued independent studies in marriage and family studies as well as classical Islamic sciences in the areas of Qur'anic exegesis (tafseer), Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), and Human Development (tarbiyah) with varying scholars. He is the author of many popular books including, When Muslim Teens Rebel: Causes and Solutions and Family Leadership (Qawama): An Obligation to Fulfill, not an Excuse to Abuse. Dr. Beshir has also co-authored numerous internationally recognized books on marriage and parenting with his wife, Dr. Ekram Beshir including, Meeting the Challenge of Parenting in the West: An Islamic Perspective, Muslim Teens: Today’s Worry, Tomorrow’s Hope – a Practical Islamic Parenting Guide, Blissful Marriage, and, Parenting Skills based on Qur’an and Sunnah. His books have been translated into Arabic, French, German and Albanian. Dr. Beshir is an internationally renowned family life educator, presenting workshops on parenting, marriage, and human development (tarbiyah) throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Morocco, and Malaysia.
Dr. Beshir has served the Muslim community for more than 40 years. He has been active at both the local and national levels through Muslim Student’s Association (MSA), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), and Muslim Association of Canada (MAC). He is a Founding member of Human Concern International (HCI) and Family Dawn, and received The City of Ottawa Certificate of Appreciation for his volunteer work in the area of education. He is the father of four adult children and grandfather to many grandchildren.
Mohsin Ansari
Dr. Ansari has been with ICNA, serving in different capacities for the past three decades. He previously served as the Chairman of ICNA Relief and Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD).
He completed his pediatric residency at Metro health Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. He continued to broaden his training and experience at the same institution in the capacity of a Chief Resident. Dr. Ansari then did his pediatric specialization and fellowship in Neonatology (Newborn and Premature baby care) at Metro heath Medical Center. Dr. Ansari is currently licensed to practice medicine in several states. He is also an author of multiple research papers published both in national and international medical journals. He lives in Maryland with his wife and five sons.
Nadeem Siddiq
Nadeem Siddiqi, PhD currently serves The Family and Youth Institute as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Business Manager, and a Community Educator. He holds a PhD in Finance from York University and works in the area of Strategy and Analytics. In his professional career, Dr. Siddiqi has worked in Financial Services, with clients from across multiple industries as a Management Consultant, as well as taught BBA and MBA classes.
Dr. Siddiqi is a trained marriage educator and has been a youth mentor and trainer for the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS). He has been extensively involved in community organizing at both the local and national levels for over 25 years and served as the National Chairman of the Muslim American Society from 2012-2016.
Ismahan Abdullahi
Ismahan is a human rights advocate who is relentless in working for justice. Ismahan has a track record of building power alongside community, engaged in political, civil and human rights advocacy. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the Muslim American Society's Public Affairs and Civic Engagement( (MAS-PACE). Ismahan was the former Director of Campaign Strategies and Movement at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. She also serves as a Board Director at the San Diego County Water Authority, Somali Family Services and Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego. Ismahan has a passion for uplifting and creating space for youth to lead as grassroots leaders. She continues to be engaged in and recognized for her work on issues that address racial disparities, immigrant and refugee rights, equity and political inclusion for disenfranchised communities.
Kifah Mustapha
Sheikh Kifah Mustapha is the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park He is the appointed representative for the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Lebanon (Darul Fatwa) on behalf of the Lebanese Community in the USA
Sheikh Kifah Mustapha serves as the Chairman of the Illinois Council of Imams and Scholars and Chairman of the Quran Institute of Chicago MAS. He also served as a member on the Advisory Boards of The Mission and Spiritual Care for Advocate Health Group in Illinois, The Council for the Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation and The American Islamic College in Chicago.
He has received the CAIR-Chicago Mobilizer Award, the Arab American Business & Professional Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award and Lincoln Land Legends’ Scholars for Dollars Award. He is an experienced public speaker and an active participant in interfaith relations.
Sheikh Kifah Mustapha holds a bachelor’s in Sharia from American Islamic University in VA, USA, a diploma of Sharia (Master’s Program) from Beirut Islamic University (Azhar Beirut) in Beirut, Lebanon, and a diploma of Islamic Studies (Master’s Program) from Global Theological Foundation in IN, USA.
Fahad Khan
Dr. Fahad Khan is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences. He has also been a student of religious studies, beginning with his memorization of Qur'an at the age of 16. He currently serves as the Deputy Director at Khalil Center, the largest provider of Muslim mental health in North America providing psychological services while supervising clinical and research work. He also teaches undergraduate as well as graduate courses in various academic institutions. His research and writing interests include Muslim mental health and Islamic psychology. He is a fellow of the International Association of Islamic Psychology and serves as a reviewer and editor for various peer-reviewed journals in United States and Pakistan. He is actively involved in professional organizations and has served on many committees and divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA) as well as Illinois Psychological Association (IPA). For his work and dedication, the APA awarded him the 2021 Early Career Psychologist Champion and 2020 Early Career Achievement Awards.
Hadia Zarzour
Hadia Zarzour is a Licensed Therapist who came to the US in 2009 on a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her Masters in Community Counseling at Loyola University. Since then, she has been working with refugees, immigrants and the underserved from all parts of the globe. She is certified in Global Refugee Trauma from Harvard University. Hadia co-founded nonprofit organizations; Insan and Syrian Community Network, which support the Syrian refugees locally and internationally. In 2017, Hadia joined the trauma training team at the Center for Children Resilience of Lurie Children’s Hospital. In 2019, Hadia led the trauma team responding to the Christ Church Shooting in New Zealand and supporting survivors and their families. In addition to her non-profit work, Hadia established her private practice, Healing Zone, in 2020 where she works with adults, teenagers and families. Hadia received her Bachelor degree in Psychology and her Masters degree in Education from Damascus University, Syria; after which, she spent eight years teaching psychology at Arab International University in Damascus.
Hamed Ghazali
Dr. Hamed Ghazali, has extensive experience in the field of Tarbiyah and issues related to work in classroom management. He holds a PhD. from the department of Curriculum and Instruction, Kansas State University. Dr. Ghazali worked as a Principal and Superintendent of several Islamic Schools.