BOARD

SALMA ELKADI ABUGIDEIRI, LPC MEMBER & CO-DIRECTOR
Training & Resource Development

Salma Elkadi Abugideiri is Co-Director of the Peaceful Families Project, an organization dedicated to educating Muslim community leaders and members about domestic violence. Salma provides educational workshops and develops resources related to domestic violence among Muslims. She is a contributing author to several books including Walking Together: Working with Women from Diverse Religious Traditions, and Change from Within: Diverse Perspectives on Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities. She has also co-authored a brief guide for helping professionals entitled What Islam Says About Domestic Violence. In addition, she is associate producer of the video Garments for One Another: Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families.

She is also a member of the Interfaith Coalition against Domestic Violence, a national effort with a focus on guiding policy and legislation that supports domestic violence survivors. For several years, she served on Faith Trust Institute’s Leadership team, providing training to clergy and faith communities on issues related to domestic violence.

Salma is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in Reston, VA. She provides individual and family therapy for a wide range of problems, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, abuse, and cultural adjustment issues. She has worked extensively with Middle Eastern and Muslim families.

MAHA B. ALKHATEEB, MEMBER & CO-DIRECTOR
Public Relations & Research

Ms. Alkhateeb is an activist, writer, and photographer dedicated to human rights advocacy through community building and artistic expression. As co-director of PFP, she engages Muslim leaders, Muslim communities, and mainstream providers to raise awareness and develop preventive and intervention services. Ms. Alkhateeb co-edited Change from Within: Diverse Perspectives on Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities, and conducts research on domestic violence among Muslims by exploring the experiences of families and communities. Recent projects she has spearheaded include launching the first grassroots video campaign against domestic violence, and a national study of the role of religion among Muslim women survivors. Prior to her work with PFP, Ms. Alkhateeb conducted research at Catholic University as the Muslim researcher for a multi-faith Pew Charitable Trusts study focusing upon the interconnection of religious institutions and civic incorporation among new immigrants. Ms. Alkhateeb holds an M.A. in Sociology from George Washington University.

SAMAR KAUKAB
Community Development

Samar Kaukab Ahmad is the executive director of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV). She received her J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and her B.A. in political science and economics from Ohio State University. Ahmad also attended Oxford University as a participant in an intensive law study program.Prior to serving at OAESV, she was the executive director at SalamCorps, a Central Ohio based community service organization promoting civic engagement within the American Muslim community. Ahmad also served as the development associate at Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, Illinois, and as the founder and executive director of Cincinnatians Developing Global Communities. Ahmad currently lives in Powell, Ohio with her husband, Amer Ahmad, and two daughters.

AMAL KILLAWI, MEMBER
Research & Youth

A Detroit native, Amal Killawi is a social worker with a specialization in mental health and marriage education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in social work from the University of Michigan. Killawi worked as a counselor at the University of Michigan’s Counseling and Psychological Services and at ACCESS, the largest Arab American social service agency. Her past experiences also include serving as the editorial assistant for the Journal of Muslim Mental Health, working as a case manager and community educator for Muslim Family Services, and coordinating research on domestic violence in the Arab American community. Killawi has also been active with the Muslim Students’ Association for over seven years, serving at the local, regional, and national levels.

Currently, Ms. Killawi coordinates a research project through the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation focused on addressing health disparities among American Muslims. She continues to be involved in the community in various capacities: serving as the Trainers Coordinator for the MSA National COMPASS program, and as a contributing writer for Suhaibwebb.com, and board member of Muslim Family Services, the Family Youth Institute, and Muslim Mental Health Inc.

MONA MALIK, PRESIDENT
Fundraising & Education

Ms. Malik is a social worker with over 10 years of experience. She has worked with abused children, recent immigrants and victims of domestic violence. She is currently the Director and Founding Member of Muslim Mothers Against Violence (MMAV)- Washington DC Chapter. MMAV teaches nonviolent conflict resolution skills to Muslim teenagers. Mona is also active in many local non-profits and has led many fundraising events and activities for Unity Production Films (UPF) and Muslim Advocates. She was also the social worker for the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, VA. She worked under a FEMA grant conducting crisis counseling at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS). Ms. Malik has received Masters and Bachelors degrees in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati.

SHARON O'BRIEN, Ph.D., SEC. & TREASURER
Research & Education

Dr. O'Brien is a Family Violence Research Consultant who has worked on several domestic abuse research projects including the national femicide study led by Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell. Her dissertation work was recognized at the 2003 International Family Violence Research Conference. She has presented papers and moderated panels at local, national and nternational conferences and has led workshops, seminars, and trainings on domestic violence and faith. Dr. O'Brien has authored an article and book chapter and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatement, and Trauma. Since 2004, she has used her leadership and grant writing skills in service to the Interfaith Community Against Domestic Violence, Montgomery County, MD (IFCADV).

In addition, Dr. O'Brien has served on the Domestic Violence Coalition of Maryland and serves on the Board of the Peaceful Families Project and the Advisory Group of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse of the Greater Washington Area. For ten years, she has served as Senior Management Trainer and Internal Quality Improvement Consultant at The George Washington University. Dr. O'Brien earned a Masters in Adult Education at The George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Human Development at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. O'Brien trained with Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, Founder and Senior Analyst of The FaithTrust Institute.

T. MICHAEL RAUCH II, VICE-PRESIDENT
International Business Development & Technology

For over 16 years Mr. Terry Michael Rauch II has led the business community in meshing the worlds of advanced technologies with both public and private corporate structures. His business strategies focus on efficient, effective solutions that are both socially and ecologically sensitive. He continues his mission today as the CEO of World Investment & Trade, LLC (WITCO) a leading consulting and contracting firm based out of Washington, D.C. which specializes in business development for international companies and small businesses, and market research and competitive analysis.

Mr. Rauch has been a pioneer in "technology integration" as a means of collaboration and partnership for large international development projects. He recently led several investment teams in Turkey, the Caribbean, Canada, and Pakistan to help open the markets to private sector investments and public-private partnerships and sits on several workking groups on international health promotion and diplomacy. He has written several articles, reports, and white papers on International business, Global Trade, Health Promotion, and Technology that have appeared in numerous publications. He is an active participant in regional planning and development meetings for the Caribbean and Central America and provides insights on future trends and prospects in health development and international trade.

ADVISORY BOARD

MUNA ABUSULAYMAN
Women's Empowerment & Philanthropy

Ms. Muna AbuSulayman is founding Secretary General of the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation (AF) and a leading media personality in the Middle East. AF is a one of the largest philanthropic foundations that focuses on Female Empowerment, Natural Disaster Relief, Islam/West Dialogue, and Poverty Alleviation around the world. Ms. AbuSulayman manages the foundation’s 100 million dollars annual grants. The foundation is renowned for its work on the Islam /West issue and has created a series of centers and programs in the most prestigious universities around the world in an effort to enhance understanding of the other. The foundation also continues to partner with international organizations to deliver the aid needed for a dignified life for everyone with an emphasis on providing higher education opportunities for youth.

In 2007 she was chosen as both the first female UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in KSA, and as a Young Global Leader for the World Economic Forum. She is also A Yale Global Studies Fellow and an Aspen Institute Middle Eastern Fellow. She has also been chosen as one of the Most Powerful and Influential Muslims, Arab Women, and Arab in many lists. AbuSulayman attended King Abdul Aziz University, the International Islamic University of Malaysia, and George Mason University where she earned her English Literature BA and MA. She is also a PhD candidate in English Literature at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia. Prior to her work with the Alwaleed Foundation, she worked as head of the Strategic Studies Department at Kingdom Holding, where she institutionalized the CSR of the company.

SHAHARA AHMAD-LLEWELLYN
Business Development & Strategic Planning

Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn is a former owner and Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc., a privately held corporation and the fourth largest Coke bottler in the United States. Prior to the bottling business, she had a long, groundbreaking and successful career in the home health-care field. She received Presidential appointments from both President Carter and President Clinton. When General Colin Powell started America’s Promise, he appointed her his first Vice Chairman.

Ms. Ahmad-Llewellyn is a founding member of several organizations and just recently stepped down as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The National Constitution Center. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is Co-Vice Chairman of The New 42nd Street, and is on the board of Peace First. Mayor Michael Bloomberg appointed her a Commissioner to the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues, where she is serving her second term.

ALTAF HUSAIN, Ph.D.
Community Development & Education

Dr. Husain received his doctoral degree in Social Work from Howard University in Washington D.C. His area of specialization is the adjustment of refugee and immigrant families and children to the United States. His dissertation explored the predictors of self-esteem and academic achievement among Somali youth living in the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area, between the ages of 13-18. Dr. Husain has co-authored two chapters on culturally competent social work practice with children of South Asian Muslim descent and has lectured in North America and Europe on the integration of Muslims in the United States.

Dr. Husain achieved national and international prominence through his leadership as Vice President for one-term and then two terms as President of the Muslim Students Association National (MSA National). During his tenure, MSA National's reputation was restored as a premier organization dedicated to the development and provision of innovative, relevant and responsive programs and services to Muslim students throughout North America. He continues to serve the Muslim community through his membership on the Executive Committee of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), the Board of Trustees of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), chairperson of the ISNA Leadership Development Center (ILDC), and a faculty member for COMPASS - the state of the art management training program of the Muslim Students Association, National.

IMAM MOHAMED MAGID
Theology

Imam Magid currently serves as the President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a member of the National Interfaith Planning Committee for Domestic Violence, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Muslim, Sikh and Arab Advisory Board. Very active in both the interfaith and Islamic community, Imam Magid is the Imam and Executive Director of All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center in Sterling, Virginia. Under his direction, the Center has grown to be one of the largest Muslim community organizations in the Washington Metropolitan Area. He also occupies the Chairmanship of the Fairfax County Faith Communities in Action, is a Board member of the Fairfax County Partnership for Youth, and a member of the George Mason University Campus Ministry. He is also the Vice Chairman of Muflehun, a think-and-do tank, which is focused on confronting violent extremist thought through research-driven preventative programs within a religious paradigm.

Imam Magid has a long history of commitment to public service through organizations, such as The Peaceful Families Project, Annual Twinning of Mosques and Synagogues, Fairfax Faith Communities in Action, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Assembly, and the Buxton Interfaith Initiative. Imam Magid has co-authored book Reflections on the Qur’an and has authored a chapter in Change from Within: Diverse Perspectives on Domestic Violence in Muslim Communities. He has written for the Washington Post, and been profiled in Time Magazine. He has received numerous award for his contributions.

MANAL OMAR
Conflict Analysis & Prevention
Manal Omar joined USIP as a program officer for the grant program in August 2008. Currently, she serves as Director of Iraq, Iran, and North Africa Programs under the Center for Post-conflict Peace and Stability Operations. Previously, she was regional program manager for the Middle East for Oxfam - Great Britain, where she responded to humanitarian crises in Palestine and Lebanon. Omar has extensive experience in the Middle East. She worked with Women for Women International as regional coordinator for Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan. Omar lived in Baghdad from 2003 to 2005 and set up operations in Iraq. She launched her career as a journalist in the Middle East in 1996. UNESCO recruited her to work on one of her first lead assignments in Iraq in 1997-1998. Omar worked more than three years with the World Bank’s development economics group. She has carried out training programs in Yemen, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Sudan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Kenya and many other countries.

Omar is on the board of directors of Women Without Borders, an international NGO based in Austria and an active member of the American Muslim community. In 2007, Islamic Magazine named her one of the ten young visionaries shaping Islam in America. She holds an M.A. in Arab studies from Georgetown University and a B.A. in international relations from George Mason University.

AFEEFA SYEED
International Development & Education
Afeefa Syeed is Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development Middle East and Asia Bureaus, where she designs and implements initiatives and training on emerging programs, including engaging traditional and religious leaders and institutions, radicalization, and madrassah enhancement. She works with Washington based and mission staff to define best practices, highlight success stories, develop tools, and frame country strategies to bring expertise in engaging with the cultural contexts. Afeefa is a cultural anthropologist with a focus on grassroots development, with special interest in youth and women. She has worked for over 15 years with various international and grassroots NGOs and US and international development agencies, public and private. She designed and managed a model school whose core curriculum is peace education and civic engagement. She is a member of various interfaith, social service and political action organizations in the US.