Board & Leadership
Muslim Americans in Public Service is managed by a Board of Directors, supported by Deputy Directors, organizational specialists, and Chairs overseeing dedicated Board Committees.
To facilitate its mission effectively, MAPS also organizes State Committees for sub-national member and policy coordination and several professional Communities of Practice (COPs) to support members currently serving, or looking to serve, within specific career tracks across all levels and branches of government.
Meet our leaders, read more about their distinguished public service careers, reach out directly or follow them on social media below.
Board of Directors
MAPS objectives and activities are developed and executed by an experienced Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of a dedicated Executive Committee that serves alongside senior public servants and community organizers that help guide decisions as At-Large Members.
Ahmad Maaty currently serves as a Senior Economist with the U.S. Department of Justice, developing Federal regulations for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He worked in a similar regulatory capacity at the U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including as Acting Chief Economist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He also deployed as an Inter-Governmental Affairs Specialist during FEMA emergency responses to disaster declarations in Texas and Puerto Rico.
Previously, Ahmad served as a Franklin Fellow with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources, helping craft State and USAID’s economic growth budget and strategy. He also helped introduce data tools to guide assistance as a founding member of the Country Data Analytics team, liaising with the White House National Security Council on bi-lateral investment opportunities. Ahmad first joined State ten years earlier, helping cover the Middle East portfolio before the United Nations Security Council for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
During the eight year interval in Federal service, Ahmad held roles with the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Islamic Development Bank, developing economic growth, poverty reduction, and evaluation programs with fieldwork in over a dozen countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
A New York City native, he served as President of the Arab Students Association at Pace University in downtown Manhattan during the events of September 11th, 2001, and on the Board of the Muslim Students Association at the George Washington University in Washington DC. Ahmad earned his Masters in Public Administration from Cornell University, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell policy journal.
Ameer Abdulrahman is a Policy Analyst and Federal Customer Experience Lead in the Executive Office of the President, where he works to transform how the federal government serves the public and ensures it better meets the needs of the American people.
The son of immigrants and refugees, Ameer is deeply committed to recognizing the full humanity of every individual and advocating for systems that provide equitable opportunities for all. His dedication to public service is rooted in his family's story of resilience and service. His parents were raised in a war-torn refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, where they lived in modest stone homes with tin roofs and often struggled to find enough food each night. His grandfather, a refugee himself, served as the superintendent of the camp's school system and dedicated 25 years to education through the United Nations. He instilled in Ameer the belief that public service holds the power to create opportunities for future generations and strengthen communities.
Inspired by public servants who work tirelessly to improve the lives of others, both locally and globally, Ameer considers it a profound privilege to serve diverse communities through his career. His experiences have been shaped by relentless hope, unwavering support, and a commitment to honoring the sacrifices of previous generations. He believes true service goes beyond volunteerism, requiring a steadfast dedication to creating lasting change that can offer future generations the peace and happiness their ancestors only dreamed of.
Ameer's work in public service is driven by the values of communal responsibility and justice, principles that have guided his life and career. His belief in the transformative power of government service is both personal and professional, rooted in the systems and public servants who helped his family seek refuge in the United States 40 years ago.
Katie Qutub was with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for fifteen years, most recently as the Deputy Director of the Program Office in the Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation. From 2021-2025, she served as the President of USAID’s Muslim Employee Resource Group (ERG) – the first Muslim ERG in the federal government. In her time with USAID, Katie also served as an Economics Program Officer, a Regional Health Officer for both Southeast Asia and the Western Hemisphere, and as an Organizational Development and Workforce Planning Expert for the creation of two different Bureaus.
She brings strong skills in project management, financial management, risk management, human resources, talent development, change management, workforce planning, organizational development, organizational effectiveness, policy and strategy development, and performance reporting.
Katie has a BS in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Arizona, where she also served as the Muslim Student Association community outreach chair.
Aamer Uddin is a former International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he advanced trade and industrial policy to strengthen U.S. economic security through supply chain resilience.
A proud alumnus of the Future Leaders in Public Service Fellowship, he previously served in the Office of the Secretary at Commerce. Before joining the Department, Aamer built a diverse background in public policy and electoral politics, including work on the House Small Business Committee and campaign leadership across the Midwest, South, and New England. In Congress, he supported hearings aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of small businesses and shaping COVID-19 relief policy.
Aamer served as President of MAPS at the the US Department of Commerce, and Deputy Outreach Director for MAPS National. He is originally from Detroit, Michigan.
Assma Daifallah is a highly accomplished education consultant and strategic leader with over a decade of experience in the field. Assma collaborates with states, schools, institutions, and educators to create innovative strategies and solutions. Her expertise lies in curriculum development, teacher training, and advanced educational technology to enhance educational outcomes. Assma consistently fosters positive learning environments, promotes inclusivity, and empowers educators and students throughout her various roles.
Currently, at the Illinois State Board of Education, Assma works as a consultant and leads a monitoring team to ensure that programs adhere to both state and federal regulations. Assma also leads presentations to districts on the support and compliance monitoring protocols tailored to dually identified students, particularly English learners, and immigrant students. This initiative reflects her commitment to closely aligning educational practices with the stringent mandates set by state and federal laws.
With academic credentials that underscore her expertise, Assma holds a B.A. from Saint Xavier University in secondary education and social science with a minor in international studies. She also earned an M.A. in Higher Administration from Tiffin University. Currently, she is a doctoral student at Kent State University, further solidifying her commitment to ongoing learning and research in the field of education.
Idil Ahmed is an Education and Workforce Development Professional with extensive experience in federal service, higher education, and program management. At the U.S. Department of State, she managed professional development initiatives for emerging Foreign Service Specialists, overseeing clearances, orientations, and international practicums that prepared participants for careers in global service. As a certified Grants Officer Representative (GOR), she provided oversight and budgetary guidance to implementing partners, ensuring accountability and compliance in program operations. She also collaborated with partners to expand training and mentorship opportunities for fellows.
Previously, at the U.S. Department of Education, Idil helped manage $76.2 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) resources established under the CARES Act, CRRSAA, and the American Rescue Plan. In this role, she guided institutions through compliance requirements, provided technical assistance nationwide, and advised senior leadership on strategies that expanded equitable access to federal relief programs.
Her career also includes six years overseas, where she taught English in Indonesia and Sudan and worked with several NGOs. These experiences deepened her commitment to education, mentorship, and cross-cultural exchange, while strengthening her ability to build programs and partnerships across diverse contexts. She brings strong skills in program oversight, workforce development, training design, and leadership development, with a consistent focus on expanding access, strengthening talent pipelines, and advancing public service.
Idil holds a B.S. in Psychology from Kennesaw State University and an M.A. in International Education from New York University.
Farrah Pappa is a career Program Examiner currently working in the Education Branch within the Education, Income Maintenance, and Labor Division at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She currently oversees 20+ K-12 federal programs that help socioeconomically disadvantaged youth, youth experiencing homelessness, English learners, and other vulnerable sub-groups to reach their academic potential and succeed. She also oversees post disaster recovery for schools. She is a staunch advocate that American children deserve at chance to thrive regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Prior to joining OMB, Farrah worked at a think-tank as an Education Policy Analyst, and then at a non-profit doing social policy research.
Farrah has a Master’s in Public Policy from American University, Certificate in Management and Analytics, PMP certification, and a Bachelor’s in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Hamza Rahman is a former Biden-Harris political appointee, who served as the Advisor for External Affairs at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, Hamza engaged with NGOs, state and local government and members of Congress to further the priorities laid down by ICE leadership, DHS leadership and the President.
Prior to joining DHS, Hamza was a Summer Associate at a law firm and worked for the Democratic Party of Georgia as a Field Organizer.
Hamza holds a B.A. in Political Science from the Georgia State University, where he served as Student Body Executive Vice President and member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Infither Chowdhury is a public finance professional with expertise in funding strategy and grants management, serving public agencies in major cities. He began his career at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, where he led financial analysis and funding strategy for climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster recovery programs. His work supported more than $1 billion in federal Hurricane Sandy funding.
He later joined NYC Health + Hospitals, where he oversaw major components of the financial and operational response to COVID-19. His responsibilities included directing emergency procurement finance, overseeing cost-tracking for large-scale response operations, and driving federal reimbursement efforts across the largest public health system in the country. In addition, he led disaster-recovery efforts for Hurricane Ida and Sandy, managing a combined federal funding portfolio exceeding $2 billion.
As a public-sector consultant at Arcadis, he leads major funding initiatives and citywide financial strategy for the NYC Mayor’s Office, with a focus on infrastructure and climate-risk resilience. He also advises the cities of Chicago and Atlanta, guiding federal funding strategy, financial planning, and infrastructure investment decisions. Across roles, he has built a track record of strengthening financial governance and stewarding public dollars responsibly.
Born and raised in Brooklyn to working-class Bangladeshi immigrant parents, Infither brings a lived understanding of the communities public service is meant to support. He studied at George Washington University in DC, where exposure to Muslim leaders in government and politics further deepened his commitment to representation and civic engagement.
Tamim is a born-and-raised Chicagoan and a career public service professional with 19+ years of Federal experience. He has served in roles and specializations ranging from project management, contracting, real estate development, land use, environmental remediation, economic development and National program administration across stints with the General Services Administration (GSA), the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and currently with the Department of Homeland Security.
His love for community expresses itself through non-profit organizations, where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Muslim Caucus Education Collective, Green Muslims and MAPS as an at-large Board member. His diverse educational background, B.A. in Philosophy, B.S. in Finance, M.A. in Education with a focus on transformational leadership, emotional and social intelligence keep him seeking new opportunities to learn and engage.
Hassan Sheikh is an Analyst in Public Health Emergency Management in the Congressional Research Service for the Library of Congress, where he serves as an authoritative, non-partisan expert for Members of Congress on issues related to public health crises and the FDA regulation of drugs.
Before entering public service at CRS, Hassan served at the local jurisdictional level with the City of Baltimore, where he served as a Medical Countermeasure Coordinator for Baltimore’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. In that position, he was responsible for coordinating Baltimore’s response to major health crises. Most notably, Hassan served as a key architect in Baltimore’s COVID-19 response where he oversaw a number of response operations such as ensuring that healthcare systems had the equipment they needed to keep their facilities operational during the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 and the mass vaccination of tens of thousands of Baltimore City residents against COVID-19.
Prior to his time in Baltimore City, Hassan had served as a community pharmacist in the Northeastern United States area. His prior experiential experiences had afforded him the opportunity to practice pharmacy in a myriad of settings including the Indian Health Service, United States Air Force, and a Caribbean Rural Healthcare Clinic. These experiences led Hassan to the development of coordinated health care strategies to better serve his community. While working as a community pharmacist, Hassan would serve as a mentor for pharmacy student interns and would travel to the Caribbean to serve as preceptor for student pharmacists.
Hassan’s career has spanned the cross section of health and law, and at every juncture, he has chosen to apply his experiences in the way that best has taken any opportunity that best allows him to serve his community.
Hassan graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy in 2012 from the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. After three years as a practicing pharmacist for medically underserved populations in Vermont and New Hampshire, he decided to pursue a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, from which he graduated in 2018 with a specialization in health law and policy.
Sara Rawshanara is currently one of several Chiefs of Staff within the New York City Mayor’s Office. Sara got her start in public service about seven years ago by overseeing the City’s social services budget, operations, and contracts at NYC OMB, which comprised 10% of the City’s overall budget. She then monitored the budget of the City’s contracts for several years until her current role overseeing policies that impact vulnerable populations, especially people with disabilities and the elderly. Being a Chief of Staff has also pulled Sara into a range of special projects beyond her current social services portfolio.
Sara also served in the Rohingya refugee camps in 2018 and then built an international coalition on disability and older adults advocacy in 2019 and onward. To build on this work, Sara has gone on to study foreign policy and international relations at Harvard earlier this year.
Board Specialists, Committee Chairs & Deputy Directors
MAPS Specialists advise and execute on key organizational functions while Committee Chairs lead additional Board Committees that tackle novel and experimental functions in service of our membership and broader community. Board Deputy Directors support their specialized portfolios, manage their respective committees, and execute their Director's duties in their absence.
Waqar is a seasoned digital product management and IT leader with experiences spanning across federal, state and local governments. Recently he served as the senior product manager at GSA, where he launched MadeinAmerica.gov and digital implementation of EPA Clean School Bus program. Next, he lead the Digital Services team at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as the Deputy Director. Currently he serves as the Director of Platforms / Product Management at the State of Maryland's Department of Information Technology (DoIT).
His previous prior experiences include The Onion, Capital One, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) the City of New York (NYC).
Waqar holds multiple graduate degrees in Engineering Management, as well as Cybersecurity from the George Washington University. He holds the honor of being a Bill & Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar.
Ejaz Baluch is currently on detail as an Advisor with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. As an Advisor, he works with federal government agencies to address incidents of Anti-Asian hate and promote greater data disaggregation for AA and NHPI subgroups.
Ejaz is on detail from the Department of Justice, where he has been a Trial Attorney in the Employment Litigation Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division since October 2019. He primarily represents the United States in federal district court in cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. His cases typically include allegations of employment discrimination based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity by state and local government employers, including police departments, fire departments, and school districts. Ejaz also regularly facilitates Department of Justice trainings, including serving as a National Advocacy Center faculty member. He joined the Department through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.
Prior to joining the Department, Ejaz was the 2018–2019 Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Appellate Advocacy Fellow at the Public Justice Center, where he appeared as lead counsel before state and federal appellate courts litigating cases that impact the development of civil rights and poverty law. Ejaz has also clerked for the Honorable George L. Russell, III of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Before becoming an attorney, he taught middle school social studies in Baltimore, Maryland.
Fatima Abdelsalam brings a deep commitment to public service and advancing equity through the law. She currently works at the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, where she supports the Employment Counseling and Labor Section in handling legal issues concerning labor relations and workplace practices across state agencies.
Previously, she worked as a judicial law clerk in the Criminal Division of the Bergen County Superior Court. Her professional experience spans more than a decade in both the non-profit and government sectors, with a focus on immigration advocacy, legal empowerment, and social justice. She has served with organizations such as Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, Catholic Migration Services, AmeriCorps, and the International Rescue Committee. During law school at Rutgers University, Fatima held a number of leadership roles, including Director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, Senior IT Editor of the Rutgers Law Record, Co-Chair of the Rutgers National Arab American Bar Association, and various positions with the Muslim Law Students Association.
Beyond her professional work, Fatima is passionate about increasing representation and opportunities for Muslim Americans in civic and government spaces. She is an active member of the Attorney General’s Employee Resource Group for Muslim employees and the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association.
Fatima earned both her B.A. in Political Science and her J.D. from Rutgers University.
Maisa Munawara is currently a Program Associate supporting participatory democracy programs at NDI. She graduated with her M.A. in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queen’s University Belfast and is a proud Elliott Alumna with a B.A. in International Affairs from GWU.
Her passion for peacebuilding and development is rooted in her parents’ experiences as first-generation Bengali and Muslim American immigrants (where the only radio stations allowed on morning rides to school were NPR and BBC World). She is passionate about localized peacebuilding, increasing access to culturally-grounded mental health and psychosocial care, and supporting transformative justice initiatives.
Maisa’s previous professional experience includes interning for Search for Common Ground and Mercy Corps Global alongside being the accidental “MAPS web wizard”.
Madiha M. Zuberi is senior counsel in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Crypto Asset and Cybersecurity Unit in the Los Angeles Regional Office. As an Enforcement attorney, Madiha conducts investigations for possible violations of federal securities laws related to crypto markets and disclosures and controls issues with respect to cybersecurity.
Prior to joining the SEC, Madiha was an attorney at BakerHostetler in the New York and Los Angeles offices where she served as counsel to the Trustee liquidating the Bernie Madoff estate. As counsel, she investigated the $65 billion Ponzi to help garner funds for the Madoff victims.
Alongside her legal career, Madiha has devoted much of her time to increasing diversity within the legal community. She is a co-founder of the Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY) and the Muslim Bar Association of Southern California (MBASC), for both of which she served in leadership for many years. Madiha received her J.D. from New York Law School in 2009.
Zaineb Sharif is a Journalist with the BBC and Deputy News Editor at Al Jazeera English. She currently serves at the D.C bureau overlooking reporting and correspondence on global and domestic issues between DC and Doha. With a background in journalism and politics, she also previously worked at C-SPAN focusing on coverage of the 2024 presidential and congressional cycle.
As an alum of Emerson College she earned her degree in Political Science and Journalism. During her time there she was heavily involved in leadership and advocacy on campus, serving in the Student Government Association and Vice President of the Muslim Student Association.
Shahid Khan is currently a civil servant with the US Department of Commerce. In 2016 he left his native Texas, where he supported the local racoon population that was eating garbage, to move to Washington DC and work for the federal government, where he now assists the hungry yet invasive squirrel population that primarily also eats garbage.
He’s worked as an economist and now has shifted to working as a trade and data analyst focusing on the Eastern Mediterranean region of the world. He holds a masters in Applied Economics and a bachelors in Economics from the University of Houston Main Campus where he also completed the South Asian American trial by fire for love of one’s parents by studying pre-medicine. He’s currently mid-way through his 2nd master’s degree in International Economic Policy concentrating on Economic Development in the Middle East at the George Washington University.
Shahid takes pride in being able to understand Sindhi as well as being able to read Urdu and speak Hindi-Urdu, albeit with a telltale American accent. He does regret losing the fluency he once held in Japanese but is using the same techniques to study Modern Standard Arabic. Shahid is also a 1st dan in taekwondo which he trained for 10 years in addition to limited training in boxing and jiujutsu. His other volunteer efforts are primarily focused on suicide prevention with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and assisting at-risk homeless people obtain employment with The Village Connect.
Fatiha Ainane joined the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund’s Elevate Small Business team in 2023, where she helps underserved entrepreneurs access capital and technical support.
Previously, she was Lending Director at Accion, a national CDFI, developing strategies to support small business owners. Under her management, the national lending team successfully disbursed millions of dollars to underserved businesses throughout the United States.
Fatiha also successfully implemented and executed on special programs such as Child Care Business loan, Flex Fund Loan, Connecticut small business, Southern Opportunity New York Forward Loan and Resilience (SOAR) Fund.
Fatiha holds a Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy from Northeastern University. She serves on several nonprofit boards Focusing on financial literacy and economic development.
State Committee Presidents
State Committee Presidents help organize and support MAPS members and represent MAPS among government officials within their respective States. These leaders ensure community and professional development are brought directly to local public servants where they live and work.
Basem’s passion for wielding communication as a tool for good has earned him the reputation as a pivotal figure in driving positive social change and fostering a more inclusive global society.
He is a seasoned communications strategist and executive leader, currently serving within the NYC Mayor’s Office.
His strategic vision and execution capabilities have been instrumental in overseeing national strategy development with the highest levels of government and foreign embassies.
Prior to his current role in government, Basem’s experience includes significant contributions to mission-driven causes, leveraging his skills in activating communities and creating culturally responsive communications that influence policy makers around the world to work for all people. Basem’s work has had a profound impact on creating equity for marginalized and vulnerable communities across America and internationally.
Basem is also a former tenured Associate Professor of Visual Communications and research academic with multiple Master’s Degrees and Certificates from institutions like Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Rutgers. His graduate research concentrated on intercultural communications with extensive focus on Muslim Americans.
Sofia Abdi is currently the Community Engagement Manager for Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, where she is dedicated to serving and advocating for the constituents, community partners, and municipalities of the Massachusetts 7th district. In her role, Sofia addresses diverse needs spanning immigration, housing, education, public safety, and various other areas.
Previously, Sofia served as the Program Outreach Coordinator for the City of Boston’s Diversity Office under Mayor Martin Walsh’s administration. In this role, she spearheaded impactful initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the Boston Police and Fire Department. Sofia’s work involved conducting in-depth research to identify areas for improvement and implementing strategies to enhance diversity recruitment and retention efforts within these vital public safety organizations. Moreover, Sofia played a crucial role in facilitating the successful reintegration of returning citizens into society. Through her efficient and empathetic approach, she addressed the diverse needs of returning citizens, providing them with the necessary support and resources to navigate the challenges of reentry.
Sofia also gained valuable experience working on Capitol Hill in Senator Ed Markey’s office. In this capacity, she ensured constituents’ voices were effectively represented on a wide range of issues, including healthcare, education, environment, and economic development.
Sofia pursued her academic journey at Northeastern University and Cambridge College, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology. Proudly calling Boston home, she actively advocates for marginalized communities, working tirelessly to create spaces where Muslim and immigrant voices are heard and their needs addressed. Her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion underscores her passion for building equitable and empowered communities.
Machhadie Assi (Micho) holds a position at the Michigan Democratic Caucus, as the office manager of the Michigan House Dem Communication, under the leadership of Speaker of the House Joe Tate. With over a decade of experience, Micho’s career journey exemplifies a strong dedication to justice and equality, governmental and nonprofit leadership, and operations, project management, and advocacy. Starting as a teaching assistant at the University of Michigan Dearborn’s Criminal Justice program, she transitioned to roles at the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office and later the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, notably as a special victim advocate on the flint water case, criminal prosecution unit
Micho has demonstrated proficiency in political campaigns, operational management, strategic communication, and outreach, particularly within the Arab American and Muslim American communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led operational efforts at the Michigan Muslim Community Council, establishing partnerships and leading crisis response initiatives, serving over 27 community centers in 11 counties across Michigan.
Dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion, Micho advocates for voter engagement and collaborates with local and national nonprofit organizations to empower women of color and mobilize new American voters. Her insights have garnered recognition in various media outlets, and she has been a featured speaker at conventions nationally addressing topics such as political activism and immigrant empowerment. Her efforts highlight the significant role of naturalized citizens in shaping community and political landscapes, making her a prominent leader and advocate within her communities.
She has received numerous prestigious awards, recognizing her exceptional leadership, skills, and dedication to her values. Some of her notable achievements include being named a “Difference Maker” by the University of Michigan in 2017, recognized nationally among Arab America’s “40 under 40” in 2023, honored as a women leader by USA Hello in 2020, and receiving the 2022 Sgt Vincent J. Bell Service Award. She has also been acknowledged as an Arab American leader by NPNA in 2023 and distinguished as the “Voice of the Voiceless” by the Washington Center 2023. Additionally, she has been recognized as “Women on the Move” by We Are All America.
Mahanaz Ebadi is a Legislative Aide for a District Supervisor at San Francisco City Hall where she works on resolutions, ordinances and legislation improving the City and County of San Francisco. As an Attorney, she is passionate about working alongside the leaders of tomorrow regarding the injustices that women face globally. She aspires to set an example for Afghan women to be strong, outspoken, determined individuals and take active steps to partake in the betterment of themselves and their community.The youngest of four children, Mahanaz is the child of immigrant parents who were granted political asylum back in the 1920’s during the invasion of Afghanistan. Her grandfather was given an award signed by Rosa Parks in recognition of having his name on the wall of tolerance honoring him for taking a personal and public stand against hate, injustice, and intolerance. His passion for advocacy, public interest, and the law was what inspired her to pursue her Juris Doctor.
Mahanaz completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California Davis with a Bachelors in both Psychology and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies and two minors in History and UWP (University Writing Program). She graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law with a specialization in Public Interest and Family Law. Reach out to join or learn more about MAPS-California by contacting california@mapsnational.org.
Nancy attended Drew University, in Madison, NJ where she studied political science, German, and Arabic. After receiving her bachelor’s, Nancy went on to join the NYC Teach for America Corps in 2017, where she taught middle schoolers English language arts. After three years of teaching, Nancy went on to attend Seton Hall Law School in Newark, NJ and is now a law clerk in Middlesex County Superior Court. Nancy feels strongly that government should function to serve everyone, and seeks to use her law degree in order to support that mission. She is an astrology enthusiast and has an eclectic music taste.
Judge Samia Naseem was appointed as an Immigration Judge by Attorney General William Barr in December 2019, and has presided over cases in the Chicago Immigration Court for nearly six years.
Her extensive legal career includes service as a law clerk to the Honorable Judith N. Macaluso in Washington, D.C. from 2004 - 2005, as an attorney at the Law Offices of Khalid Naseem in Massachusetts from 2005 - 2007, and as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Immigration Litigation, where she represented the federal government before multiple circuit courts from 2007 - 2010. Before her judicial appointment, Judge Naseem served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in both New York City and Chicago from 2010 - 2019.
Judge Naseem is a member of the State Bar of New York. She is also a member of the Asian American Judges’ Association of Illinois (AAJAI), the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago (MBA), the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA), the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago (AABA), and the National Asian Pacific Bar Association (NAPABA). She proudly serves as the treasurer of AAJAI, a mentor for the MBA, an Advisory Council member for MAPS, and a Judicial Council member for NAPABA.
Judge Naseem earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from Simmons College and a Juris Doctor in 2004 from the George Washington University Law School, where she received the distinction of Thurgood Marshall Scholar. As part of her Juris Doctor program, she studied International Human Rights Law and Refugee Law at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
Aamer Javed, CPA is a finance and oversight leader with 15+ years in auditing, regulatory compliance, and program integrity across the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and Deloitte.
His expertise includes bankruptcy and trustee oversight, grants auditing, complex asset transactions, and executive-level communication that strengthens governance, controls and risk management. He has served on the boards of CAIR-DFW and American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP). He also writes The Amanah Project on Substack, exploring faith-anchored leadership, fatherhood, and fitness.
