MAPS Events

SCHEDULED EVENTS

MAPS’ structures many of its programs on a seasonal timetable, ensuring a diversity of topics, speakers, professional development offerings, and in person networking opportunities.

Most programs are co-sponsored by MAPS’ partner organizations, while some are reserved exclusively for members of MAPS National and MAPS chapters.

Inside Capitol Hill: Muslims Supporting the Legislative Branch – 10/6/2023

Check out the panel on Muslims Supporting the Legislative Branch at this weekend’s National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML) Annual Conference in the DC Area! This MAPS co-sponsored panel features Rahmah Abdulaleem, Moon Sulfab, Niha Razi, Diala Qasem, and Suhail Khan.

Speakers will discuss their unique experiences, past or present, as Muslims working in the legislative branch. The conference is taking place at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington. Learn more at www.naml.info or register here!

Cultivating Courage, Curiosity, and Candor in Public Service– 10/19/2023

In June of 2021, the Biden administration made history by releasing the first executive order tasking every federal agency of the U.S. government to develop concrete action plans to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).  To reap the benefits of a more inclusive workforce, there needs to be an ecosystem where courage, candor, and curiosity are celebrated.  It’s not enough to have demographic diversity represented in the senior ranks if those, especially on the periphery of power, don’t have the psychological safety to voice their views and contribute meaningfully to policy discussions.  

Our panelists will talk about what it will take to transform federal institutions into spaces that are more just, more equitable, and more innovative – so that all employees can reach their full potential.  And in doing so, remake our public sector to be more effective and responsive to the nation we serve. The moderator and all panelists will be speaking in their personal capacities and their views do not necessarily represent their respective institutions.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/FederalDEIA

Maryum Saifee is a career U.S. diplomat at the Department of State and is a prominent voice on DEIA efforts at the State Department.  In her personal capacity, she led the Truman Center for National Policy “Transforming State” task force and was a member of the American Council on Germany’s task force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

Mark Hanis is the founder of Inclusive America, a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on building more transparency and accountability in efforts to diversify the federal workforce.

Ahmad Maaty is the Chair of Muslim Americans in Public Service and currently serving in the U.S. Department of Justice. In his personal capacity at MAPS, he co-developed a blueprint for action to operationalize the White House Executive Order to advance DEIA.

Dr. Victor Marsh is a former U.S. diplomat and is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Toronto.  He has published extensively on DEIA in the federal workforce, including co-authoring a recent piece in the Foreign Service Journal on DEIA and data transparency.

Jennifer Rizzoli is a career U.S. diplomat at the Department of State.  She served as a Pearson Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives and led efforts to craft legislation to build a more inclusive federal workforce.

We want to thank our co-sponsors – Inclusive America, Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security, and Asian American Federal Employees for Nondiscrimination for their leadership in creating safe spaces for leaders of all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups, to thrive in public service.

PAST EVENTS

Previous programs are showcased here, along with content from the public events that may also have been published on social media.

Journey to the Bench– 10/2/2023

Join MAPS Legal’s kickoff event of its new series “Journey to the Bench!” MAPS Legal is a community of practice for Muslim American legal professionals in government and public service fields.

This panel features the Honorable Asim Rehman, Chief Administrative Law Judge, New York City and MAPS National Advisory Council Member, and Samia Naseem, Federal Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court. The panel will be hosted by Madiha Zuberi, Senior Counsel, SEC Los Angeles Regional Office and MAPS National Deputy Professional Development Director for Judicial pathways.

Pipelines into Foreign Policy: Info Session on Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) International Affairs Fellowship & Term Member Programs– 8/28/2023

Muslim Americans in Public Service Presents a MAPS Academy Webinar on Pipelines into foreign policy careers, with a focus on the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) programs to build inclusive pipelines into national security. In this session, we will discuss the CFR International Affairs Fellowship & Term Member Program opportunities.

Featuring: Meaghan Fulco, Managing Director, Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program, CFR; Devin Ferguson, Associate Director, Fellowship Affairs, CFR; Aliya Kaiser, Associate Director, Studies Administration and Fellowship Affairs, CFR; Maryum Saifee, CFR International Affairs Fellowship Alumna.

MAPS Summer Networking Event– 6/15/2023

Join our DC-based members, ERG chapters and partner staff associations as we host our colleagues at the Congressional Muslim Staffer Association (CMSA), Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation‘s Congressional Leadership Development Program (CLDP), Islamic Scholarship Fund‘s Congressional Policy Interns and Fellows and other DC Based interns next week for this exciting network-building opportunity.

This semi annual event is being held for the first time on Capitol Hill.

Pathways to Public Service Event at 2023 ICNA Convention– 5/27/2023

For those attending the Annual ICNA Convention this year in Baltimore, be sure to attend MAPS’ Saturday Afternoon panel on Pathways to Public Service, featuring Ali Ahmad (US Department of Justice), Diala Qasem (US House of Representatives), Hassan Sheikh JD,PharmD (Library of Congress), Menna Youssef (USPTO), Judge Dania Ayoubi (State of Maryland), hosted by Adil Ahmed (Federal Election Commission).

If you have not yet registered to join the 25,000+ attendees this year at the annual ICNA convention, make sure to register for the convention at https://icnaconvention.org

MAPS National DC Iftar 2023– 3/31/2023

Our community Iftar, or traditional Ramadan sunset meal, is a time to reconnect, break bread, and further build on the bonds and connections within our growing national community of members in the Washington DC metro area.

Join exciting guest speakers, the MAPS National Board, Advisory Council, hundreds of fellow members, and the next generation of public service leaders within Georgetown Law School’s Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) that is co-sponsoring the event.

This year’s National Iftar features Ali Zaidi, Asma Mirza, Mazen Basrawi, Moshtayeen Ahmad, Natasha Shah Syed, and Zayn Siddique. All of these Muslim American trailblazers have led exceptional careers in public service that brought them to the White House or interagency as presidential appointees and we can’t wait to hear from them.

Tickets for this annual, in-person, member-only event are complementary.

MAPS Winter Networking Event– 12/15/2022

Join Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) and Partners for an in-person networking mixer to cap off our Fall Program, alongside MAPS members, organizational leaders, local public service professionals.

Open to Members of MAPS National, MAPS Chapters, Co-Sponsors & Invited Guests. Covid Vaccinations Required.

Look for Registration link in your inbox!

Disability & Equity in Public Service – 12/08/2022

Following the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, MAPS showcases public servants who had forged their paths in a changing environment.

Featuring Sara Minkara (US Department of State), Mohammed Yousuf (US Department of Transportation), Mariyam Cementwala (US Department of State), moderated by Lobna Ismail (Creating Cultures) [Open to the Public; Virtual]

Public Service Pathways: Public Health– 11/19/2022

Join MAPS for a conversation with public health practitioners across a variety of sectors to understand their career paths and what has kept them motivated during some of the most difficult years in public health. Featuring Capt. Nazmul Hassan (FDA), Sadiya Muqdueeth DrPH, MPH (The Trust for Public Land), Zamir Brown, MPH, FRSPH (De Beaumont Foundation), and Faisal Khan, MD (Seattle Public Health Department). Hosted by Hassan Sheikh, JD, PharmD (U.S. Library of Congress). [Open to the Public; Virtual]

Muslim Lawyers in Government Service– 11/12/2022

Join MAPS in support of our partners at the National Association of Muslim Lawyers as we co-sponsor a panel at the NAML National Conference on November 11th  weekend featuring Muslim Lawyers in Government Service and hosted by MAPS Advisor Ahmed Mousa. Please stop by if you plan on attending the conference ,or register below if you haven’t yet:

Register at https://www.naml.info/.

Muslim Americans in Uniform – 11/10/2022

Join Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) for a Veteran’s Day event showcasing inspiring stories of Muslim American veterans and uniformed servicemen and women.

Featuring Chaplain (Col) Khallid Shabazz (US Army); Madiha Latif (US Treasury); Lt Nabil Tahan (US Navy), Capt Maysaa M. Ouza (USAF), and Imam Dr. Talib Shareef (USAF-Retired, President, Masjid Muhammad). Hosted by MAPS Vice Chair Nadia Hassan (Commissioner, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, Maryland). [Free; Open to the Public; Virtual]

Register at https://tinyurl.com/MAPSVeterans

MAPS National Annual Fall Meeting – 11/3/2022

Join Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) for our Second Annual Fall Membership Meeting on November 3rd!

This first event from our upcoming Fall Program is one of the primary means to hear from members directly, share updates, discuss the future of the organization and network, and hold our national elections. The meeting also features esteemed senior public servants and fellow MAPS members as special guest speakers: hear from State Department Senior Advisor and political Appointee Hamse Warfa, and National Security Council Director Moshtayeen Ahmad.

 

 

 

MAPS FALL 2022 PROGRAM

11/3/2022 – 12/15/2022

MAPS National & MPAC Eid Networking Event – 7/6/2022

Join Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) for an in-person networking mixer ahead of the Eid holiday between 7pm and 9pm, alongside MAPS members, organizational leaders, local professionals, and summer fellows/interns representing a new generation of public service leaders.

MAPS has confirmed a large venue to accommodate demand and offer free parking on site. 

MAPS National & MPAC Eid Networking Event – 6/29/2022

Join MAPS-New York on Wednesday June 29th from 5 to 8 pm for Muslim staffers in the City, State, and Federal levels in the NYC area to network and build lasting professional and community connections. Be sure to contact MAPS-NY President Sara Rawshanara at newyork@mapsnational.org to join MAPS-NY. The event location is the Blockchain Center in the Upper West Side at 2307 Broadway New York, NY 10024. 

Pathways to Public Service – 5/28/2022

Muslim Americans in Public Service invites attendees of the annual ICNA-MAS Convention in Baltimore, to check out our Saturday afternoon panel on Pathways to Public Service.

Moderated by Nadia Hassan (Commissioner, Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives and MAPS Vice-Chair), features the Honorable Judge Dania Ayoubi, (Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings); Noha Gaber (Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Economic Development Administration); Saif M. Khan (Special Assistant, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Veteran); Saeed Mody (Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice and former Detailee, United States Senate Judiciary Committee); and Ahmad Maaty (Senior Economist, U.S. Department of Transportation and MAPS Chair).

Learn more about the ICNA-MAS Convention and the Memorial Day weekend gathering of 22,000 attendees at https://icnaconvention.org/.

The Political Appointee Process – 5/12/2022

Learn about the political appointment application and selection process directly from White House Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) officials, followed by a closed door Q&A with several current political appointees of diverse backgrounds, including:

Mohsin Syed (Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation), Laila ElGohary (White House Liaison, GSA), Dilafruz Khonikboyeva (Senior Advisor, USAID), Feras Sleiman (Congressional Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce), Aisha Shah (Digital Partnerships, WH), and Adil Ahmed (Special Counsel, US Army).

This exciting event is open to members of MAPS and its co-sponsoring partner organizations Muppies, Muslim Women’s Professional Network, National Association of Muslim Lawyers, and alumni of El-Hibri Foundation, Islamic Scholarship Fund  and Muslim Public Affairs Council programs. 

MAPS National Iftar 2022 – 4/14/2022

This exciting community iftar, or Ramadan breaking of the fast provides an opportunity for professional networking and social gathering among DC-area MAPS members, MAPS leadership, guest speakers & the next generation of Muslim public service leaders.

The Iftar features Virginia State Representative, Sam Rasoul, and White House Director for Partnership & Global Engagement, Negah Angha, and is hosted by MAPS Program Director Tamim Chowdhury.

Co-Sponsored by the George Washington University Muslim Students Association (GW-MSA) this in person dinner is open to members of MAPS National, MAPS chapters, co-sponsors & guests only, but will be broadcast live via Zoom starting at 6:30pm for the public & members across the country.

Climbing the Federal Ladder: A Conversation with Muslim Leaders in the Senior Executive Service (SES) – 3/22/2022

This virtual Women’s History Month event showcases the professional accomplishments of trailblazing Muslim women leaders in the Federal government, aims to help inspire Muslim American public servants to follow in their footsteps and further contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion in public service.

Featuring Madiha Latif, Senior Executive Service, U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service; Sairah Ijaz, Senior Executive Service, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and Subhi Mehdi, Former Senior Executive Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (Retired). 

Hosted by HUD Customer Experience Lead and MAPS Co-Founder, Amber Chaudhry, this unprecedented topic and lineup is co-sponsored by the Muslim Women’s Professional Network, the Islamic Scholarship Fund, and American Muslim Today.

Responding to the Afghan Humanitarian Crisis – 3/10/2022

As the world witnesses yet another international refugee crisis, Muslim Americans in Public Service and its partner organizations wish to revisit the continued needs of recently displaced Afghans resettled in the U.S., and how Government, non-governmental & citizen efforts are addressing Afghan humanitarian needs.

Our exciting March 10th panel, hosted by Salam Al Marayati (President, MPAC), features Anwar Khan (President, Islamic Relief); Haris Tarin, (Chief of Staff, Operations Allies Welcome, DHS); Zahraa Saheb (Legislative Director, Office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)); and Wida Amir (Board Member, Afghan-American Foundation).

Co-Sponsored by Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Islamic Relief USA, and the Afghan American Foundation.

 

 

 

MAPS SPRING 2022 PROGRAM

3/10/2022 – 5/12/2022

Pathways to the Judiciary – 1/14/2022

This MAPS Academy series kickoff event engaged members of our community and the general public about Judiciary career pathways and featured a distinguished panel of Federal and State Judges from across the country. 

Featuring U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Oregon District and first Muslim Federal Judge, Hon. Mustapha Kasubhai; Maryland Administrative Law Judge, Hon. Dania Ayoubi; and Michigan Third Circuit Court Judge, Hon. Mariam Bazzi.

Hosted by Detroit prosecutor Myra Din, this virtual professional development event was cosponsored by the American Muslim Bar Association (AMBA), Capital Area Muslim Bar Association (CAMBA), the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF), and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML).

The Development Diplomat – 12/10/2021

This hybrid in-person/ virtual book signing and networking event featured Fatema Z. Sumar, Vice President of Compact Operations at the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and author of the new book “The Development Diplomat: Working Across Borders, Boardrooms, and Bureaucracies to End Poverty.”

Hosted by Afeefa Syeed Cultural Anthropologist & former Senior Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the resulting engagement among attendees and virtual participants ensured a substantive and informative discussion on the topic and the author’s exciting personal journey. 

Fall 2021 Membership Meeting – 11/18/2021

MAPS’ Annual Fall Membership Meeting offered new and existing members the key opportunity to meet the Board; learn what we’re working on; share their interests, concerns, and input; and hear from exciting public service trailblazers and special guests.

Regular membership meetings are required by MAPS By-laws, and the Annual Fall Membership Meeting  is when the Board of Directors presents their Annual Report to the membership, and would normally be when Board elections are scheduled.

2021 Virtual Muslim Public Service Conference– 11/6/2021

Muslim Americans in Public Service is proud to support and participate in the 2021 Virtual Muslim Public Service Conference, hosted by AMAL and America Indivisible.

MAPS will be presenting as a panelist at the session on Careers in Government, but all three sessions are sure to engage and interest our community of members, partners and associates. 

 

 

 

MAPS FALL/ WINTER 2021 PROGRAM

11/6/2021 – 1/13/2022

 

Leveraging her expertise in international development, foreign policy, diplomacy, & advocacy, Fatema Z. Sumar leads efforts to fight poverty by transforming global systems in reaching vulnerable populations. She is the author of the book, The Development Diplomat: Working Across Borders, Boardrooms, and Bureaucracies to End Poverty.

Fatema most recently served as the Vice President of Compact Operations at the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a role appointed by President Biden. She oversaw all the agency’s compacts – MCC’s signature grant investment vehicle to reduce poverty. She previously served as MCC’s Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America.

Fatema has a distinguished career in the U.S. government in both executive & legislative branches. She previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia at the US Department of State where she led efforts to expand regional economic and energy connectivity & as a Presidential Management Fellow. In Congress, she was a Senior Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan, & the broader region.

In civil society, Fatema was the Vice President of Global Programs at Oxfam America where she oversaw regional development & humanitarian response to fight the injustice of poverty. Early in her career, she also worked at the American Civil Liberties Union.

Fatema sits on Advisory Boards for Princeton, Cornell, & Indiana universities & on the Advisory Council for Muslim Americans in Public Service. She has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, The New Republic, The Hill, & other outlets. She is a frequent guest speaker & has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives & U.S. Senate.

Fatema has a MPA from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in Government from Cornell University. She studied abroad at the American University in Cairo and received an honorary doctorate from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey.

Dr. Nader Metwalli has been a staff scientist with the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Bethesda, MD campus since early 2020. Before joining the NIH, he served as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) working in the Alexandria, VA main office. 

Prior to Federal service, Nader has held a number of research and development centric roles throughout his career in private industry and entrepreneurship. 

Nader received his doctorate degree in bioengineering/biomedical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Jermaine Perry is a business operations professional specializing in operations management, systems thinking, and project management. He currently works at the U.S. Small Business Administration developing and executing program-level policies and procedures.

Jermaine is a graduate of Central State University (OH) and received his MBA from Ohio Dominican University. Additionally, he is an Excellence in Government Fellow and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

Ahmad Maaty is a Senior Economist with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), where he conducts regulatory analyses and evaluations of the societal impacts of proposed safety and environmental regulations on the U.S. oil, gas and energy transportation industries. 

He worked in a similar regulatory capacity at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including as Acting Chief Economist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and previously as an economic growth advisor with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources, among other international and multilateral institutions.

Ahmad holds a BBA from George Washington University and an MPA from Cornell University.

Learn more about MAPS at DOT here.

 

Tamim Chowdhury is a born-and-raised Chicagoan and a career public service professional with eighteen years of Federal experience. He has served in roles and specializations ranging from project management, and contracting, to policy, economic development and national program administration. He is currently a Senior Contracting Officer with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

Tamim is dedicated to the continuing development of the American Muslim community in civic life. In addition to serving on the MAPS National Board, he is also on the Board of the Muslim Caucus Education Collective. You can read his personal perspectives, thoughts and observations of our quickly changing world on his blog.

His passions stem from his M.A. in Education with a focus on transformational leadership and emotional and social intelligence. As Program Director, Tamim also Chairs MAPS’ Program Committee and can be reached at programs@mapsnational.org.

 

Asad Nawaz has formerly served successive terms as Vice President and President of the American Muslim and Arabic Cultural Association (AMACA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Asad began his public service career in 2004 examining patent applications at the USPTO. Currently a Supervisory Patent Examiner, he leads a group of primary and junior patent examiners in the field of Multiplex Communications and VoIP. Asad has worked with European Patent Office (EPO) counterparts on the Cooperate Patent Classification System, and has served as an Advisor to the Commissioner for Patents. 

In furtherance of his strong belief in personal and professional development, Asad has served as lead Trainer in the Patent Training Academy and as a Resource Supervisor at the Office of Innovation Development. He is also in the process of obtaining his Associate Certified Coach (ICF) credential as part of USPTO’s Career Coach Program. 

Asad completed an Executive Education Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he was also part of the Senior Executive Fellows program. Asad received a BS in Computer Science and an MS in Information Security and Assurance from George Mason University. He can be reached at professionaldevelopment@mapsnational.org.

 

Muqaddas Ejaz is a community advocate and activist. She is currently serving her second term as a member of New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Democratic Committee, where she was the first Muslim elected in 2017. Her leadership skills have been applied on various boards, including the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission. The Commission works to strengthen the cultural framework of Camden County by educating the community and supporting local organizations with funding and technical assistance to deepen the interactions between cultural practitioners and residents. 

Devoted to serving others, Muqaddas remains involved in several grassroots organizations that work towards the development of local communities and the betterment of New Jersey’s diverse citizens. She serves as the Director of Community Engagement for The Muslim Network, co-led the First Annual Camden County S.U.R.E. (Students United for Respect & Equity) Summit for the youth, and co-founder of Know Your Muslim Neighbor, South Jersey. Previously, she has also served as the lead for the English as a Second Language and Computer Literacy program at the Muslim American Community Association and has designed, planned, and led other seminars, community and cultural events for the diverse community. 

Muqaddas has been recently recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) chapter of South Jersey as Community Advocate of the Year. She was also awarded the Camden County Freedom Medal in 2018 for her community service, and U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1) recognized her as a Woman of Honor in Education. She can be reached at outreach@mapsnational.org.

Mariya Ilyas is the co-chair of American Muslims and Friends at State (AMFAS) employee organization at the U.S. State Department, where she is a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She currently serves as a Washington, DC-based Foreign Affairs Officer in the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Mariya previously served as the Non-Immigrant Visa Chief at the U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar and as Vice Consul at the U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan.

 

Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Service as a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow, she taught English as a Fulbright Scholar in Antalya, Turkey and worked as a data analyst at Liberty Mutual Insurance, a Fortune 100 company. Mariya has held internships at The White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy Bangkok, and the Population Reference Bureau. She launched a journalism program in her native Pakistan as a recipient of the national Davis Projects for Peace Award and completed the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship at Princeton University.

 

Mariya holds an MA in Security Studies, International Business Relations, and Global Maritime Studies from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she earned the academic distinction of Honos Civicus. She graduated with a BA in Mathematics from Bowdoin College, where she was a Chamberlain Scholar and was recognized for her dedication to service through the Heart and Soul Award and Roosevelt D. Franklin Cup. She is natively proficient in Arabic, Urdu, and Hindi and conversational in Turkish and Spanish. She can be reached at finance@mapsnational.org

Hichem Hadjeres is currently the project coordinator for water management R&D at the Office of Fossil Energy’s Advanced Energy and Hydrogen Systems Division of the Department of Energy.

Before moving to D.C., Hichem was active in the water innovation space in the Boston area, both as a clean tech entrepreneur and research scientist, and was a founder of the New England Water Environment Association’s Innovation Committee.

He is equally passionate about youth development, and served in various capacities as a youth mentor and program developer throughout the east coast and overseas.

Hichem holds a master’s degree in hydrology from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s in geosciences and a minor in economics from Wesleyan University. He can be reached at youthengagement@mapsnational.org.

 

Dr. Leila Hanafi is a Moroccan-American international development lawyer with a record of service in international organizations and  multilateral institutions. She is currently a senior legal adviser with the World Bank Group and adjunct law professor at George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C.  Leila is Founder and Principal of ARPA international Law Group, an international development law firm, and has served in legal advisory roles to United Nations agencies, including UNOPS, UNDP and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), as well as foreign governments.

Previously, Leila oversaw the International Criminal Court’s Middle East and North Africa Coalition work and served as staff attorney and programs manager of the American Bar Association (ABA) World Justice Project. Amidst the Arab Spring reforms, she was selected by the Moroccan Government as Law Commissioner in the National Inter-Governmental Commission for Policy Dialogue and Constitutional Reforms.

Leila is a graduate of American University, Georgetown University, and George Washington University Law School in Washington D.C., and earned her doctorate in law in the United Kingdom under a fully funded merit doctoral scholarship. She can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

 

David Hunsicker is one of the founding members of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Muslims Employee Resource Group (UMERG) and a current member of their board. He is a Senior Conflict and Peacebuilding Advisor and the Middle East Team Leader in USAID’s Center for Conflict and Violence Prevention where he specializes in issues of religion, identity and conflict. 

David spent eight years living and working in the Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union, including three years as the Religion, State and Society Specialist in USAID’s Central Asian regional mission. In this capacity, he was responsible for advising USAID and U.S. Embassies in the five Central Asian republics on integrating religious communities into U.S. Government-funded development programming. Previously, David also worked at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan where he provided support to local human rights groups and facilitated Embassy outreach to religious leaders. 

David holds a BA in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan and an MA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization from the University of Washington. He can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Fozia Janjua sits on the Township Council in the Philadelphia suburb of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and is the first Muslim and Pakistani-American councilwoman elected to office in South Jersey. An educator who has a passion for service and social justice, Fozia is a founding board member of a local nonprofit called CommunitySJP whose mission is to unite communities through service and promote civic engagement.

A longtime community organizer and public servant, Fozia has helped people navigate the housing, schooling, and justice system throughout the years. At an early age, Fozia started volunteering, working with, and advocating for the marginalized members of her local community.  

As a first-generation Pakistani American, and one of three girls, she considers herself fortunate to be born in one of the most inclusive cities in the world, San Francisco, California, and raised by two very progressive, socially conscious parents who instilled the values of hard work, education, and especially the concept of giving back.

Fozia graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Sociology. She can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Rummi Khan is an experienced campaign manager, project manager, and strategist at the intersection of culture, faith communities, and politics. He has over a decade of experience in public affairs, political campaigns, community engagement, and event management.

Rummi currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), a national public affairs nonprofit organization working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims for the past 30 years.

Prior to MPAC, Rummi co-founded an international arts and culture initiative and served in leadership roles on Presidential, Congressional, and Federal Policy campaigns. Rummi can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Fazal Mirza is a co-founder and Vice-President of the Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) employee resource group at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), where he is a Senior Contracting Officer and Team Lead with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). With a $25 million warrant, and a FAC-C Level III certification, he has procured over $830 million in goods and services for the Federal government. His procurement expertise is with R&D contracts to strengthen the nations pipeline infrastructure, and complex IT services. Fazal leads a team of Contract Specialists on a day to day basis.

During his time at DOT, he was selected to be on a detail with the DOT Office of the Senior Procurement Executive, which involved implementing a Grants Management Certification Program within DOT and implementing policy for the Department’s 11,300 Acquisition Workforce employees. In addition, Fazal was selected to start a new IT Acquisition Center of Excellence (DOT IT ACE) Contracting Office, under which all IT commodities and services would be procured.

Fazal has also participated in the Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government Fellowship program. He began Federal service procuring a variety of goods and services as a DOT Contract Specialist in 2009. Fazal is a graduate from the University of Florida’s Warrington’s School of Business, and serves his local community as a coach and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Fazal can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Rubina Halwani is a training, education, and inclusion consultant, and currently serves as an Instructional Designer for the State of Utah.

Her career spans over 20 years across multiple industries, including education, government, and public policy.

Rubina is recognized as an industry leader in Learning and Development. Her work has received acclaim and awards for high impact. Her strengths include leadership, public service, and empathy, and she has been recognized for her collaborative work towards building spaces of inclusion and religious plurality. 

Identifying as an American Muslim of South Asian heritage, Rubina has been active in her local and Muslim communities. Born and raised in Maryland, she has lived and worked in Washington DC, San Francisco, Iowa, and Utah. 

Rubina holds a B.A. degree in English Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies.

Ramy Osman is Co-founder and current Treasurer of the American Muslim and Arabic Cultural Association (AMACA) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he also coordinates Friday jumuah congregational prayers and Ramadan community iftar dinners. Ramy is a Patent Examiner of network technology patents at the USPTO, and received their Bronze Medal Award for Outstanding work performance.

Ramy also volunteers for various community and charity projects, and edited the final report, “NYC Coalition for Muslim School Holidays,” submitted to the New York City Board of Education ahead of their landmark 2015 decision to observe the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Ramy holds a master’s degree in Telecommunications, and can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

 

Maryum Saifee is Outreach Officer with Mosaic employee affinity group at the U.S. Department of State, where she is a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She recently took a sabbatical where she was a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Truman Center for National Policy. Her overseas postings included Embassies Cairo and Baghdad, as well as U.S. Consulate Lahore. Maryum also served in domestic assignments in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, and the Secretary’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs.

Prior to the Foreign Service, Maryum was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan focused on girls’ education and an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Seattle working with South Asian and Muslim immigrant survivors of domestic violence. She also worked for the Ford Foundation, Women Deliver, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Acumen Fund.

Maryum is an alumna of the Presidential Leadership Scholars and the Council on Foreign Relations term membership programs, and is a graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and the University of Texas at Austin. Maryum is participating in MAPS in her personal capacity, and can be reached at board@mapsnational.org.

Raheemah Abdulaleem has pursued a combination of litigation, government and nonprofit experience to further civil rights and the elimination of discrimination in the workplace. Raheemah is currently the career Deputy General Counsel in the White House Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration. The Office of Administration provides the White House with a wide variety of legal advice on employment, fiscal and administrative law matters.

Previously, Raheemah worked as Senior Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, where she litigated employment discrimination cases. Raheemah advanced President Obama’s criminal justice reform efforts through her service on DOJ’s Clemency Initiative announced in 2014. She reviewed federal inmate petitions, the majority from inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses, and made recommendations to the President. Raheemah’s work contributed to President Obama granting a record number of commutations –more than the previous seven Presidents combined.

Prior to Federal service, Raheemah worked at two nationally-recognized law firms where she represented public and private sector employers in various labor and employment related matters.

Raheemah also has broad nonprofit experience. She serves on the Board of Directors for Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights. Through its research and educational programs, Karamah promotes gender and racial equity, civil rights and leadership development. Raheemah joined a faculty of experienced lawyers and judges to teach the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop during Fall 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2016, Raheemah was featured in a White House blog profiling Muslim Americans and she received a Nation’s Best Advocate: Top 40 Lawyers nationwide award from the National Bar Association.

Raheemah received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where she served on the editorial board of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and worked at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Rumana Ahmed is a communications, strategic planning, organizational development and policy consultant. Most recently, she has done work for the National Democratic Institute on the potential impacts of 5G and advanced technology, democracy and human rights, and to develop a framework for monitoring internet openness and intervention around democratic elections and protests for global civil society partners. Rumana was a Biden-Harris Transition Team agency review member for the U.S. Agency for Global Media on their organizational, policy priority and COVID-19 response issues.

Rumana previously served as a Senior Advisor for Global Engagement and Strategic Communications in the National Security Council under the Obama Administration. From the NSC, she worked on efforts to advance diplomatic relations with Cuba and Laos, promote the Iran Nuclear Deal, expand global entrepreneurship for women and youth, develop Presidential engagements and messaging with Muslim Americans and protect persecuted minorities in Myanmar, Iraq and Syria.

Rumana first joined the White House with the Office of Presidential Correspondence in 2010, and during her six years in the West Wing, she also served as a liaison with the Office of Public Engagement on issues including health care reform, gun violence prevention, STEM access for girls of color, and diversity and inclusion.

Rumana is a public speaker and published author, including a book called West Wingers (highlighted by Oprah Magazine) and an article in The Atlantic named by Chartbeat as the 23rd most-engaged online article of 2017.

Rumana is also a Harvard Center for Public Leadership Fellow. As a Fellow, she worked on public-private partnerships for reconciliation and reintegration under Colombian Peace Treaty efforts in former-FARC military zones around Bogotá in 2019. Rumana holds a B.A. in International Affairs, with a concentration in economic development, from George Washington University, and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

 

Judge Dania Ayoubi is an Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings for the State of Maryland, where she presides over appeals from over thirty state agencies. 

Prior to her appointment, she served in Federal government for almost ten years, most recently as Senior Counsel in the Office of Regulations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where she crafted consumer finance regulations and developed an expertise in the areas of debt collection, mortgages, and fair lending. She was also an Attorney Advisor at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where she worked to develop policies to extend broadband internet access to underserved parts of America.  
 
Judge Ayoubi previously worked at Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP and clerked for Chief Judge Eric T. Washington at the D.C. Court of Appeals. A graduate of Georgetown University (A.B.) and Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.), Judge Ayoubi is a member of the National Association of Women Judges. 

 

Judge Faruqui has been serving as a Federal magistrate judge for the District of Columbia since September 2020.  He is the first Muslim Judge in the D.C. Circuit. 

Prior to his appointment, he was a Federal prosecutor, first in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and then in the District of Columbia. 

Over the span of over twelve years of Federal service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA), he prosecuted numerous criminal cases, most recently serving as the lead prosecutor for complex and novel crimes involving, for example, terrorists’ use of cryptocurrency, nuclear weapons proliferation, darknet sites dedicated to child exploitation, and antiquities theft. He also litigated over $700 million in money laundering and asset forfeiture proceedings. As a subject-matter expert, he has presented on cryptocurrency and anti-money laundering issues in conferences spanning from Europe to Asia and the Middle East.  

Prior to serving as a Federal prosecutor, Judge Faruqui worked at a corporate law firm where he focused on government investigations and general commercial litigation.

Judge Faruqui is a board member for Jobs for Homeless People, a non-profit that provides housing and vocational training to people in the D.C. metropolitan area. He also served as a Muslim-outreach coordinator for the U.S. Department of Justice and an as an adjunct professor at Harris-Stowe State University. He received his J.D. and undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.

A career civil servant with over 15 year in the Federal government, Noha Gaber has held leadership positions at the Architect of the Capitol, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Noha joined EDA as its first ever Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) in October 2020.  In this role, Noha supports strategy formulation and execution of enterprise-wide operational improvements and continual business model innovation.

Noha’s expertise spans all aspects of organizational excellence, including strategic and operational planning, performance measurement and management, data analytics, process analysis and improvement, organizational development and customer experience. Noha also founded and led EPA’s Emerging Leaders Network, a nationwide grassroots employee organization helping to develop and prepare EPA’s future leaders.

Noha is active in the inter-agency space, including currently serving as the Chair for a Task Force on assessing and improving management quality in federal agencies and Chair of the Federal Improvement Team. She previously founded and led the Federal Internal Communications Community of Practice, co-led GovConnect, a government-wide initiative under the President Obama’s Second Term Management Agenda, and served as a member of the White House Advisory Group on Reform of the Senior Executive Service.

Noha received her bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in Environmental Engineering from the University of Southampton in England and holds a Certificate in Knowledge Management.

 

​​​​Dr. Sadaf Jaffer is an educator and activist. She recently completed two terms as mayor of Montgomery Township, New Jersey. In January of 2019, she became the first South Asian woman to serve as mayor of a municipality in New Jersey, and the first Muslim woman to serve as mayor of a municipality in the United States.
 
Her signature initiatives included: creating and implementing a crisis communications plan to help Montgomery Township maintain some of the lowest COVID-19 infection and fatality rates in New Jersey; facilitating a participatory design process for the municipal center and library project started by her predecessors while securing millions of dollars in state funding; responding to demands for racial justice by coordinating meetings for Black community members and youth activists with the Township’s police leadership to build trust and mutual understanding; and inaugurating a Youth Leadership Council to elevate the voices of young people who are energized to lead.
 
​Sadaf is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in South Asian Studies at Princeton University where she teaches courses on South Asian, Islamic, and Asian American Studies. Jaffer currently serves as Chair of the Inclusion and Equity Committee of Montgomery Township and on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. She was one of the founding members of Inspiring South Asian American Women (ISAAW), a group dedicated to encouraging civic engagement among South Asian American women in New Jersey. She is on the Board of Directors for The New Agenda, an organization that promotes women’s economic empowerment and combats sexual harassment and sexual assault. 
 
​Sadaf earned her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and obtained her PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University with a secondary field in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality.

 

​​Madiha Latif is an innovative thinker with over 20 years of broad-based expertise in leadership, financial management and customer engagement.  She is very passionate about working to improve federal government operations for the greater good of her fellow Americans. 

Madiha is the Deputy Assistant Commissioner  within Revenue Collections Management (RCM) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. She has oversight responsibility for providing executive day-to-day leadership for the Compliance and Reporting Group (CRG), in support of the Government’s collection and settlement of over $4.2 trillion in federal revenue each year (e.g., taxes, fees, fines, loan repayments, customs duties, donations) and the processing of 500 million transactions annually.

Madiha has also held leadership positions in RCM as the Agency Relationship Outreach and engagement Director where she transformed the way RCM facilitated adoption of innovative solutions to its 225+ federal agency customer universe implementing a holistic approach of a one voice methodology.  

Prior to joining the Federal government, Madiha held several leadership positions within the private sector supporting U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  She is also a veteran, having served in war zones with the active duty Army. 

Madiha has an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School, an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from the University of Maryland and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix.

 

​​​​Ahmed Mousa is a life sciences entrepreneur with a background in molecular biology and an attorney with significant IP and FDA experience. Ahmed currently serves as Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations and General Counsel of Pieris Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: PIRS), a U.S.-German biotechnology company developing cutting-edge therapies in immuno-oncology and for respiratory disease. Ahmed serves as site head for the company’s U.S. office, oversees project leadership and quality assurance, and leads Pieris’ intellectual property, corporate secretary, and legal activities, including licensing and corporate legal as well as the Company’s global patent portfolio.
 

Prior to joining Pieris, Ahmed was an Associate at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and an attorney with the law firm Covington & Burling LLP, where he represented pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in a range of matters, including significant experience in generic and biosimilar drug litigation.

A founding Advisor to MAPS, Ahmed’s experience in public service included a stint with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and a judicial clerkship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ahmed obtained undergraduate degrees in Government and Molecular Biology from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, with research experience prior to his legal career focused on tumor biology and angiogenesis. Ahmed graduated from Georgetown Law with honors, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Georgetown Journal of International Law.

Arsalan Suleman is Counsel in Foley Hoag’s International Litigation & Arbitration Practice. His practice focuses on representing sovereign States in international disputes, including before the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, UN treaty bodies, U.S. courts, and other tribunals and dispute resolution forums. 

Arsalan is the U.S. Department of State’s former Acting Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world’s second largest international organization after the United Nations. He engaged with the OIC and its member states on bilateral and multilateral foreign policy issues, including via remarks before and participation in Heads-of-State Summits and Ministerial Level Meetings.

At the State Department, Suleman also served as Counselor for Multilateral Affairs in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. He was the lead multilateral human rights policy adviser on freedom of expression and freedom of religion globally, as well as the lead multilateral human rights policy adviser for the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Central Asia.

Prior to joining the State Department, Suleman was a litigator in New York and clerked for the late Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is also the President and co-founder of America Indivisible, a non-partisan, non-profit coalition effort to address rising bigotry against members of Muslim communities and those who appear to be Muslim from Black, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian American communities by reinforcing the American values of equality, pluralism, and strength through diversity. 

Dr. Asifa Quraishi-Landes is a full Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin Law School, specializing in comparative Islamic and U.S. Constitutional law, with a current focus on modern Islamic constitutional theory.  Her career includes federal clerkships in the Eastern District of California and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A past Carnegie Scholar and Guggenheim Fellow, her recent publications includes “Legislating Morality and Other Illusions about Islamic Government.”  She is currently working on a book tentatively titled “Islamic Re-constitutionalism,” which presents a non-theocratic and non-secular model of Islamic constitutionalism for today’s Muslim-majority countries.

A lifelong leader in the Muslim American nonprofit scene, Asifa currently serves as Interim Co-Executive Director of Muslim Advocates, and on the governing boards of the Muslim Public Service Network (MPSN), Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School, and the Muslim Youth Camp of California.  She has been a past President and Board Member of NAML (National Association of Muslim Lawyers) as well as Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights. She is also an affiliate of the Muslim Women’s League, and a Fellow with the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding  (ISPU).

She has served as a Public Delegate on the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Task Force on Religion and the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and as advisor to the Pew Task Force on Religion & Public Life.  

Professor Quraishi-Landes holds a doctorate from Harvard Law School and other degrees from Columbia Law School, the University of California at Davis, and the University of California at Berkeley.

Alisha develops and coordinates U.S. policy engagement in Burma as a Desk Officer at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), where she works with government agencies, international partners, and civil society to promote security, democratic governance, and humanitarian access.  She formerly advanced policies, public-private sector cooperation, and foreign assistance programming to counter global challenges and strengthen the rule of law in South Asia as a Program Advisor with in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Prior to her Department experience, Alisha engaged with domestic and foreign policy priorities through experiences at the U.S. Senate in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC) and Senator Cory Booker’s Office, leading global think tanks based in China and Belgium, international media companies, state and local government, and NGOs promoting equity, economic empowerment, and increased access to education for children in Pakistan.

Outside of her professional experiences, she is involved in organizations advancing greater representation in and accessibility to opportunities in public service, including as a Board Member for both MAPS (as Deputy Outreach Director) and the Department of State’s South Asian American Employee Association (SAAEA), as well as an Advisory Board Member for Leading Women of Tomorrow.

Alisha graduated with honors from American University with bachelor’s degrees in International Studies and Political Science, minor in Chinese, and certificate in Women, Policy, and Political Leadership. She can be reached at policy@mapsnational.org.

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.