Empowering Women: Nurturing Sisterhood
November 16 - 17, 2024

Kauthar Gaber, originally from Mississippi and of North African descent, serves as the Assistant Director for the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity (SCSJI) at Vanderbilt University. Deeply passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, she emphasizes fostering spaces that embrace religious and spiritual diversity. Currently pursuing her doctorate, Kauthar’s research delves into the sense of belonging experienced by female Muslim students in higher education. Outside of her professional and academic endeavors, she enjoys creative hobbies like painting, crafting, and cosplaying, and cherishes quality time with her family, friends, and godchildren.

Jihan Mohammed, Ph.D., is a sociologist whose research focuses on racial, ethnic, and religious identities. She is a former faculty lecturer at Vanderbilt University's Sociology Department and has published work on Kurdish identity and ethno-religious dynamics. Her latest work, Nashville the Little Kurdistan, is a children's book that introduces young readers to Nashville's Kurdish community, highlighting the neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural contributions that enrich the city's diverse fabric.

MaKenzie is the Senior Manager of Government Relations at EdTrust-Tennessee, where she develops legislative strategy to advance ET-TN’s policy agenda, strengthens relationships with a diverse array of policymakers and community stakeholders, and provides strategic support to the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education. MaKenzie began her career as a seventh-grade math teacher and grade level chair in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Memphis. Prior to joining EdTrust, MaKenzie was the Executive Assistant of Policy and Research to the Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman at the Tennessee General Assembly. Born and raised in East Tennessee, MaKenzie has lived, learned, and worked across all three grand divisions of Tennessee. She holds a bachelor’s in urban studies from Rhodes College in Memphis, and a master’s in public policy with a concentration in K-12 policy from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development.

Maryam Fakhruddin is a licensed mental health therapist specializing in PTSD, sexual violence, anxiety, and depression. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago and began her career advocating for survivors of domestic violence. Following this, Maryam worked as a trauma therapist for survivors of sexual violence. Recently, she obtained a diploma in Islamic Psychology from Cambridge Muslim College and holds Level 1 and 2 certifications in Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy from the Khalil Center. Her practice centers around integrating her experiences in trauma therapy with her training in Islamic psychology to provide a holistic approach to healing for her clients.

Amal Altareb is a Yemeni-American graduate from Yale University with a bachelors in political science and a certificate in human rights. She is a history teacher at Pleasant View School and an aspiring lawyer. She is the chair of youth-led initiative called Muslim Voices for Change and the West TN Project Manager of AMAC.

Suad Abdulla has an impressive portfolio with over twenty years of dedicated service in the education sector, contributing to public and private institutions. Her extensive expertise includes teaching, instructional coaching and training, various administrative roles, and advocacy for equity and inclusion for English language learners, underscoring her steadfast commitment to enhancing educational outcomes for minority students. As a coach and trainer, Suad empowers educators, administrators, and school personnel by offering practical strategies to support English language learners and Muslim students. Her initiatives specifically address the unique needs of recently arrived immigrant and refugee families and their children, ensuring they receive the essential guidance and resources needed Bioto succeed. Deeply committed to fostering a culturally responsive educational environment, Suad regularly facilitates workshops for educators and university students pursuing degrees in education. These engaging sessions delve into crucial themes such as culture, diversity, inclusion, family engagement, and the importance of accommodations for students and families. She inspires participants to acknowledge and harness the rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds in contemporary classrooms, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment. A lifelong resident of Nashville, Suad’s personal journey is as admirable as her professional accomplishments. As a first-generation refugee from Kurdistan, she has navigated numerous challenges to excel in her field. Her academic qualifications encompass a Bachelor of Arts in Science from Tennessee State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a K-12 ESL endorsement obtained from Trevecca University, providing her a robust foundation to advocate effectively for her students and the broader community.

Zulfat Suara is a trailblazing public servant and human rights advocate, serving as an At-Large Council Member in Nashville, Tennessee. Elected in 2019 with over 34,000 votes, she made history as the first Muslim, first immigrant in an At-Large position, and first Nigerian woman elected to public office in the U.S. Her victory is a testament to her commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equity in public service. Throughout her first term, Zulfat has been a steadfast advocate for affordable housing, education, and workers’ rights. She chairs the Affordable Housing and Education Committees and serves as Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee. Among her key initiatives, she allocated 50% of future Oracle tax revenue toward affordable housing, addressing Nashville’s pressing housing needs. Additionally, she sponsored a right-to-counsel PILOT program for tenants facing eviction, helping provide legal support to prevent unjust displacement. Zulfat has also advocated for fair wages and quality education. She pushed for salary increases for teachers, bus drivers, and school support staff, and helped establish advocacy centers in elementary schools to promote social-emotional learning. Her commitment to local businesses led her to sponsor bills simplifying audit requirements and securing 20% of Barnes Fund allocations for small business support. In 2023, Zulfat won re-election and became the first person of color to secure the council’s first chair—a position awarded to the highest-voted council member. Her efforts to preserve Nashville’s civil rights legacy include leading the renaming of Fifth Avenue as Rep. John Lewis Way, honoring the city’s role in the civil rights movement. She also backed naming the North Nashville transit center after Dr. Ernest “Rip” Patton, a Freedom Rider and civil rights activist. Beyond Nashville, Zulfat has stood for minority rights, including as a plaintiff in a lawsuit protecting council diversity and by testifying before Congress on discrimination against Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities. Her TEDx talk, “Building Power Where You Seemingly Do Not Belong,” resonated globally, ranking in the top 10 TEDx talks in 2021. Zulfat is a CPA, married for 33 years, and a proud mother of five.

Wan Rashid is a dedicated consultant for the federal government with a strong commitment to public service and community engagement, a journey she began in 2019. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a bachelor’s in business analytics, wan furthered her expertise with a graduate degree in public administration and public policy from American University. Passionate about driving positive change, Wan leverages her skills to create impactful solutions that serve both her community and the broader public.

Born & raised in rural West Tennessee, Matia is a connector with a passion for service. Since the early 2000s, Matia Powell has been incredibly active as both a political activist and network-facilitator, and nonprofit executive. Matia’s passion for civic engagement and her experience in collective impact made her the perfect fit to become the first Executive Director of Civic TN. Civic TN is a state civic engagement table working to create a more accessible, inclusive, and representative democracy by amplifying the voices, leadership, and expertise of communities that have historically experienced deliberate barriers to civic participation. Known for her energy, planning, and insight, Matia is passionate about civic engagement. She has served on numerous boards such as Nashville Pride Festival, Metro Human Relations Commission Support Fund, Tennessee Equality Project, and founding board member for New Leaders Council Nashville. Matia has been appointed to serve on three city boards and recently chaired the Metro Arts Commission. Prior to joining CivicTN, Matia spent 11 years in education working in the Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Communications Department where she led efforts to restructure both internal and external online communications and as Vice President of Community Engagement at Alignment Nashville, an organization that is nationally recognized for its pioneering work in collective impact. Matia has been named as one Nashville’s 100 Leading African Americans (2018), recognized as a Black Top 40 under 40 (2015), honored as a YP ATHENA Nominee twice (2014 and 2019) as well as a Mover and Shaker by the Women’s Political Collaborative.

Iman Haurami is a Nashville native of Kurdish descent. She earned her Bachelor’s in Biology at Belmont University and was also a graduate of their Honors Scholar Program. Iman currently attends UTHSC College of Pharmacy as a second year pharmacy student and works as an intern at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and Kroger Pharmacy. She is also an AHEC Scholar, which is a federal training program offered through Matthew Walker Center and Meharry Medical College that focuses on interdisciplinary education and connecting with underserved communities. She has always been active in her community and at the Salahadeen Center of Nashville, even when she attended their youth program. Iman is certified and teaches Tajweed and Quran and is currently working to further her studies in the Quran. Her goals for the future are to become a Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist and also continue to serve her community through Quran and healthcare.

Nisreen Malley is Director of Advocacy at Rebuilding Alliance where she leads Contact Congress campaigns that engage constituents and elevate the voices of those most impacted to give Congressional offices tangible and immediate ways to protect Palestinians' human rights. She teaches AP U.S. Government and Politics at Pleasant View School and is passionate about empowering young Muslim youth to push on the levers at their disposal to enact the changes we want to see. She briefly spent some time interning on the hill, and has coordinated State Department funded CLS programs in Jordan and Oman in addition to her work on the Michigan Arabic Voter Protection Hotline in 2020.

Fariha is a former educator who now works in education policy and is passionate about ensuring that students have fair, equitable, and respectful learning environments to guarantee their success. Since her time in the classroom, her focus has been on strengthening systems that support marginalized students, particularly students of color. Fariha has worked with advocacy organizations, consulting groups, and school districts across the country to help communities to better serve their students. She created AMAC's School Advocacy Hub, including AMAC's Know Your Rights materials, Curriculum Resources, and School Climate Survey. She currently works for Indianapolis Public Schools as their Student Recruitment and Retention Analyst.

Sabina Mohyuddin is a Bangladeshi American Muslim born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1993 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is an active member of the Muslim community participating in interfaith and youth programs. Sabina has published a number of articles in The Tennessean and was an outspoken critic of the 2011 anti-sharia bill in the Tennessee state legislature. She is a founding board member of the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) and now serves as the Executive Director of AMAC, which empowers the Tennessee Muslim community through civic engagement, community building and media relations. She serves as the chair of AMAC’s yearly Empowering Women conference. Additionally, Sabina serves on the board of the National Organization of Workforce Diversity which helps promote diversity in the workplace and on the board of the League of Women Voters Nashville. In 2020, Sabina was inducted into the YWCA’s Academy for Women of Achievement and in 2022 she received the Trailblazer Award from Metro Nashville Council’s Minority Caucus. She is an alumni of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, Muslim Power Building Project, and Leadership Nashville.

Thana Numan is a Licensed Beauty Consultant and a Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. The teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda have deeply resonated with her not only on a spiritual level, but have also helped inform her own healing journey from chronic health challenges as well. Thana has completed a three-year 1,000 hour Yoga Therapy training in the Viniyoga tradition through Yoga Well Institute, an International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT) accredited program. Classes incorporate a deep awareness, guided breathing, and visualization with mindful movement. She teaches yoga in clinical settings such as the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as part of an integrative team and teaches inpatients at the Vanderbilt Psych Hospital. She has created Ayurvedic Beauty + Wellness to make the teachings of Ayurveda and Therapeutic Yoga accessible to those who seek personal healing. In her current studies, Thana is a trainee of Vanderbilt's Health Coaching Program- a program approved by the National Board of Health & Wellness (NBHWC).

Iman Khoshnaw is a Kurdish-American born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She completed her BFA in Graphic Design at Middle Tennessee State University, where she also served as president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). She is currently the Executive Assistant with AMAC, where she is able to help growth and engagement with the muslim community and apply her graphic design skills.

Remziya’s journey in American politics began as a Kurdish refugee, fueling her lifelong dedication to advocacy and public service. Now Director of Policy and Program at the American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC), she brings over 15 years of experience in community organizing, government relations, and public policy. Remziya has worked across political divides to elevate diverse voices, building relationships with politicians, journalists, and community members of all backgrounds. Her advocacy has also taken her to Washington, D.C., where she strengthened ties between the U.S., Canada, and the Kurdish community. With an MPA from Tennessee State University and numerous accolades, Remziya is a nationally recognized leader known for bridging cultural and political divides to drive lasting change.