Meet the Board

Sister Ghada Board Member-President

Dr. Ghada Adhami completed her Bachelors in Biochemistry from Benedictine University, Lisle IL. She then went on to purse her Doctorate of Dental Sciences from University of Illinois in Chicago. Graduating at the top of her class, she completed an additional year of training at the Jesse Brown VA. Working in a variety of clinics, Dr. Adhami not only gained extensive clinical experiences, but also learned business management, leadership, marketing skills too. Since October 2018, Dr. Adhami owns and operates a successful dental business, All Smiles Family Dentistry. As her two young school aged children grew older, she realized the need to create and Islamic school in the community. She has partnered with many community members to take on the immense task of creating an exceptional Islamic school for the children of Champaign-Urbana.

Sister Afeefa Board Member-Education Director

Afeefa Ismail was born to two teachers in Chicago, IL. As a child, she watched her father work tirelessly to further the value and accessibility of Islamic education in his community. As an adult, she hopes to follow in his footsteps.

Sr. Afeefa earned her undergraduate degree in Human Communication Sciences with Honors and a double master's degree in Speech Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She worked as a school speech therapist before settling down with her family in Champaign, IL. In the past 7 years, she has been an active community member, a teacher, an administrator and a mentor at DEEN Homeschool Co-op and at MAS-UC QI Saturday school.

Sr. Afeefa believes that when a child is grounded in the spiritual, his opportunities to achieve are unlimited. She looks forward to building tomorrow's exceptional leaders–in character and in deed– with her "village"-- the Muslim community of Champaign-Urbana.

Brother Abdullah Board Member-Treasurer

Abdullah Ozkaldi is a finance professional with a solid background in finance and a track record of accomplishments. With extensive experience and rigorous education in the field, Abdullah currently serves as the senior debt management analyst in the University of Illinois System. Previously, Abdullah showcased his financial expertise as an accountant at Henneman Engineering Inc. and as a Bank Examiner at the banking authority of Turkey. However, his passion for making a positive impact led him to explore opportunities in the non-profit sector as well. He dedicated three years as the treasurer and board member of Immigrant Services of Champaign-Urbana (ISCU), demonstrating his commitment to supporting and uplifting his community. Abdullah currently holds the role of Fiscal Manager and Grant Coordinator at ISCU. In this capacity, he combines his financial acumen with his passion for community development, striving to create a lasting impact through effective financial management.

Abdullah's educational accomplishments include a master's degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Beyond his professional endeavors, Abdullah is a devoted father who values the importance of providing his children with the best education. He is particularly passionate about ensuring that his kids and other Muslim children receive a holistic education that encompasses academic excellence and Islamic ethics.

Brother Sherif Board Member-DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC GROWTH

Sherif Abdou is a passionate and dedicated Professional Engineer with a strong commitment to leadership and growth. His background is in Civil Engineering in which he earned his Undergraduate and Graduate

Degrees. Sherif has extensive experience working with Educational

Institutions as well as Municipal, State, and Federal Government Agencies.

With over 20 years of experience, he has successfully built and led diverse teams, developed strategic initiatives, and implemented programs that foster positive organizational culture, employee development, and fruitful community engagement.

Sherif is committed to empowering staff and cultivating an environment of continuous development and growth, while ensuring that the core values of faith, compassion, and service are upheld. Through effective results- driven leadership and a deep understanding of the unique challenges in educational settings, Sherif strives to elevate the mission of the school, and support both the personal and professional development of educators and staff, contributing to the long-term success and the lasting positive impact of the school community.

Sister Mai Board Member-DirecTor of Human Resources

Mai Taha is an HR professional and educator with over 12 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from Drake University, Iowa. She currently works at the University of Illinois as a Matrix Team Lead, where she supports strategic HR operations and organizational development.

In the field of education, Mai previously served as Principal at Darul Arqam Islamic Center in Ames, Iowa, where she led academic and administrative efforts to strengthen the school community. She continues her commitment to Islamic education as a board member at MAS–Urbana Champaign. Mai is passionate about helping build nurturing, values-driven environments where youth can thrive academically and spiritually. She believes deeply in creating sustainable institutions that empower our youth with both knowledge and strong character.

Sister Alaa- Education Commitee Chair

Alaa Barakat is a Master’s student in the department of Education Policy Organization and Leadership - EDM at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She is also a volunteer teacher with DEEN co-op homeschooling since 2019. Alaa received her Bachelors degree in English Language and Literature from Al Balqaa University, Jordan. She worked in Kuwait as a receptionist, translator and interpreter at Cambridge English school. She also worked as a volunteer teacher at MAS - Urbana.

In addition to her work experience in education, Alaa has two daughters where she invests in their education through project-based-learning. Alaa started a YouTube page with her daughter where they create educational content for kids. She also ran summer camps for kids of all ages and conducts private tutoring year-round.

Alaa continuously invests in her educational skills as they not only affect her career, but are pivotal in the raising of her daughters and the children around her. Her experience and education will be paramount to the education committee at Hidaya