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Executive Board

​Executive Director 
​Fauziya Faruk

Finance Director
Sarah Beddawi

Communications Director​
Hauwa Abbas

Fauziya Faruk is the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at CAIR California’s Sacramento Valley/Central California office, where she leads civic engagement, legislative advocacy, and coalition-building initiatives to advance equity and civil rights. She also serves as the only woman on Sacramento’s Shura Council and is deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices in policymaking spaces. Beyond her policy work, she remains active as a community volunteer and mentor, supporting grassroots leadership and Muslim women’s political participation. 

Sarah Beddawi is from Sacramento, CA, and is a Sustainability Analyst at the California Department of Justice, where she implements green action policies, analyzes sustainable practices, and reports on potential opportunities for new initiatives throughout the State of California. She also serves on the board for the Northern California Women in Environment, and is passionate about helping marginalized communities become resilient to environmental injustice. 

Hauwa Abbas, a proud Michigan native, is dedicated to community building, advocacy, and amplifying the voices of the refugee and underserved communities. With a Bachelor's degree in Advertising and Public Relations, Hauwa is currently pursuing a Master's degree at American University in Public Policy and Public Administration. In 2017, Hauwa founded The Halimah Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to mentoring refugee youth in the mid-Michigan area. Her tireless efforts have created a nurturing environment that empowers young refugees to navigate the challenges of their new lives and aspire to a brighter future. 

Chair of Advisory Council
​Maria Khan

Maria T. Khan is the Founder and Advisory Council Chair of Muslimahs in Policy, which she established to build a foundational network and co-learning space that supports and guides Muslimahs in making an impact in policy. She also serves as a Senior Research and Data Analyst at Catalyst California, an award-winning nonprofit advancing racial justice and equity. Maria holds an M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and earned her B.A., with honors, in International Studies from the University of California, Irvine. She is also a graduate of the Coro Public Affairs Fellows Program.

Programs Director
Emaan Tariq

Emaan Tariq is a current Masters of Public Affairs student at Brown Univeristy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2022 and holds a deep passion for social justice advocacy. She has interned with CAIR-MA, volunteered at Helping Hand Relief & Development and been involved with many other non-profit organizations. She aspires to build a career in the nonprofit sector where she can make a difference for those in need.

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Communications

Web & Digital Designer
​Asiya Siddiqui

Asiya Siddiqui is a UC Berkeley undergraduate studying political economy and public policy. She currently leads programs and development at Salaam Food Pantry, a Bay Area nonprofit fighting food insecurity. She is also the Director of Corporate Outreach at Muslims of Haas, and works at the Mayor's office in Berkeley, CA. In the future, she aims to work at the intersection of policy and enforcement, advancing equitable systems and strengthening accountability through community-centered solutions.

Social Media Manager
Noorulain Ali​

coming soon...

Communications Coordinator
Laila Ali

Laila Ali is an undergraduate transfer student from Sacramento, California, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Global Health at the University of California, San Diego. Her academic interests center around pre-law and health policy. On campus, she is actively involved as a Junior Associate in AMPL (Association of Muslims in Politics and Law), where she work alongside peers to create accessible pathways for students interested in law and policy while fostering a supportive and inclusive community.

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Policy

Policy Lead
Rida Shaikh

Rida Shaikh has been part of the California Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee for over two years, where she works as the Committee Assistant. Her love for public policy stems from being part of multiple political and environmental campaigns, where she connected with diverse communities and learned what people want out of leadership.

coming soon...

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Finance

Grant Researcher & Writer
Mariyah Kazim

Mariyah Kazim is a public health data analyst and program manager working at the intersection of community health, policy, and advocacy. She holds a BS in Public Health with a minor in Data Science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics. Mariyah is actively applying to Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs and plans to attend law school, with the goal of advancing equitable, data-informed policy solutions and amplifying Muslimah voices in civic and policy spaces. 

Fundraising Manager
Rasha Mohamed

Rasha Mohamed is a Flint native with a background working in the non-profit space focused on issues related to the widening wealth gap, lack of access to clean water, and food insecurity. With an interest and passion for addressing social inequities, Rasha has had the opportunity to interact with people in many capacities, whether that is in the form of language development, community development, or political engagement. She holds a Master’s of Public Policy and a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan 

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Programs

Virtual Events Technical Producer
Summer Ismail

Summer Ismail is a recent graduate of UC San Diego, holding degrees in Communications and Political Science with a focus on International Relations. Currently, she is at SDSU pursuing a master's in Public Administration. A proud first-generation Palestinian-American, Summer is a passionate political activist and accomplished speaker dedicated to creating meaningful change. 

Advisory Council 

Maria Khan

Maria T. Khan is the Founder and Advisory Council Chair of Muslimahs in Policy, which she established to build a foundational network and co-learning space that supports and guides Muslimahs in making an impact in policy. She also serves as a Senior Research and Data Analyst at Catalyst California, an award-winning nonprofit advancing racial justice and equity. Maria holds an M.S. in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and earned her B.A., with honors, in International Studies from the University of California, Irvine. She is also a graduate of the Coro Public Affairs Fellows Program.

Suad Abdel Aziz

 Suad Abdel Aziz is a Sudanese American human rights lawyer and the founding
Executive Director of Decolonize Sudan. Born and raised in Hasahisa, Sudan, her work centers on confronting genocide, foreign intervention, and corporate complicity in Sudan. Through Decolonize Sudan, she leads legal advocacy, documents and challenges abuses before international and U.S. accountability mechanisms, develops political education curricula, and facilitates organizing and advocacy trainings across the United States. Her work bridges law, diaspora organizing, and anti-imperialist policy advocacy to advance community-led strategies for liberation.

Sheila Badwan

Sheila Badwan is a Palestinian American community leader who currently serves as Director of Strategic Philanthropy and Partnership at Intuitive Solutions, as well as Founder and Principal Consultant of Luminary Bridge Consulting. She has spent her career at the intersection of community and advocacy, cofounding Open Arms (an interfaith women's group in Milwaukee), serving as Board President of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance, Treasurer of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Foundation, and a steering committee member for the HOME program - which plans World Refugee Day at the Lynden Sculpture Garden. She is also a member of Rotary of Milwaukee, Tempo Milwaukee, and a Global Goodwill Ambassador.

Sheila also serves on the board of the Palestinian Student Scholarship Fund and as Vice President of the Arab and Muslim Women's Research and Resource Institute (AMWRRI). She is married and a devoted mother of two children; one of her children is deaf and nonverbal. This experience continues to shape her commitment to inclusive, compassionate community work.

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Questions about joining our team?
Email us at [email protected]

© 2022. Muslimahs in Policy. MIPs.