Waleed lives in Richmond, Virginia where he serves in a part-time capacity as the Muslim Chaplain at the University of Richmond, in addition to his full-time role as a Manager of the Install Project Management team for a non-profit health-tech company. Waleed is dedicated to uplifting young Muslims by nurturing their personal growth, encouraging active engagement, and helping them build strong connections to their faith.
Abdelrahman Issa is an independent researcher based in Houston, Texas, with a background in engineering, business, and Islamic studies. His favorite course, Advanced Qur’anic Studies, deepened his passion for the Qur’an and inspired his ongoing work. After graduation, he plans to write a book exploring Qur’anic rhetoric and its dialogue with other religious traditions. He is grateful for the opportunity to study at TISA.
Michael Wolfender is of French and American descent and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. He is the Quran Department Head in Good Tree Academy in Plano, Texas. Michael offers a contextually relevant approach to learning the Quran with his Quran Intuitive project and aspires to be a competent advisor to guide American Muslims in their quest for a more meaningful bond with Allah’s word.
Nazish Mithaiwala, an Atlanta native, lives in Maryland where she supports new Muslims and teaches Arabic at local area Masajid. She also homeschools her two children, Maryam and Ibrahim. This year she will graduate from Al Azhar with a Bachelor’s in Arabic and Islamic Studies and plans to join the Ifta Program at Al Salam Institute in the Fall. As an attorney, she hopes to synthesize Islamic sciences with the practice of both family and estate planning law.
Jaweed lives in Dallas, Texas, and is actively engaged in youth and adult Islamic education. Alongside this, he works as a productivity mentor and personal development coach focused on Islamic values. Deeply committed to building the next generation of confident American Muslims, he aspires to continue his journey in Islamic education and strives to make Islam a relevant, guiding force in the everyday lives of Muslims.
Suleman Thaniana currently lives in Austin, Texas, where he works as a computer engineer. He is still searching for his next step towards benefiting his community, but he is hoping to find that at the intersection of Technology and Islamic Studies.
Ifdal Yusuf is of Indonesian descent and currently lives in Dallas, Texas. He is the Head Hifdh Teacher at Qalam Institute where he teaches and mentors children who are on the path of memorizing the Qur’an. He also volunteers in different capacities for his local masjid, Valley Ranch Islamic Center.
TISA is a premier American Islamic Graduate Institution dedicated to cultivating a generation of world-class doers and thinkers who lead from an Islamic paradigm while engaging contemporary challenges and opportunities.
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