We are a dedicated group of Afghan and American professionals and activists passionate about our mission.
Some members of our Board and our contractors who are teachers in Afghanistan cannot share their names here due to the current extreme security concerns.
Our core values are excellence in undertakings, integrity, self-autonomy, equity, accountability, transparency, courage and compassion.
Check back for updated organizational information as we develop our nonprofit this year. Please email us for more information. We look forward to engaging with you.
As a child of six, Rumi Legacy Schools Founder and President was denied education under the first hardline Taliban regime when they banned girls over the age of eight from education in 1998. Her parents ran a secret school for educating young women in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s until the US military defeated the Taliban and their education bans. Our Founder's direct experience with this glaring inequity sparked her passion to dedicate her career to furthering rights for anyone denied an education. She is also currently pursuing a Ph.D. at George Mason University.
Steve holds a Ph.D. in History and is a Professor at George Mason University. His curriculum vitae includes serving as Academic Director at INTO George Mason, an Affiliate Professor with the Department of History and Art History, the Center for Mason Legacies, the Institute for Immigration Research and the Director and creator of a Minor in Health, Disease, and Culture. Steve is an active Rumi Legacy Schools Board member and oversees teacher pedagogy training of Rumi Legacy Schools teachers as well as attending various awareness and advocacy events.
Mimi has a background as an elementary school teacher with a Master's Degree in Education. Her experience includes teaching students of various grade levels for over 18 years and later working for SOCOM Care Coalition assisting in transitioning wounded, ill and injured US service members into civilian careers. She is credited with helping to develop the Skill Bridge Program allowing critical transitional internship opportunities for service members. She also serves as secretary of the organization.
Our Treasurer grew up in Afghanistan and now lives and works in the United States. His curriculum vitae includes a Fulbright Scholarship, working as a cultural advisor, linguist and interpreter from English to languages spoken in Afghanistan (Farsi/Dari and Pashto) and as a data scientist and full stack developer utilizing AI and creating innovative scalable software solutions. His education includes a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology and a B.S. in Computer Science. In addition to being the Treasurer he advises the Board on cultural matters concerning Rumi Legacy Schools activities in Afghanistan and in social media content and he provides educational and other professional domain specific translations into English or Afghan languages when needed.
Another Board member grew up in Afghanistan, successfully worked as a trusted teacher there and later served on the Afghanistan Ministry of Education. Given her long-standing ties within the Afghan educational and broader community, this Board member nurtures school relationships, evaluates curriculum and other educational programming and facilitates many of the relationships needed for hiring coordinators and teachers, leasing educational facilities, understanding and coordinating security needs and other logistical activities requiring very specific local knowledge and trusted contacts.
Our pro bono licensed attorney earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. She advises the Board on legal matters and assists the Secretary in administrative record-keeping, researches and edits speeches and other advocacy materials and attends various awareness and advocacy events. She is certified in TESOL (Teaching Students of Other Languages).
Our pro bono finance/accounting advisor graduated from The George Washington University School of Business, holds an Executive MBA and is also an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS. He offers our Team nonprofit finance expertise, well-versed in global financial operations with 10+ years of rich experience in nonprofit finance, auditing, accounting, reporting and analysis.
Our Social Media Manager Intern recently graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in Digital Technology and Emerging Media. She is working collaboratively with other Team members to develop our social media strategy and content.
We've recently added an experienced grant writer to our Team who hopes to secure substantial grants from assorted organizations and foundations.
We are fortunate to have a wealth of both volunteers and paid interns while partnering with different departments at George Mason University.
Another new member of our Team is facilitating enrollment of Rumi Legacy Schools students into University of the People's scholarship program for Afghan Girls and facilitating applications for Sustainable Development Goals Next Generation student scholarships.
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