Our Team
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.
Founder & President
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
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.
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
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.
Treasurer
Vice President Steve Harris Scott
Donor Relations Committee
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 and digital security matters concerning Rumi Legacy Schools activities in Afghanistan and in social media content. He provides educational and other professional domain specific translations into English or Afghan languages when needed.
Donor Relations Committee
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
Donor Relations Committee
Col. Donald J. Fielden, USAF (ret.) also serves as Co-Chair of our Donor Relations Committee. He worked for 33+ years as a command and control, cyber operations, and cybersecurity leader for the Department of Defense. He owns a consulting company providing business development, business transformation and information technology services to the DoD, defense companies and non-profit organizations. Additionally, he is Owner/CEO of an aircraft manufacturing company.
DRC energetically lead fundraising and resource donation & development initiatives.
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
Another member of our Team facilitates 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.
Our critical Afghan Educator Liaison volunteer 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.
Grant Writing Volunteers
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
Scholarship & Other Volunteers
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.
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