Working together to help those in need to be self-reliant
ISOS is governed by a diverse and dedicated Board Of Directors who share a commitment to the goals and objectives of the Organization.
Arif has been a resident of the Pacific Northwest for the past four decades. He is one of the founding members of Bilal Masjid in Beaverton and serves as an advisor to the Muslim Educational Trust (MET). Arif was the CEO of Seattle-based ExtraHop Networks and, prior to that, held the position of President at Fluke Networks in Everett, WA. He holds an MSEE from Lehigh University and an MBA from the University of Oregon. Currently, Arif serves on the board of the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) and is on the boards of several technology startups. He is fervently dedicated to expanding ISOS's influence and exploring new avenues to continue providing assistance to the needy in our community. Enjoys traveling, walking/hiking, and watching sports and news.
A resident of Portland, Oregon for the last thirty years and has been involved with community service during that time. Her inspiration to serve the under privileged and refugees is driven by her deep-rooted passion for social justice. She is a founding member and on the board of directors of ISOS and Bilal Masjid in Beaverton. Faiza was trained as a physician in Pakistan. Recently, she earned her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from PSU and is now working with Lutheran Community Services as a clinical mental health counselor. In her free time Faiza likes to spend time with her family, read and taking long walks.
Faiza came to United States as an international student, completed her bachelor's in Psychology, and a master's in Organizational Leadership. She has lived in Portland OR for 20 years; has been a supporter of ISOS since its founding and an active volunteer with Muslim Educational Trust's educational outreach programs. She also volunteers at Habitat for Humanity and Oregon Food Bank. Faiza currently works at Travelers Insurance Company and in her free time enjoys hiking, cooking and reading..
Amra is a Bosnian-Muslim war refugee. She holds a bachelor's degree in Human Development and a Master of Social Work through the Child Welfare and Portland State University Partnership program. Amra is excited to join as an ISOS board member. She works at the Oregon Department of Human Services and brings over 25 years of experience working with immigrant and refugee communities in Oregon. In her free time, Amra enjoys attending community events and festivals with her daughters and husband.
I am a proud mother of two wonderful children, Salma and Jafar. Witnessing their growth and nurturing their happiness has been the most rewarding aspect of my life's journey. I was born and raised in Jordan, to a Syrian mother and a Palestinian father. I graduated from the University of Jordan with a B.A degree in Marketing. After graduation, I started my professional career at Orange Telecom - Jordan, a prominent international telecommunications company, where I served as a Strategic Accounts Manager for 8 years providing telecommunication services to government-sector accounts. In 2012, my husband, our 3-year-old daughter, and I immigrated to Oregon. In 2013, I gave birth to my second child here in Oregon. I started serving my Arab community in 2015 as a Healthcare Interpreter. For nearly 5 years, I facilitated understanding in critical areas like healthcare and education. During the pandemic in 2021, I joined Lutheran Community Service NW and collaborated with WA County in organizing COVID vaccine clinics. I assisted culturally specific communities facing healthcare access challenges. I have since been promoted to Program Manager, overseeing culturally specific behavioral health and community-based programs, and advocating for refugees' and immigrants' needs. My passion lies in helping culturally diverse communities overcome barriers and adapt to life in the United States, ultimately achieving independence. Being an immigrant and learning from my own experience, in addition to working with refugees and immigrants from different cultures and backgrounds, has deepened my understanding of resilience and courage. As a board member of ISOS, I am committed to leveraging this understanding to advocate for the needs of refugees and immigrants, ensuring that they have access to the resources and support necessary for their successful integration and empowerment.
Born and raised in Egypt, graduated from faculty of Engineering,
Software and Systems Engineering department at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt.
Moved to USA in 2007. Reem is married and we have two sons. Reem joined ISOS as a volunteer in 2016 and
constructed their new ISOS website.
Reem works as a Business Intelligence Analyst. Earned master degree in Data Analytics. Reem also volunteers for Portland Refugee Support Group (PRSG). Software Engineering is her passion,
especially when she can use it to serve the community.
She is a book worm, loves to travel, bake and make soaps.
lias Alami came to Oregon in 2022, after the democratic government in Afghanistan collapsed. He brings more than 13 years of experience in nonprofit development and management, grant writing, fundraising, and strategic engagement. He has a BA in Political Sciences and Public Administration. He lives with his wife and daughter in Beaverton and loves to do long walks.
Ammar brings a rich blend of cultural heritage and professional expertise to ISOS. Originally from Jordan with Palestinian roots, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Jordan. In 2020, he embarked on an educational journey to the United States, studying at the University of Texas at Arlington before making his way to Michigan and ultimately settling in Oregon. His life took a joyous turn recently with the arrival of their son, Ameer. Professionally, Ammar has cultivated a diverse background in Finance, Accounting, and Immigration. He currently serves as a full-time Staff Accountant, and he is thrilled to join ISOS as a Bookkeeper. He is eager to leverage his skills and experience to contribute to ISOS and support its mission. In addition to his finance career, Ammar is passionate about entrepreneurship. As a Co-Founder of KnafTak Desserts, he is dedicated in bringing the exquisite taste of the Middle Eastern dessert "Knafeh" to our community. You can find him at Beaverton's Saturday Farmers' Market. He also provides catering orders for large parties.
Raised in Seattle, WA, daughter of an Iraqi immigrant, graduated at the University of Washington with a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Retired in 2015 after working in the tech field for about 40 years. One of the founders of Islamic Social Services of Oregon State. Married to a Japanese American and have traveled to several countries in the world. Currently involved with other organizations, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization; Portland Police Bureau; and Community Services Network, addressing community safety and well-being. Hobby - gardening.