Our Mission & Vision
Mission: The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California represents the consensus of Southern California Muslims, promotes communication and service among member organizations and society-at-large, advocates on behalf of its members, and advances leadership development.
Vision: Excellence in Leadership and Strength in Unity.
Our Board Of Directors
DR. DEANA HELMY, BOARD CHAIR
ICNA Relief SC
Dr. Deana Helmy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and the Director of Counseling Services at ICNA Relief’s Crescent Counseling Center in Fullerton. She also works for the County of Orange in Mental Health and Recovery Services. Deana holds a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business.
Deana’s passion is in positive psychology and personal development, and she uses her skills to promote strengths-based, growth mindsets that empower the community to challenge biases and practice humility, resiliency, and connectedness.
WAQAS SYED, VICE CHAIR
Waqas Syed was first elected to the Shura Council board in 2016. Since then he has been part of several roles, including Board secretary, PR Department lead, Intrafaith Committee lead, and others. He is currently on the National Boards of ICNA, NAIMA (North American Indian Muslim Association), and USCMO. He is active in advocacy and interfaith circles.
MUNIR SHAIKH, SECRETARY
Bayan Islamic Graduate School
Munir Shaikh serves as Vice President of Operations and Academic Affairs at Bayan Islamic Graduate School, headquartered in Southern California. He has nearly 30 years of experience as a non-profit executive, program manager, and public educator. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain.
He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and has contributed to the efforts of numerous Muslim American and interfaith organizations. He participates in national gatherings such as the Council on Foreign Relations workshop on Religion and Foreign Policy and the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, and has overseen grant projects funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion. He is an advisor for projects addressing Islam’s place in world history, interreligious and religious leadership issues, and Muslim American community developments, and leads academic world heritage tours various countries.
DAUD MOHMAND, TREASURER
Executive Director, HADI Relief
Daud Mohmand is the co-founder and Executive Director of HADI Relief and a board member of Lifting Humanity. Daud has over two decades of operational, technical, and project management experience. His educational journey began with earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach.
Daud’s non-profit experience began with ISNA and IslamiCity as its webmaster and later joined Islamic Relief, managing their annual Ramadan Campaign and multimillion-dollar national events. His dedication to humanitarian work continued at Muslim Aid USA, where he served as the Director of Operations and Development and helped take the growing startup charity from 4 million dollars to 15 million annual donations within three years.
Beyond his official roles, he commits to mentoring emerging non-profits, assisting them in formulating development and operational strategies
SHEIKH TARIK ATA, BOARD MEMBER
Orange County Islamic Foundation
Shaykh Tarik pursued his higher education at Northern Illinois University where he attained a BA in psychology. After graduating from NIU, Shaykh Tarik went to Jordan in pursuit of Islamic knowledge. While in Jordan, Tarik studied at the World Islamic Science and Education University (also called the Islamic University) where he achieved a BA in Islamic jurisprudence and its foundations as well as an MA in Islamic jurisprudence with a specialty in Islamic commerce and finance. Shaykh Tarik continued his academic career at Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School and obtained a Masters degree in Islamic Studies. He now serves as the Imam of the Orange County Islamic Foundation and a full-time Seminary Instructor with the IOK Seminary.
NASSER KARAM, BOARD MEMBER
Islamic Center of Southern California
After relocating from Boston to Los Angeles in 1996, Dr. Nasser Karam and his family were thankful to discover and join the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC) community. It is here that his family grew and learned about the New Horizon School Pasadena (NHSP) and MPAC. The NHSP is where his daughters, Yasmeen and Shereen, both graduated. Dr. Karam’s wife, Hala, joined the New Horizon School Pasadena team, and later continued her engagement with MPAC and the ICSC. Overall, Dr. Karam is thankful for the blessings of our community “family.”
At the ICSC, Dr. Karam has led the ICSC Satellite task force that established the ICSC Satellite Guidelines (currently Pasadena and Santa Monica locations). These guidelines were approved by the ICSC Board in 2022. He has served on the ICSC Membership Committee and has been an active member of the ICSC khateeb program since 2018. He has also served as a member of the Interfaith Study Group planning committee since 2019 and as the ICSC liaison to the Shura Council since 2020.
YASSER AHMED, BOARD MEMBER
DR. AHMED AZAM, BOARD MEMBER
MASOUD NASSIMI, BOARD MEMBER
Masoud Nassimi relocated from Afghanistan to the United States in year 1983, and enrolled at Purdue University, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Structural and Civil Engineering. Since July 1988, Mr. Nassimi has been employed with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). He currently serves as a Permit Engineer in the Greater Los Angeles Area. In addition to his role at Caltrans, Mr. Nassimi has been teaching part-time as an adjunct professor at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) since 1990. He is the author of two textbooks, Intermediate Algebra, and Introduction to Algebra. Mr. Nassimi is the co-author of “How to perform Hajj (Step by Step) written alongside the late Dr. Ahmed Sakr (RA). He has also authored three books in Persian: Hajj and Umrah (Step by Step), Collection of Duaas and Brief Explanation of the 99 Names of Allah SWT and Enhancing Mosque Security and Outreach Activities. During his volunteer work with the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Mr. Nassimi compiled informative booklets on the history and conflicts of Kashmir, Chechnya, and Kosovo.
In his personal time, Mr. Nassimi has dedicated himself to numerous community organizations for over three decades. He currently serves as a board member for the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California (ISCSCA), North America Islamic Trust (NAIT), Afghan American Muslim Outreach (AAMO), and Masjid Al-Hedayah, as well as an emeritus board member for the National Board of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Mr. Nassimi’s extensive volunteer service in the past includes roles such as Vice Chair of the CAIR National Board (2013–2022), Chair of CAIR-CA (2009–2013), President and founding member of CAIR-LA (1996–2003), and President and founding member of AAMO (2006–2024). He has also served as a board member for the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California (2006–2012), the Orange Crescent School (2005–2008), and the Islamic Center of Lomita (1996–1999).
He is married with three children and residing in Southern California.
Our Staff
ELAINE YOUNES
Office Manager
KALIM FAROOKI
Development Director
IMAM ABDUL HAFIZ
Prison Outreach Project Director
