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.
DR. AHMED AZAM, VICE CHAIR
Islamic Center of Hawthorne
WAQAS SYED, SECRETARY
ICNA SoCal
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.
DR. LENA ALSARRAF, BOARD MEMBER
Islamic Center of Southern California
Dr. Lena AlSarraf is a physician practicing at a community health clinic near downtown Los Angeles for the past 16 years. She has served on the Islamic Center of Southern California for two terms, and was Vice Chair for 2 years, and Board Chair for 1 year in 2020. She is honored to serve on the Shura Council board and looks forward to promoting connections, collaboration, and contribution to forward the empowerment of the Ummah.
YASSER AHMED, BOARD MEMBER
Islamic Society of Orange County
ASSER FADUL, BOARD MEMBER
Islamic Relief USA
Asser Fadul is a sociologist, writer, and nonprofit professional focused on faith, identity, and collective repair in modern Muslim life. He serves as a Development Coordinator at Islamic Relief USA, where he works in fund development and community-facing roles that strengthen relationships between the organization and the communities it serves.
Asser’s writing and public education contribute to In The In-Between, a project exploring Muslim life, justice, and belonging through an Islamic and sociological lens. He also leads Safha, an initiative focused on strengthening volunteer engagement, institutional accessibility, and long-term sustainability.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Business Administration. He is pursuing a Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Southern California. His work emphasizes ethical leadership, accountability, and long-term community health, with a particular interest in strengthening coordination and governance among Muslim institutions.
DAUD MOHMAND, BOARD MEMBER
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
MASOUD NASSIMI, BOARD MEMBER
Afghan American Muslim Outreach
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.
DR. FATHEEMA SUBHAN, BOARD MEMBER
Afghan American Muslim Outreach
Dr. Fatheema Subhan is an Associate Professor and Registered Dietitian with extensive experience in community-based research and public health nutrition. She holds a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism and completed postdoctoral training in Nutrition and Public Health at the University of Alberta, Canada.
Her work is centered on health promotion and the prevention and management of chronic diseases, with a particular focus on type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease among marginalized and underserved communities. Through community-based participatory research and mixed-methods approaches, she is committed to advancing equitable, evidence-based nutrition strategies that empower individuals and communities to make informed health decisions and reduce health disparities across diverse populations.
Our Staff
ELAINE YOUNES
Office Manager
KALIM FAROOKI
Development Director
IMAM ABDUL HAFIZ
Prison Outreach Project Director
