COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS - CHICAGO | DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS. FIGHTING BIGOTRY. PROMOTING TOLERANCE
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS - CHICAGO | DEFENDING CIVIL RIGHTS. FIGHTING BIGOTRY. PROMOTING TOLERANCE
Haney is a Government Affairs intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in history. Haney has previously worked for Halal Farms USA and the U.S. Soccer Federation. Haney is interested in learning more about government policy and hopes to become a law professor. He enjoys writing, soccer, and watching movies in his free time. Haney played soccer overseas for two years and one of his favorite non-fiction authors is Chris Hedges.
William is a Government Affairs intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently attending DePaul University and majoring in political science and on the Dean’s List. William previously interned for Karen Buck a member of parliament in the UK in 2011. He hopes to establish a career where he will do work that can truly better the world for everyone. William enjoys history, philosophy, football, and cooking. He is also of recognized German nobility.
Aseal is a Government Affairs intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently a freshman at the University of Chicago double majoring in public policy and political science and minoring in human rights. Aseal has previously served as an extern for the Regional Transportation Authority, is an Illinois State Scholar and on the Dean’s List at U of C. She hopes, in her time at CAIR-Chicago, to learn more about civil rights advocacy and government legislation. She hopes to one day represent the Muslim community by gaining political office. Aseal is also a board member of the University of Chicago’s Students for Justice in Palestine and the Outreach Coordinator for the Muslim Students Association. She enjoys playing basketball, reading contemporary fiction, and writing in her free time. Aseal is also tri-lingual; she can speak German, Arabic, and English.
Aaron is a Government Affairs Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a current senior at Loyola University and is majoring in Political Science and Journalism. He wants to fight human rights violations across the world. He also likes to travel, play sports and produce his own documentaries.
Nasir is a Policy Research Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a sophomore at the Southern Illinois University and is majoring in Political Science and History. He wants to work hard to get a PhD in Political Science or Historical Studies. He also wants to teach and to conduct research in his field. He wants to learn more about the Muslim community and improve his communication skills. In his spare time Nasir likes to play sports and read about religion.
James is a Policy Research Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a current student at Lake Forest College and is majoring in Politics. His professional goal is to become better acquainted with voter outreach. He also wants to have at least two letters to the editor published and to write for the Chicago Monitor. In his free time James likes to play golf and read books. His favorite book series is Harry Potter.
Matthew is a Policy Research intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a sophomore at Knot College, majoring in international relations. He is also the recipient of the “Best Column” at the 2012 ICPA College Journalism Competition. Matthew hopes to gain more experience with professional research with a focus on government policy. He will be studying in Berlin in the Fall and hopes to become an American ambassador. Matthew spends his free time reading, engaging in political discussions, listening to music and playing tennis.
Molly is an Outreach intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently a junior at Loras College majoring in social work and psychology. She has previously worked with after school programs for elementary school students in Iowa. Molly hopes to get a Master’s degree in social work or social justice studies. She is interested in working with different agencies that advocate for minority groups. In her free time she enjoys reading and writing poetry.
Sarah is an Outreach intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a senior at DePaul University majoring in Islamic World Studies. Sarah hopes to earn a PhD in contemporary Islamic studies and to one day work behind policy-makers in Washington D.C. and educate them about Islam and Muslims. Sarah loves to learn, dance, and has an obsession for historic architecture.
Abdullah is an Outreach/Youth Development Intern for CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a high school junior at Naperville Central High School. Abdullah wants to become either a doctor or a dentist and is also interested in studying political science in college. He likes playing football, basketball, wrestling, swimming, running and reading. Abdullah also has a strong interest in international food.
Yrys is an Outreach/Government Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Kyrpyz International in Kurgistan in 2008 with a degree of International Communications. She has always wanted to become an ambassador to make positive changes in her community and culture. Her goal in life is to keep learning and becoming an important person others can look up to. In her free time Yrys likes to travel, explore new traditions, ride horses and cook.
Elizabeth is a Human Resources and Outreach Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from Purdue University in December 2011 with a degree in Sociology. She wants a Masters Degree in Instructional Design in order to become a project manager for a successful company. Her personal goals are to learn more about Islam and to better express herself. Elizabeth’s hobby is to ride horses.
Brittany is a Communications Extern at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Marketing at Lewis University. She previously served as an Executive Management Assistant, Area Manager, and University Staff. Brittany hopes to pursue a career in market research, business relations, and international marketing. She enjoys writing, reading, and traveling in her free time. Brittany also did gymnastics including swimming and track.
Dartunorro is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in political science and communication. Dartunorro works as Resident Assistant for UIC campus housing. He has previously interned for the Better Government Association, Congressman Danny K. Davis, Changing Worlds, and Friends of the Chicago River. Dartunorro is a McKelvie Scholar, the recipient of the CME Group Mayoral Awardon and is on the Dean’s List. He hopes to become a political journalist, travel nationally and internationally documenting injustices and human rights issues. Dartunorro is especially interested in working in countries without significant press presence. He hopes his experiences will lead him to one day work for the U.N. or the White House where he can impact policy and increase cultural competencies. In his free time he enjoys rock climbing and reading.
Kenya is a Communications Intern for CAIR-Chicago, focusing on video production. She currently attends the Illinois Center for Broadcasting (ICB) where she studies audio and video production and is expecting to graduate in the fall. She has taken many video and television production courses before attending ICB. After graduation she plans to pursue a degree in film. Kenya’s interest in raising awareness about social issues in America brought her to CAIR-Chicago. In her free time she reads, especially about ancient history, watches documentaries, produces her own short films and documentaries and maintains an entertainment blog. Kenya is also a big fan of Jhene Aiko’s music.
Imran is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is entering his junior year at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he is majoring in mathematics. Imran is interested in attending law school after he receives his bachelor’s degree from UIC. His hobbies include basketball, reading and collecting sneakers.
Afia is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Afia is currently a Communications student at Elmhurst College. Her professional interests include working with law or marketing. Her current goal is to study Arabic for a year in Texas. In her spare time Afia likes to go bike riding, swimming and traveling.
Afra is a Video Production Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a current Moving Image and Pre-Med student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Afra is planning on becoming either a doctor or a director. She also wants to become a better writer and work closely with video. Afra’s hobbies include reading books and watching videos. An interesting fact about her is that she can quote all the Batman movies.
Unique is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a current student at Depaul University and is majoring is Public Relations and Advertising. She is also pursuing a minor in Accounting. She hopes to be able to start her own public relations firm and volunteer around the world. One of her personal goals is to visit Africa and help fight AIDS. Unique enjoys singing, scrapbooking, blogging and traveling. She is also a big sci-fi movie fan.
Sarah is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a sophomore at the University of Michigan. She is planning on going to law school after she graduates. She also wants to travel the world. In her free time Sarah likes to read and learn different languages. She is also involved with the Amnesty International and STAND chapters at her school.
Isamar is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May 2012 with a degree in Psychology and English. Her professional goals are to go to graduate school and work in different countries. She also wants to write her own novel. In her free time Isamar likes to play video games, bake and do arts and crafts.
Mallory is currently a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is entering her junior year at Georgetown University, where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in journalism and education. She is interested in working at a media outlet after she graduates and hopes to incorporate social justice work, with a special focus on civil rights, into her career. Mallory’s personal interests include writing, music and French language and culture.
Francisco is currently an Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a recent graduate of Duquesne University, where he double majored in international business and marketing. He spent one summer volunteering in Japan helping with tsunami relief. He is interested in working at a Fortune 500 company or a marketing firm. Francisco enjoys playing soccer, reading, kickboxing and biking.
Nehal is currently an Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is in her third year at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is majoring in psychology. She previously volunteered during the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium, which CAIR-Chicago sponsored. Nehal hopes to go to law school and would be interested in focusing on either international law or immigration law. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading novels and playing soccer.
Noor is currently an Executive Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011 with a degree in English literature. She previously served as a communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. Noor is interested in learning more about grant writing and hopes to write grant proposals this summer to various foundations and organizations that offer them. Her interests include music, television and reading.
Samar is currently an Executive Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from Allegheny College in May 2012, where she received a bachelor’s degree in religious studies. She has served as an elementary, middle and high school teacher in Pakistan and also as the web director at MTV Pakistan. Samar hopes to become a civil rights advocate, especially for American-Muslims, in the non-profit sector of the economy. In her spare time, Samar enjoys cooking, singing and reading, specifically works by authors from the Indian subcontinent.
Sania is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from law school. She graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law in May 2012. She also received her B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she graduated summa cum laude. Sania is interested in employment law and civil rights issues. She is excited about contributing to the civil rights department at CAIR-Chicago and to gain professional experiences.
Devon is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently a student at the University of Chicago majoring in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Devon hopes to attend law school in the future and potentially pursue a career in public interest. In her free time, Devon enjoys knitting and playing instruments including the clarinet, trumpet, and bass guitar.
Rahman is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a student at the University of Chicago majoring in political science and sociology. Rahman has previously worked at Grassroots Campaign Inc., the University of Chicago Oriental Institute, and was an intern at Obama for America. He hopes to get a law degree and to always continue learning. His personal goals include creating positive change in his community and giving a voice to the voiceless. In his free time, Rahman enjoys soccer, cooking, and watching terrible movies.
Sophia is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2012 and received her Bachelor’s in public policy and Arabic at the University of Chicago. Sophia previously served as a law clerk at the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. She is also the proud recipient of the Boren Fellowship Award for Foreign Language Study. Sophia is pursuing a career in public interest law and would eventually like to be a policy advocate for criminal justice and for economic justice issues. In her free time she enjoys modern and Bhangra dance, oil pastel drawing, and playing jazz flute.
Emanuel is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a sophomore at Loyola University majoring in religious and international studies. Emanuel previously served as a law clerk for McGlynn and McGlynn Associates PLC. He is in Loyola University’s Honors Program and is on the Dean’s List. Emanuel hopes to pass the bar exam in Illinois and work with criminal litigation. He hopes to learn more about criminal defense cases. Emanuel enjoys music, specifically piano and guitar, golf, and is an avid Bear’s fan.
Sarry is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a junior at DeVry University majoring in justice administration. Sarry hopes to learn more about civil rights and the law. He plans to go to law school and become an attorney in the civil rights field. Sarry is fluent in Arabic, is originally from Chicago and loves to read and go running.
Brooke is a Civil Rights Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a current student at the University of Chicago and is attending the School of Law. In her free time she likes to participate in distance running.
Nick is a Law Clerk Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 2011 with a degree in English. His professional goals include improving his legal research and writing skills. Nick enjoys reading, mountain climbing, playing the piano and photography.
Kyle is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a law student at DePaul University, where he is concentrating on art and museum law and health law. After he graduates, he hopes to work on archaeological preservation abroad, preferably in the Middle East. Kyle enjoys learning new languages; he already speaks English, Italian and French and hopes to learn Sanskrit, Urdu and Portuguese.
Jeff is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a law student at John Marshall Law School. He hopes to become an attorney who advocates for people’s rights. He believes he will begin this process by working at CAIR-Chicago and similar organizations. Jeff is interested in economics and enjoys playing basketball and swimming.
Hanan is currently a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 2009 with a degree in English literature. She is currently in her second year at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Hanan wants to become either a civil rights or environmental lawyer because she is interested in advocating on behalf of people who most need it. In her free time, Hanan enjoys running, yoga, cooking, going to concerts and reading.
Claudia is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from DePaul University in 2011 and is currently in her second year at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she is focusing on criminal law. Claudia hopes to become a successful criminal defense attorney and wants to work with international criminal law in a foreign embassy. She is also interested in possibly becoming a judge in the future. In her free time, Claudia enjoys discussing politics, playing soccer, dancing and reading.
Sohaib is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He currently attends law school at Valparaiso University School of Law, where he expects to graduate in 2014. He has previously served as both a law clerk at the Madison Law Associates and a legal intern at Paul Wharton and Associates. Sohaib wants to become a successful attorney and also hopes to teach at an institution of higher learning in the future. He loves basketball and has watched almost every Chicago Bulls game for the past 10 years.
Megan is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where she double majored in journalism and advertising. She is currently a student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Megan wants to focus her legal career on both civil rights and constitutional law, with an emphasis on First Amendment rights. She would also like to practice immigration law and specialize in international human rights. Megan enjoys doing yoga, running, reading and attending sporting events in Chicago.
Caleb is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently in his second year at DePaul Law School. He has served as a legal intern for Bloomington Legal Services. Caleb hopes to become a skilled litigator in the future while also making an impact by focusing on civil rights. Caleb enjoys playing bass guitar, fishing and watching Chicago sports teams compete.
Natalie is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently in her second year of law school at the University of Notre Dame. She is interested in doing transactional law, but she is still deciding what to practice in. During her free time, Natalie loves going to Notre Dame football games. She also likes to cook, read and travel. Natalie has also received her scuba diving certification while studying in Athens, Greece.
Karim Azeb is a Civil Rights Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Political Science and History. After graduation, he plans to apply to law school with a concentration in International Law. As an intern, he hopes to develop new skills that will positively impact his future in law, while simultaneously helping clients within the Chicago-Muslim community. In his spare time, he likes to read, watch the news and play soccer.
Laura Horner is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently in her third year of law school at Depaul University College of Law. She would like to work for a non-profit organization specializing in immigration work. In her spare time Laura likes like to travel, read and attend sporting events like the Memphis Grizzlies basketball games. An interesting fact about her is that she was a page in the U.S. Senate when she was only sixteen.
Kaitlin Taylor is a Government Affairs intern at CAIR Chicago. She is a graduate of DePaul University, where she studied Political Science and Arabic, focusing heavily on democratization and foreign policy. Upon graduating, Kaitlin traveled to Morocco as a State Department Critical Language Scholar. Her ongoing study of Arabic has also brought her to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. Her experiences living in the Middle East combined with her interest in politics are what led Kaitlin to seek and internship with CAIR. She looks forward to gaining a richer understanding of the dynamics of Muslim-American life and promoting a more tolerant understanding of Islam. Outside the office, Kaitlin enjoys live music, traveling, and reading political memoirs.
Shaleen graduated from Loyola University Chicago in December 2011 with a degree in Political Science and Psychology. She just applied to law school and her professional interests include civil rights, human rights, international relations, and family law. Her goal in life is to use the opportunities and resources she was given to help others. In her spare time Shaleen likes to read, workout, and spend time with family and friends.
Alina Ali is currently a Civil Rights intern at CAIR Chicago. She is a senior at DePaul University. She is majoring in International Studies and has a minor in Islamic World Studies. She plans on attending law school next year to further her interest in the field of international law. Alina is also active in fostering dialogue within the DePaul community by helping to create and facilitate dialogue-based workshops for students, which explore issues regarding diversity, culture, identity and social justice. She also participated in the Soliya Connect Program which allows individuals from Western societies and predominantly Muslim societies to engage in a cross-cultural dialogue regarding pressing global issues. Alina hopes to continue her work to bridge the gap between individuals that are separated on cultural and geographical grounds.
Kate is a Public Education intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is finishing her senior year at Loyola University Chicago, where she majors in communication & international studies and minors in Islamic world studies. Kate began studying Arabic language in her sophomore year, which led her to study abroad in Amman, Jordan. Her study abroad experience bolstered the very positive connection she felt with Islamic community both abroad and at home in Chicago. Her primary academic interests are fostering effective cross-cultural communication and the struggle to understand identity.
Nichole Xiong is a civil rights law clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a second year law student at DePaul University College of Law. Nichole graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. During the summer of 2010, Nichole was a legal intern at Kraft Foods Global, Inc.. Later that year, she served as a legal intern in the Domestic Violence Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Her professional interests include intellectual property, civil rights, immigration, family, and corporate law.
Gabriel is a Public Education intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a student in Lake Forest College where he majors History and minors in Islamic World Studies. He has a history of being an active leader in organizations like Hillel (the on-campus Jewish organization) and MSA (the Muslim Student’s Association). After returning from studying abroad for a semester in Tunisia he decided to be actively involved with an organization that helps spread awareness of the diversity of Islam in his home town. Gabe decided to join CAIR-Chicago because he believes that educating the public is the only way to end the fear and misconception people have about the Muslim community. He enjoys watching international films and Spanish soaps in his free time.
Agnieszka Karoluk is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She attends DePaul University and is expecting to graduate in June 2012. Agnieszka is majoring in Geography with a special interest in Urban Studies, Iranian Studies, and Islamic Studies. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Geography focusing on Polish migrants in Western Europe and the discrimination they face in the UK and France. Agnieszka has been aquainted with CAIR for the past two years from doing activism around Palestinian rights as well as working with the Islamic World Studies department at DePaul University. Being an outspoken and passionate advocate for human and civil rights, Agnieszka hopes that her time at CAIR-Chicago will help her develop more skills to promote a message of social justice not only for Muslims in America, but for all communities which endure bigotry and are misrepresented in the media and in the classroom.
Uzma is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated among the top of her class from East-West University in March 2011, double majoring in marketing and accounting. She joined CAIR-Chicago to further develop and apply her skills towards the communication and marketing of American-Muslims in the mainstream media. Uzma is interested in world affairs, politics, religious studies, humanitarian causes and strongly supports education and activism.
Kate Trusk is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She earned her Master’s Degree in Communication with a specialization in Journalism and Social Media, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Journalism from Northern Illinois University. Kate came to CAIR-Chicago looking to help make a positive impact the world by spreading education through social networks. She previously worked as a writer and editor for NIU’s newspaper and continues to write on her personal blog, detailing the thrills of living a post-student life. Kate prides herself on keeping up with the latest social media fads and political gossip.
Susanne is a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism. Her interest in working for CAIR developed as a result of a presentation made in her international reporting class on media bias, and various courses taken in Middle Eastern history. Susanne’s goal for the future is to pursue international reporting, and hopes her experience with CAIR will provide an education in reporting in a sensitive and conscious manner.
Rana Khatib is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She attends the University of Illinois at Chicago and is expecting to graduate in the spring of 2013. Rana is majoring in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetorical, and Cultural Studies. She hopes to pursue a career in journalism while at the same time incorporating her own thoughts on the issues faced as a whole. Being well acquainted with CAIR-Chicago from a young age, Rana always loved their goals and aspirations. Being a communications intern gives her the chance to see first hand how civil rights or the lack thereof affect people of different races and ethnicities. Rana is a social and outspoken person and feels interning at CAIR-Chicago gives her the opportunity to use those skills for her future career.
Leen Jaber is a Communications Extern at CAIR-Chicago, assisting in editing and writing articles and assessments. Leen graduated in 2002 from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies. She currently is a Journalist and has published numerous articles in various publications throughout the country and in Cairo, Egypt. After working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she was inspired to advocate for immigrant rights, which brought her to CAIR-Chicago. In addition to her professional writing experience, she is also a singer and song writer and plays guitar in her spare time.
Andrew is a Research Fellow at CAIR-Chicago. He recently graduated with a Master’s degree in history from the University of Chicago, and previously earned his Bachelor’s degree in Modern Germanic Studies from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Andrew’s past research has focused on the 2009 Swiss Minaret ban and the effect of public and political discourse in Europe on the perception of Muslims, with particular emphasis on culturally biased interpretations of human rights, cultural practices, and gender roles. Andrew hopes to continue this type of research in the American context, focusing on how US media representations of Muslims influence the rhetoric surrounding Muslim-Americans.
Dima is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She attends the University of Illinois at Chicago and will graduate with a Bachelors in English and a concentration in Media, Rhetorical, and Cultural Studies in December 2011. Dima completed and presented her Senior Thesis about the interrelationship of verbal, written, and body language between a tutor and a writer at UIC’s Writing Center. Writing is her passion, and she wants to continue her career in Communications. She strongly believes that writing is a complex and multi-dimensional art that requires the full involvement of the writer’s whole identity.
Aabeda is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago and a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, by mainly focusing on writing love stories. While working towards her long-term goal of publishing short stories, Aabeda decided to join CAIR-Chicago as a Public Relations intern and help fight Islamophobia. After being bullied in eighth grade, Aabeda realized suffering silently never helps anyone. She loves to talk, therefore, chose Communication as her minor as well as Sociology.
Evan Gelles is a Civil Rights Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in psychology and a minor in political science. Evan has experience in non-profit organizations as well as research; he recently engaged in an independent research project in which he examined whether second generational racial problems exist in his largely Caucasian hometown. He is currently applying to law schools and interning as a law clerk at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He enjoys listening to Illmatic in his free time.
Ben is a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. He has moved to Chicago for four months on a temporary work visa from his native England where he recently graduated with a 2:1 degree classification in History and Geography from the University of Leeds. His studies focused largely on social issues, political activism and modern European cities. He also wrote a historical thesis on racial segregation in Chicago during his final year, arguing that the city’s public institutions perpetuated a form of de jure segregation. His interest in social issues and their depiction in the media, as well as a passion for writing, led him to discover the intern opportunity in the communications department of CAIR-Chicago as he seeks to pursue a career in the non-profit or public sector. Whilst in the States, he is also writing for the weekly newspaper Newcity Chicago. In his spare time, Ben enjoys vegetarian food, live music and being an ardent follower of football (soccer).
Kinza is a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 2010 where she received a Bachelor’s degree in international studies. Her focus was on the Middle East and the Arabic language, and she studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt for one semester. She also had minors in political science and Islamic world studies. Her professional interests include international relations, human rights, social justice, and politics. Kinza looks forward to starting law school at DePaul University College of Law in August 2011, where she hopes to focus on international human rights law and immigration law.
Noor is a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago where she received a Bachelor’s degree in English literature. Noor is interested in post-colonialism, colonial theory and South Asian and European history. Her professional interests include teaching these subjects as a professor after attending graduate school. Noor will be working with media relations and writing responses to news articles at CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Department.
Becky Fogel is a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. As an undergraduate at Scripps College in California, Becky majored in History with a focus on the Middle East. Her senior thesis examined colonial representations of Palestinian women in Mandate-period media and the ways in which these images were used to support foreign occupation. Looking at the connections between media representations, political policies, and access to power, led Becky to want to get involved with CAIR-Chicago. As both a religious minority and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Becky feels particularly strongly about challenging religious discrimination and misinformation about Islam. In addition to her internship at CAIR-Chicago, Becky works as a Resource Specialist for the Economic Empowerment Services program at the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago.
Aymen Abdel Halim is a summer 2011 communications extern at CAIR-Chicago. Aymen is currently a graduate student in the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts program at San Francisco State University. He is interested in media research, theory, and criticism, and more specifically, in the effects of media portrayals of Arabs and Muslims on Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. He recently co-authored a book chapter on the impact of TV news on the self-conception of Arab and Muslim youth and is continuing independent research on the effects of Arab and Muslim media representation in the U.S. Aymen is also a radio and video producer and is currently working on a documentary film about Palestinian life in the West Bank and Gaza.
Jenn is a Journalism/Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Approaching her senior year at DePaul University, she is on the Dean’s list and the Opinions Editor of the university newspaper, “The DePaulia.” Before interning at CAIR, Jenn spent time at the Chicago Tribune and NBC5, where she worked as an intern for Political Editor Carol Marin. Jenn’s interest in the Muslim-community began after noticing how Islamophobia penetrated the mainstream media after September 11th, 2001, which she saw as a detriment to the Muslim and non-Muslim community alike. Since then, she has spent time studying in North Africa and continues to learn Arabic. Envisioning a career that combines politics, new media, and traveling, Jenn hopes to combine her passions of human rights advocacy and diligent reporting by working abroad in the Middle East. Jenn is on track to graduate Summa Cum Laud from DePaul with a Bachelors degree in Journalism in June 2012. When Jenn is writing, she is probably doing yoga.
Anum Qadir is a Summer Youth Development intern at CAIR-Chicago. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, she is currently studying Public Policy and Economics at the University of Chicago. She is also active on campus through the Muslim Students Association, the South Asian Students Association, and UChicago for Pakistan, a student organization spreading awareness and raising funds for the 2010 Pakistani floods. Anum chose CAIR to help cultivate youth leadership in the Muslim community and for her interest in promoting a positive image of Muslims in the U.S. Her interests include music, Pixar movies, hiking, and baking.
Clement Yu is a rising senior at Boston College, double majoring in Theology and Philosophy, and double minoring in Faith Peace & Justice and Arabic Studies. His interest in Middle Eastern culture began with a mission trip to Mokattam in Cairo, Egypt, and his continuing study of Arabic thereafter has brought him to countries such as Kuwait, Egypt, and the UAE. Through the invaluable cultural and religious experiences that he experienced during his time abroad, Clement ultimately chose to come on board with CAIR-Chicago because of the organization’s vision to promote justice and mutual understanding of Islam while preserving civil rights. In his spare time, he enjoys having meaningful conversations, playing basketball, and rooting for the New York Mets.
Ian is a policy research intern for the Government Affairs Department at CAIR-Chicago for the summer of 2011. Originally from Lake Orion, Michigan, Ian is studying political science with a pre-law emphasis at Michigan State University. Ian plans to continue his studies in law school upon completion of his degree this year, and will look to focus on international law, public policy, and civil rights protection. Ian became interested in Muslim affairs after taking several classes at Michigan State that focused on politically disadvantaged groups, human rights, and political empowerment. This learning experience combined with his interest in politics and promoting equality for all groups of people led Ian to seek a summer internship with CAIR-Chicago. During his internship, Ian hopes to learn as much as he can about Muslim-American life and help promote tolerance and activism throughout the political system. During his free time, Ian enjoys being a sports fanatic, keeping up with the political world, and spending time on the golf course.
Eman is a summer Government Affairs Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Eman is a junior at Northeastern Illinois University and majoring in Criminal Justice and strives to eventually go to law school. She moved to Chicago just recently to further pursue her education and career. Since then, she has volunteered in various Islamic affiliated works including being an active member in her local mosque, working for Islamic Conferences, as well as being a part of the Muslim Student Association in her university. Eman has interests in civil rights, social justice, religion, and politics. She chose to be involved in CAIR-Chicago to provide a voice for Muslims in Illinois and bridge the gap between Muslims and people of other faiths. She is looking forward to this journey!
Nabila Siddqi is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a second year student at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Nabila graduated from Benedictine University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences. Her professional interests include immigration law, civil rights issues, and international law. Nabila’s other interests include photography, painting, traveling, and eating.
Eyad Tabahi is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a rising second year student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Eyad graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Business Institutions. His professional interests include business law, litigation, immigration law, criminal law, and international law. Eyad’s interests beyond law school include politics, traveling, learning new languages, and marketing.
Mark McGinn is a civil rights law clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a rising second year law student at The John Marshall Law School. Mark graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in History. While at Illinois, he worked as a First Year Campus Acquaintance Rape Educator, as a teaching assistant for the Fraternity Peer Rape Education Program, and was a member of Men Against Sexual Violence. He is pursuing a career in public interest and civil rights law. Mark plans to use his law degree to work for equal rights for men and women of all races. Mark plans to use his experience at CAIR-Chicago to learn more about Islam and spread awareness of discrimination against the Muslim community.
Amro Shamaileh is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. Amro is currently pursuing a law degree at Indiana University – Bloomington. As a Law Clerk for CAIR-Chicago, Amro works with victims of discrimination in order to help them receive proper relief. His professional interests include business law and civil rights. He spends his free time playing sports or reading books about finance, psychology, history or religion. Amro graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Mathematics.
Praveen is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He just finished his first year at DePaul University College of Law where he interns at the International Human Rights Law Institute. Praveen also serves as a child advocate for the University of Chicago’s Immigrant Child Advocacy Project. Praveen’s professional interests include international law, human rights, and immigration law. Prior to law school Praveen received a BA in Communications (specializing in Radio-Television-Film) from the University of Texas where he specialized in documentary and experimental film. Praveen is also a professional musician and his songs have been featured on NPR and many popular blogs. In his personal life, Praveen enjoys writing music, taking pictures, reading, and traveling.
Law Clerk Michael is a second year student at DePaul University College of Law. He is currently working at CAIR-Chicago as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, and received the 2011 Cudahy Fellowship. He is a member of the International Human Rights Law Institute. Prior to law school, Michael worked as an Immigrant Tutor at Heartland Alliance. He also worked at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation’s “Law & Health Project.” Michael is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied Political Science and International Studies, focusing heavily on human rights, genocide, and ethnic conflict. His current interests in law include Immigration, Human Rights, and International Law. His interests beyond law include soccer, rugby, and cars. Michael is a proud, life-long supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
Michael Timothy Nixon is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a rising second-year law student at the John Marshall Law School. He is a member of the Student Bar Association Community Service & Financial Aid Committees. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, and the Black Law Students Association Community Service Committee. Michael also serves as a BARBRI Student Representative for his section. Michael graduated in 2009 with a bachelors degree in Political Science from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In August 2009 – August 2010, Michael served as Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) on the campus of the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His professional interests include civil rights, religious liberty, fair housing, and sports law. In his free time, Michael enjoys sports, religion, prayer, music, reading, and traveling. Michael is excited about the opportunity to work with CAIR and is committed to contributing in any and every way possible.
Patrick Cowlin is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a rising 3L at DePaul University College of Law. Patrick graduated with Distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in Finance. At DePaul Law, he has spent time working as an intern at the International Human Rights Law Institute and had the opportunity to spend a summer in China working with a human rights NGO in Beijing. Patrick enjoys travelling and learning about new cultures, distance running, playing and listening to music, and, most of all, eating good food.
Zeena Barazanji is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is about to start her second year of law school at DePaul University. Zeena graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a degree in International Studies, with focuses in Human Rights and International Relations and Politics. Before moving to Chicago, she interned at the Polk County Attorney General’s Office, the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, and Hispanic Outreach Legal Assistance. Her interests include immigration law, international human rights, and civil rights advocacy. She hopes to pursue a career in International Law concentrating on Human Rights.
Adam Ansari is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a second-year law student at the John Marshall Law School. He is a member of the Middle Eastern Law Students Association and the Real Estate Law Student Chapter. Adam graduated from Boston University in 2008 with a BA in International Relations and Economics. During his undergraduate career, Adam interned at the Hudson Institute working at the Center for Democracy Promotion within the Middle East. He also worked as a contributory writer under Husain Haqqani, the current Pakistani Ambassador to the United States. Prior to Law School, Adam served as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) at the American Red Cross in Indianapolis. Adam hopes to eventually aid in the advancement of Muslims around the world and help change the misperceptions about Islam within the United States.
Kelli Bollin is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a student at Chicago-Kent College of Law and is working towards certificates in public interest and international law. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in French. Her professional interests include civil rights and human rights law. Kelli would like to use her legal career to bring positive change to people’s lives and hopes her internship with CAIR-Chicago will be the first step towards that goal.
Karim Azeb is a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Political Science and History. After graduation, he plans to apply to law school with a concentration in International Law. As an intern, he hopes to develop new skills that will positively impact his future in law, while simultaneously helping clients within the Chicago-Muslim community. In his spare time, he likes to read, watch the news, play soccer and devotedly follows the best soccer team in Egypt, Al Ahly.
Paul Coogan is a Civil Rights Law Clerk. He’s going into his second year at The John Marshall Law School. Paul graduated from Marquette University in 2009 with a degree in psychology. Prior to going to law school, he did a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in San Francisco. Paul worked at the Eviction Defense Collaborative, a legal clinic that helped low-income clients defend their eviction lawsuits and maintain their housing whenever possible. He hope to pursue a career in public interest and civil rights law. Paul is thrilled to have the opportunity to work at CAIR and hopes to help eliminate some of the stereotypes and misconceptions that so many in this country hold. It’s his goal to be able to use his law degree to truly help others and to make a difference.
Monica Uribe is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a graduate of Baylor University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree is Music Performance, with a concentration in saxophone. Monica is currently a second-year law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. She is a member of the United Nations Association (UNA-USA), the International Law Society, the Hispanic Latino Law Student Association, the Immigration Law Society, National Lawyers Guild, and Chicago-Kent Lambdas. Her professional interests include international human rights, immigration, and human trafficking. A native Texan, Monica enjoys good barbecue, iced tea, and watching football.
Alexander Demas is a Government Affairs intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a senior at Northwestern University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree majoring in both Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Civilizations and International Studies. Alex has built his character off of three values that have been instilled in him from a young age; responsibility, loyalty, and consideration. Building off of this foundation, Alex has made it his responsibility to uphold equality amongst others. In promoting equality he has remained loyal and considerate to not only his friends and family but to those who are in great need of encouragement, strength, and understanding. These qualities Alex hopes to share with CAIR-Chicago and the people who CAIR-Chicago seeks to help. Alex previously interned at the Summit County Board of Elections where he worked on a number of political campaigns and gained an understanding of state legislature and electoral processes. Alex hopes to be a diplomat working in the global community in the future. In the meantime, he spends his time studying, staying active and in shape, and enjoying the company of others.
Michael Williamson is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is currently a second-year law student at the University of Chicago. Michael is a member of the Human Rights Law Society and the Black Law Students Association. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a project analyst for a financial services company, and as a legal assistant for a private-practice attorney. Michael graduated magna cum laude with honors from The Ohio State University with a BSBA degree in Marketing.
Naveen is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated with honors from the University of Chicago where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Law, Letters and Society along with a minor in South Asian Languages & Civilizations. Naveen is currently pursuing a law degree from DePaul University College of Law. Her professional interests include immigration, civil/human rights, and international adoption. Having lived in the South Pacific for most of her life, she enjoys almost everything related to warm weather and traveling. Naveen will be researching and working on civil rights discrimination cases represented by CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Department.
Shamiq is a law clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a student at the University of Washington School of Law and his primary interest is in United States foreign policy toward South Asia as well as the interdisciplinary study of law in Pakistan. Shamiq believes that legal advice should be seen as a social service that achieves its greatest impact when combined with other types of social services (personal and financial counseling, community development efforts etc). He has been active in Muslim organizations since high school and is excited to have the opportunity to work with CAIR-Chicago to help individuals and organizations in need. Shamiq’s personal interests include an eclectic taste in music and literature. He also has an inordinate amount of dislike for the Boston Celtics as well as a corresponding level of enthusiasm for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Pakistan Cricket Team.
Momena is a Government Affairs Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Momena is a junior at DePaul, majoring in political science, and hopes to eventually attend law school. She has been an active member of her local mosque and volunteers there on a weekly basis. Throughout college, she has been on the Dean’s List and has participated in Muslim student organizations, and the debate team. She recently completed the Chicago LegalTrek program at Northwestern which has further cultivated her interest in law school. Momena strongly believes in defending marginalized groups within our society by protecting their human rights. CAIR’s activism in the areas of civil rights and engagement with Muslim and non-Muslim communities is what drew her to intern here. Her personal interests include Persian calligraphy, poetry, and music. Momena is fluent in Dari and Pashto, and works to maintain constant immersion in each language.
Maha is a Community Relations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Maha is a political science graduate from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. She moved to Chicago shortly after graduating and pursued a certificate program from Northwestern University in Business Administration. Since then, she volunteered in a couple of organizations to get acquainted with the cultural and political dynamics in Chicago. Maha was part of an international non governmental organization CISV where she served as the national junior representative for two years, there she got a lot of exposure to many cultures and mindsets. She is a strong believer in human rights and acceptance of all cultures, religions and races. During Maha’s internship in community relations she plans to gain knowledge about Chicago’s dynamics as well as share her experience and spread awareness about the importance of acceptance and peaceful co-existence. Maha has a passion for travelling and loves music.
Tamer is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a student at the John Marshall Law School; he serves on the Government Law Committee at the American Bar Association as Vice-Chair and on the Middle Eastern Law Society as a Liaison for the evening student section. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. Tamer graduated from DePaul University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Management. His professional interests include international affairs, civil rights, and prosecution. In his free time, he enjoys sports, religion, reading and traveling. He is devoted to shedding light on the legal issues that Muslims face in today’s society and is excited to be working with CAIR toward these goals this fall and in the future.
Asad is a Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He went on to study education at Benedictine University. Asad taught science in both public and private schools including Curie Metro High and Islamic Foundation School. He is currently pursuing a law degree from DePaul University. Asad hopes to practice immigration law after he graduates. He is a member of Al Maghrib, the Chicago Bar Association, and MENSA. He lives in Naperville with his mother and father.
Ariana Kasa attended Law School at DePaul University and is currently a Law Clerk for CAIR-Chicago. She is a member of the Justinian Society, the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity, the International Law Society, the Latinos Law Student Association, and the International Human Rights Law Institute. She has performed research in the areas of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and specializes in Islamic Law. She has worked for the UNHCR in Geneva, research institutes in Italy and in Senegal, in addition to her work in the United States. She is fluent in Italian and French and is in the process of learning Arabic. She received her B.A. in Italian and Political Science with a minor in French from Arizona State University. As an Arizona native, she loves the cold weather Chicago has to offer and enjoys the city life. Her passions are traveling, languages, meeting new people, discovering new cultures, and learning about global affairs.
Erica is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is currently a third year student at DePaul College of Law in Chicago, IL. At DePaul, she is a clinic extern at the Center for Justice in Capital Cases, the citations editor for the Journal for Social Justice, a volunteer for the International Human Rights Institute, and a member of the International Law Society. She has worked as a Coles Fellow at the Illinois Human Rights Commission assisting administrative law judges with cases involving human rights violations This past summer she was the policy intern at the National Immigrant Justice Center, where she researched the U.S. immigrant detention system and provided recommendations for improvements. Erica graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Russian Studies. Erica enjoys traveling and experiencing other cultures and she hopes to pursue a career in Immigration Law or International Law.
Evan Fazio is a communications intern at CAIR-Chicago this fall. He has spent the last two years studying at Loyola University, Chicago where he majors in Advertising and Public Relations, Philosophy, and Music. Evan has come to take a holistic body, mind, and soul approach to his studies at Loyola. He hopes that Advertising and Public relations will put food on his table and a roof above his future family’s head. Evan hopes philosophy will be his path to intellectual discovery and a way to keep his critical thinking and reasons skills sharp. Music provides sustenance for his soul as something that he does purely for himself. Evan’s goal is to make his career matter by using his education, training, and experience to affect real, lasting, and positive change in society by the time he retires.
Cassandra is currently working towards a M.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations at Loyola University Chicago. She is primarily interested in doing research on Middle Eastern affairs, especially Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Cassandra graduated from Emerson College in 2006 and has worked as an
