IAAB Staff
Mana Kharrazi, Executive Director
Ms. Mana Kharrazi received her BA in International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies, along with a minor in Persian, from Emory University. While at Emory, Ms. Kharrazi co-organized a lecture series focusing on Iran that brought together academics, artists, and community leaders from within the Iranian diaspora. Ms. Kharrazi initially joined Iranian Alliances Across Borders as a member of 2007's camp planning committee after participating in Camp Ayandeh as a counselor in 2006. In 2008, Ms. Kharrazi led Camp Ayandeh as its Director in Georgia, which was featured on CNN International and CNN.com. In 2009, Ms. Kharrazi became IAAB's Executive Director and continued the role on a volunteer-basis until 2011 when IAAB received a generous grant from PARSA Foundation and hired Ms. Kharrazi as IAAB's first paid Executive Director. Prior to working for IAAB, Ms. Kharrazi was a Field Organizer in Amnesty International USA's Southern Regional Office. As a Field Organizer, Ms. Kharrazi was responsible for Amnesty International's organizing and campaigning within Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. She served as a member of the Southern Human Rights Network's steering committee and helped organize the youth summit as a part of 2010's Southern Human Rights Organizer's Conference. Ms. Kharrazi has led numerous trainings and workshops, participated in panels at universities throughout the South, and organized events with the ACLU, NAACP and other nonprofit organizations. Ms. Kharrazi also worked at the Carter Center, Posse Foundation and CareerBuilder.
Shervin Etemad, Public Relations and Youth Ambassadors
Mr. Shervin Etemad is currently studying Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Spanish at the University of Connecticut. Mr. Etemad is a member of its 2012 Leadership Legacy Experience, which is a highly selective and prestigious year-long leadership development experience for outstanding student leaders. Mr. Etemad is also a part of UConn's Global Leadership Commission, is a trained EMT and is currently conducting research on an undergraduate level. Mr. Etemad created and leads IAAB's Youth Ambassador program while also acting as a member of its Public Relations staff. In addition to his studies, Mr. Etemad enjoys camping, traveling and eating good food in his spare time.
Amy Malek, Board Member and International Conference on the Iranian Diaspora Director
Ms. Amy Malek is a PhD student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Sociocultural Anthropology. Her primary interests are in visual anthroplogy, diaspora studies, ethnic studies, cultural production, and immigration. She is currently conducting a multi-sited ethnographic study of cultural production in the Iranian diaspora. Ms. Malek has worked with IAAB since its inception in 2003, serving in multiple roles. She graduated summa cum laude from Emory University with a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies and International Studies, and holds an M.A. in Anthroplogy from UCLA and an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from NYU, where she was a MacCracken Fellow. Alongside her graduate studies, Ms. Malek curated an exhibition of Iranian-American documentary photography held at the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles in the summer of 2010.
Darya Minovi, Public Relations
Ms. Darya Minovi is currently working toward a BA in Environmental Policy and Public Health at the College of William and Mary. Ms. Minovi is active on her campus and serves as a member of various clubs including Amnesty International, Photography and Project Phoenix Tutoring. Ms. Minovi is also a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority as the Officer of PR Apparel and enjoys traveling, photography, cooking and reading in her spare time.
Shadi Moayedi, IAAB Campus Action Network (ICAN)
Ms. Shadi Moayedi is currently majoring in both Communications and Persian Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). Since starting at UMD, Ms. Moayedi has become very active in the Iranian American community of the Washington DC area. After holding two officer positions in the Iranian Students' Foundation (ISF), Ms. Moayedi now serves as President-elect. As President of ISF at UMD, Ms. Moayedi has played a key role in developing a new structure for the organization, which offers members more leadership positions and community service opportunities. Ms. Moayedi initially joined IAAB as a counselor at Camp Ayandeh 2011 before leading ICAN's organizing efforts.
Sara Mokhtari-Fox, Camp Ayandeh
Ms. Sara Mokhtari-Fox holds a BA in American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Ms. Mokhtari-Fox's studies were sparked by an interest in understanding people around her as sher grew up surrounded by a variety of cultures in the diverse city of Berkeley. Prior to becoming a part of the Camp Ayandeh planning committee, Ms. Mokhtari-Fox taught classes and coordinated events around social justice issues. Ms. Mokhtari-Fox initially joined Camp Ayandeh as a counselor in 2010 and again in 2011 before ultimately joining as a member of its 2012 planning committee.
Reza Rad, Camp Ayandeh
Mr. Reza Rad is currently completing his BS in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Biophysics from the George Washington University. Mr. Rad was born in London, England and moved to Northern Virginia when he was eight years old. Mr. Rad participated in Ayandeh from 2006-2008 and initially joined Camp Ayandeh's planning committee in 2009.
Nadia Rahgozar, Student Summit
Ms. Nadia Rahgozar is currently studying Legal Studies and Sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While originally from North Andover, Ms. Rahgozar loves Boston, which she considers her hometown. Ms. Rahgozar's interests include nutrition and exercise, as well as organizing and planning events. After participating in Camp Ayandeh, Ms. Rahgozar acted as Camp Ayandeh's 2011 staff before joining IAAB as a part of its Student Summit planning committee. Ms. Rahgozar enjoys traveling and meeting new people as two of her favorite interests.
Aida Sadr-Kiani, Camp Javan
Ms. Aida Sadr-Kiani holds a BA in Economics and Histor from Columbia University. Past experiences include interning at a New York City's local NPR radio station as well as the Clinton Foundation. Ms. Sadr-Kiani currently teaches third grade at Leadership Prep Bedford Stuyvesant Charter School, which is a part of the Uncommon Schools networks. Within IAAB, Ms. Sadr-Kiani served as Director of Project Connection in 2007 as well as a member of Camp Ayandeh's planning committee in 2008.
Tina Safaie, IAAB Campus Action Network (ICAN)
Ms. Tina Safaie is studying Commerce and Computer Science at the University of Virginia. As an active member of the Iranian American community in the Washington DC area, Ms. Safaie expanded her cultural interests by becoming a member of ther Persian Cultural Society at UVA. Ms. Safaie is also an active member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and has helped organize numerous philanthropic events in the Charlottesville community. Ms. Safaie initially joined IAAB as a participant in Camp Ayandeh and later developed podcasts for Camp Ayandeh's blog before joining as a member of ICAN's organizing committee.
Arya Saniee, Student Summit
Mr. Arya Saniee is completing his BS in both Biology and Psychology at Tufts University. Mr. Saniee performs research in the Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology where they hope to apply scientific advancements towards stem cell research, and is also an active member of Tufts EMS. Mr. Saniee is an avid soccer fan and plays for the university's club team. Mr. Saniee joined IAAB after being introduced to Camp Ayandeh in 2007.
Afsoon Talai, Design
Ms. Afsoon Talai is a New York-based Graphic Designer and Artist. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design Institute and is currently the head of Design at IAAB, as well as Visual Arts Editor at B|taa'rof Magazine. In addition to IAAB, Ms. Talai has also designed graphics for a number of other organizations and businesses including CNN, Weleda, and First Act. She currently serves as the Senior Designer for a New York-based design firm. Ms. Talai is also CEO of her Farsi greeting cards, Golreezan.
Shirin Vossoughi, PhD, Education and Curriculum Advisor
Dr. Shirin Vossoughli received her BA in History and International Development from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2002, with an emphasis on political economy and revolutionary movements in the Middle East and Latin America. These interests led her to study for one semester at the University of Havana, Cuba. As an undergraduate, Dr. Vossoughi also began working in journalism and writing about a range of social, political and educational issues. Upon graduation, Dr. Vossoughi became a teacher and educational advocate in Los Angeles and New York City. She also interned with children's and women's rights organizations in Tehran, Iran. Dr. Vossoughi then returned to UCLA and completed her MA (2006) and PhD (2011) in Education, studying the creative development of humanizing educational contexts for migrant and immigrant students. This included working as teacher-researcher in an academic and artistic summer program for high school age migrant students. In 2010-2011, she became lecturer at UCLA, teaching courses in the Education Studies Minor and the Teacher Education Program. Dr. Vossoughi is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the San Francisco Exploratorium and Stanford University, where she focuses on the anthropology of literacy, human development, and social change. Dr. Vossoughi became involved with IAAB through Camp Ayandeh 2010, helping facilitate counselor training and developing the the theater component of camp. She served as the Director of Camp Ayandeh in 2011.
Yalda Yekta, Camp Ayandeh
Ms. Yalda Yekta is currently completing her BA in Psychology and Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Ms. Yekta has an interest in working with youth and in making a difference in a person's life, which she emulates in her work both on and off-campus. Ms. Yekta was a member of Camp Ayandeh's planning committee in 2010 and now again in 2012. Ms. Yekta enjoys being in the company of her family and friends, playing the piano, taking dance classes and traveling in her spare time.
