| Abdul Rafay Hanif President Columbia College, Class of 2014 Salaam everyone! My name is Abdul Rafay Hanif (most of my friends and colleagues just call me Abdul). I am currently a sophomore at Columbia College majoring in Economics-Statistics. Growing up in a country where the main language spoken was neither my first nor my second language, I have learnt to love different languages. I am also highly interested in philosophy and human rights, especially in the MENA region. I enjoy reading and speaking to others about topics related to the field of philosophy, as I feel as if doing so allows me to better understand the way I reason and think out certain things. Relating this to Islam, I believe that having a stronger grasp on why one believes what they believe in allows them to be more confident in their very own belief. As a president of the MSA, I hope to strengthen the Muslim community in as many ways as possible. If you have any suggestions as to what I can do better, please feel free to reach out to me. Also, don’t be afraid to contact me if you have any questions related to anything (or just want to talk!), and I would try to respond to them to the best of my ability. I look forward to meeting you guys! |
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| Alay Syed Vice President Barnard College, Class of 2015 Assalamaikum Everyone! [Translation:Peace be upon y'all!] My name is Alay Syed and I am a rising Sophomore at Barnard College. Born in Pakistan, and raised in the forgotten borough/New Jersey of New York, I’m a semi-quirky, socially awkward, and extremely passionate hijabi who wants to change the world(or at least make SOME difference in it…a girl can dream, ya know)! I am truly thankful for the sense of activism and belonging that the MSA has provided for me within the past year–mashallah y’all are awesome! I love the MSA (fo realz) and absolutely cannot wait to make this coming year as exciting and amazing as my first year at Barnard has been. As your VP, my main goal is to get to know each and every one of you–my bros and sisters in Islam–on a personal level. So if you have any questions or concerns, or you just want to chat, please don’t hesitate to contact me at any time (what is sleep?)–I love making friends, really! Amore. Pace. Felicita! <3 Alay Fatima Syed |
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| Ayah Zaki Treasurer Barnard College, Class of 2015 Salams everyone! I’m Ayah, a rising sophomore at Barnard College where I’m currently studying Environmental Policy and Urban Studies with a Pre-Vet track. My love for animals is immeasurable, and my love of dealing with them is the primary reason I intend to head to veterinary school. Along with my love for animals is my love for the environment, which has been the source of my inspiration to become an environmental activist. In my free time I like to read (specifically political and feminist reads), paint, blog (I’m a crazy blogger), and familiarize myself with the news on the rest of the world. I am of Egyptian and Turkish descent but I grew up in New Jersey and spend most of my summers visiting the Middle East in order to keep in touch with my roots and strengthen my grasp on the Arabic language. My primary goal while attending Columbia University is to integrate myself in the college community while simultaneously preserving my identity as a Muslim. I can’t wait to utilize my new position as treasurer of this year’s MSA to change people’s perception of our religion as well as to positively impact both the Muslim community and the greater community of Columbia University. |
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Haris Durrani
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| Maisha Rahman Programming Committee Member: Community Affairs Chair Columbia College, Class of 2014 As-Salaam ‘Alaykum everyone! My name is Maisha and I’m a sophomore at Columbia College. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior but I am interested in a wide array of subjects. I was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in New Jersey for the majority of my life. My parents are from Bangladesh and I absolutely love the Bengali culture; visiting is always a wonderful time! I hope to travel to experience and learn about many more cultures, Insha’Allah. Though I am an only child, I have an enormous family and of course, there’s my soon to be MSA family which I hope you all will be part of! I greatly enjoy reading, doing arts and crafts, spending time with my family and friends, working with young children, and playing golf. I am so excited continue being a part of MSA this year and even more excited to see all the bright new faces eager to spread awareness and have fun! My hope for this year is so expand the MSA presence on campus and cultivate the amazing religious community we have here at Columbia. |
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Nellie Gayle Programming Committee Member: Political Affairs Chair Barnard College, Class of 2015 Assalamu aleikum everyone! My name is Nellie Gayle, and I’m a rising sophomore at Barnard College, most likely majoring in Religion and MESAAS. I’ve lived in Oregon for the past nine years, but I’ve called several other states home during my childhood. Being able to spend my adolescence in a diverse array of settings and with a variety of cultures has made me passionate about promoting multiculturalism and diverse perspectives. As Public Affairs Chair I really hope to forge new friendships between the MSA and other Columbia groups of every affiliation and denomination. I am also committed to strengthening the political activism component of MSA and ensuring that people can voice their opinions in a safe space. In my spare time I love to learn new languages, ride ponies, lecture everyone on the importance of whole grains and vegetables, and attend multicultural weddings. If anyone should ever need a plus one for a wedding, hit me up! I’ll bring a present and everything! Please contact me with any questions or suggestions. Or if you have any multiculturalism fun facts. Peace! |
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Noor Siyam Programming Committee Member: Social Affairs Chair Barnard College, Class of 2015 “We are all born with the greatest treasures we’ll ever have in life. One of those treasures is your mind, another is your heart. And the indispensable tools of those treasures are time and health. How you use your gifts to help yourself and humanity is ultimately how you honor God.”-Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa Salams everyone and welcome to CU MSA! My name is Noor and I’m a rising sophomore at Barnard College. I was born in New Jersey, but my Palestinian and Lebanese roots have undoubtedly been a major influence in my life. I am a premed student hoping to go on to become a pediatrician or oncologist, inshAllah. With academic interests ranging from political science to mathematics and Middle Eastern studies, I am currently (completely!) undecided about my major. As for my other interests, I love painting, Islamic calligraphy and architecture, photography, soccer (go Barcelona!), Rumi, politics, and good food. And yes, I do enjoy long walks on the beach |
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Zahra Khwaja Media Coordinator Barnard College, Class of 2013 Salaams! My name is Zahra Khwaja and I’m a senior at Barnard College. I’m a predental student and hope to pursue a career in dentistry in the future InshAllah. I’m from the one and only New York so I love this city and all the amazing opportunities it has to offer! The MSA here at Columbia is very welcoming and the perfect organization for students to get involved with and you’ll soon realize that you become part of a family. Don’t ever hesitate to approach me and ask any questions about the MSA and how you can get involved! I look forward to planning new exciting events and hope to see a lot of new faces this year InshAllah! |
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| Ifza Riaz Events Coordinator Columbia College, Class of 2014 Human Rights and Biology New York Salaam, my name is Ifza! I love chocolate chip cookies, frozen yogurt, and bubble tea. In my free time, I enjoy jogging, baking, and trying new food. I am a proponent of using information to spread awareness, whether it is related to Islam, the healthcare field, or social justice issues, all of which are not mutually exclusive in my opinion. I hope to help the MSA and larger Columbia community prosper by encouraging open dialogue between not only Muslims, but people of all faiths. I acknowledge that college is a tough time for many and that these years help strengthen your identity and shape your passions and interests. As a member of the MSA, I hope to channel my energy on ensuring that all Columbia students have access to information and events that will ultimately shape their perception of Islam. The students on Columbia’s campus should shape the image of Islam for its community, not outside media sources. A strong support network is necessary to be able to carry out the strolling thoughts that roll in and out of our minds. As part of the MSA, I ensure you the backing of a strong support network and encourage you to address your visions and turn them into realities.
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| Afshin Graduate Advisor |
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This year, I have the honor of serving as your Social Activities Chair. As Muslims, we have the duty of contributing to the overall growth, unity, and advancement of the Ummah. Our unity is critical to the image of Muslims both on this campus and off it. As your social chair, I hope to contribute to the development of this unity. I have a number of exciting social events in mind for the coming year, but would also love to hear all of your ideas and suggestions. Please feel free to contact me any time! I hope you are all as excited as I am for what’s in store for MSA this year. Let’s make this a great year for CU-MSA together!