Greetings, visitor! I am a scholar, writer, and emerging mental health counselor committed to advancing equity, healing, and opportunity for disenfranchised communities in the U.S. and eventually abroad. My interests lie at the intersection of education, mental health, faith, and social justice, informed by both professional training and lived experience. I hold a PhD in Islamic Studies and am currently completing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling along with a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. After more than a decade in higher education, research, and teaching, I'm ready to take my professional training and expertise to new levels - namely, working directly with families navigating trauma, identity conflict, acculturation stress, and systemic barriers to care - while maintaining my academic career. I am particularly passionate about culturally responsive and trauma-informed counseling for adult children of immigrant and refugee parents. I have authored the book Feminism, Tradition and Change in Contemporary Islam: Negotiating Islamic Law and Gender (Oneworld, 2024) and am currently working on my second book. My long-term goal is to practice as a mental health counselor while continuing to write, teach, and mentor—creating accessible resources that empower people to reclaim their voices, strengthen family relationships, and pursue lives of dignity and purpose. I am applying for scholarships to continue pursuing my education in mental health counseling and entrepreneurship and innovation and am excited to explore my options!