About Us

Our Mission

SAFENA’s mission is to support the professional development of Syrian Americans through education, educational networking, mentorship, and financial aid.

Meet The Members

Directors

Issa Makhlouf

President

Psychology & School Counseling (M.S.)

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Gina Waneis

Vice President

Psychology & Higher Education (M.S.)

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Yamen Mubarka

Secretary

Physics & Cognitive Science (B.S.)

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Fadi Nakkoud

Fundraising Director/ Treasurer

Computer Science (B.S.)

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Basel Chahla

Social Media Director

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)

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Mary Hannon Hamad

Educational Events Director

Doctor of Education (EdD)

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Sabrina Rashid

Scholarship Director

Education, Higher Education & Student Affairs (M.A.)

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Social Media Committee

Basel Chahla

Social Media Director

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)

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Brian Diab

Social Media Member

Animation (B.A. Candidate)

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Michael Hawara

Social Media Member

Computer Science (B.S. Candidate)

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George Seder

Social Media Member

Mechanical Engineering (B.S. Candidate)

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Melanie Sukkar

Social Media Member

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD Candidate)

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Yagoub Trad

Social Media & Educational Events Member

Civil Engineering (M.S.)

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Linda Nackoud

Social Media Member

Architecture (B.A. Candidate)

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Educational Events Committee

Mary Hannon Hamad

Educational Events Director

Doctor of Education (EdD)

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Selena Abdulnour

Educational Events Member

Mathematics & Integrated Teaching (B.A.)

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Jeneil Alfazaa

Educational Events Member

Risk Management & Insurance (B.S.)

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Haya Chehada

Educational Events Member

Accounting (B.S.)

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Zoey Habhab

Educational Events & Scholarship Member

Clinical Psychology (M.S.)

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Deena Kassab

Educational Events Member

Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD)

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Yagoub Trad

Social Media & Educational Events Member

Civil Engineering (M.S.)

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Malynda Wanis

Educational Events Member

Educational Studies, Multiple Subject Teacher (B.A.)

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Fundraising Committee

Fadi Nakkoud

Fundraising Director/ Treasurer

Computer Science (B.S.)

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Diana Abdulhai Hawara

Fundraising Member

Accounting (B.S.)

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Nadine Diab

Fundraising Member

Business Administration (B.A.)

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Alissa Durra

Fundraising Member

Liberal Studies (B.A.)

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Sandra Durra

Fundraising Member

Criminology, Law and Society (B.A.)

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Cresten Karam

Fundraising Member

Business &
Marketing Management (B.S.)

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Crystl Kazni

Fundraising Member

Business Law (J.D.)

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Anthony Mahfood

Fundraising Member

Political Science (B.A.), Public Administration (M.A.)

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Scholarship Committee

Sabrina Rashid

Scholarship Director

Education, Higher Education & Student Affairs (M.A.)

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Christina Dakhil

Scholarship Member

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD Candidate)

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Raneem Durra

Scholarship Member

Biology (B.S.), Nursing Student

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Zoey Habhab

Educational Events & Scholarship Member

Clinical Psychology (M.S.)

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Karim Hajjar

Scholarship Member

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

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Meray Mahfoud

Scholarship Member

Healthcare Administration (B.S.)

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Tiffany Safar

Scholarship Member

Molecular & Cell Biology (B.S.)

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