Saad Iqbal
Our Team Back to Team Saad Iqbal Saad Iqbal is a Graduate Student Research Assistant at The Family and Youth Institute. He holds a B.A. in Psychological Science and B.A. in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Pacific University. His research […]
Wafaa Ateyah
Our Team Back to Team Wafaa Ateyah is a Graduate Student Researcher and Project Manager for iBelong with The Family and Youth Institute. She is also currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida. She received her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Women’s Studies with a minor in Health Disparities […]
Ayaz Hyder
Our Team Back to Team Ayaz Hyder is a Research Associate at The Family and Youth Institute. He holds a PhD in Biology from McGill University and completed his Postdoctoral training in Environmental Epidemiology at Yale University. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health and Affiliated Faculty in Translational […]
Hanan Hashem
Dr. Hanan Hashem is a Researcher and Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. Dr. Hanan Hashem is also an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at William James College in Boston, Massachusetts, where she specializes in teaching topics concerning cultural considerations in the field of psychology; lifespan development; psychopathology; and psychological research methods.
Sawssan Ahmed
Our Team Back to Team Sawssan R. Ahmed serves as a Research Associate and Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Wayne State University and Postdoctoral training in Developmental Issues and Health Disparities at the University of California, Los Angeles, and San Diego State University. She currently […]
Amal Killawi
Our Team Back to Team Amal Killawi serves on the Board of Directors and is a Research Fellow and Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. She holds a Master’s in Social Work, a Certificate in Sexual Health, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her PhD in […]
Irshad Altheimer
Our Team Back to Team Irshad Altheimer serves on the Board of Directors and as a Research Associate at The Family and Youth Institute. He holds a PhD and Master’s in Sociology from the Washington State University, and Bachelor’s from Alabama State University. He is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and the Deputy Director […]
Madiha Tahseen
Dr. Madiha Tahseen is the Research Director and a Community Educator at The Family and Youth Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research expertise is in positive youth development amongst Muslim-American youth, particularly focusing on the role of cultural and religious contexts in character development among minority populations.
Sameera Ahmed
Dr Sameera Ahmed is the founder of The Family and Youth Institute and served as its Executive Director from 2006-2025. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Dr. Ahmed is a leading expert on American Muslim youth and has produced numerous groundbreaking publications, including The State of American Muslim Youth, Uplifting Black Muslim Youth, Prevalence of Risk Behaviors of US Muslim College Students, and Alcohol Use Among US Muslim College Students.