Alaa Mohammad Shareef received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology as well as her Masters of Education degree in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College at Columbia University. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and additional certifications in Childhood & Adolescence Studies and Cultures & Communities Studies. She is formally trained in Arabic from Al Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan.  

In the past Alaa has served on the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s (ISM) Education Team as well as the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC) as a Curriculum Developer. She currently provides mental health counseling in the state of NY to clients from diverse backgrounds and ages dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, divorce, trauma, family discord, and narcissism. Alaa also serves as an Arabic Interventionist, Presenter, and Trainer for Cornerstone’s Refugee Resilience program led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

With The FYI, Alaa is a researcher and community educator focusing on Muslim mental health curriculum development, advocacy and literacy. Her research on the Islamic history of Mental Health has led to her contributions as one of the leading authors for a Springer chapter titled Mental Health in the Islamic Golden Era: The Historical Roots of Modern Psychiatry.