Founding Board
Empowering minds with faith and knowledge
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بِسْمِ ِاللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، واَلحَمْدُ لله رب العالمين والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الَأنْبِيَاءِ وَاْلُمرْسَلِيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا محمدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْنَ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon the most honorable of the prophets and messengers, Muhammad, and all his family and companions.
As we travel along our journey of life to meet our destiny, we are shaped by our lived experiences: skills we develop, knowledge we acquire, challenges we face, people we meet, and places we live in. Guidance هُدى and clarity of mission سداد are a great blessing from Allah. They allow us to see a vision of where our past can build a future of service to Allah, subhannahu wa ta’ala.
Each member of our founding board has had a different lived experience that prepared them for the profound task of raising the future generation of Muslims. Like pieces of a puzzle, we complement each other, putting together the RISE vision. Different in many ways, but very much alike in one way: our passion for holistic Islamic education. Education that nurtures faith, inspires excellence and raises a future generation of balanced Muslims.
Starting as a dream in 2022 and launched in 2024, RISE continues to transform and grow through a journey of continuous improvement. Learning never stops, from adults to students. Failures are only learning opportunities. Successes blessings from Allah. We are grateful to Allah that He is allowing us to serve Him and we ask Him to bless us with guidance, clarity and success.
اللهم اهدنا وسددنا ووفقنا لما تحب وترضى
Get to know us
Founding Members
Head of Islamic Education and Affairs
Imam Akram Baioumy serves as the Imam of MAPS Seattle and the PNW Director for Yaqeen Institute. He graduated from the School of Psychology at the University of Washington in 2019. He then moved to Dallas, Texas for a year to complete the Islamic Studies Intensive seminary at Qalam Institute and has graduated from their ‘Aalamiyyah program. He has found a passion in the Islamic Sciences and is committed to always keep studying. He also serves as a youth Islamic studies teacher at MAPS where he teaches Fiqh, Aqeedah, Tafsir, and Seerah.
Academic Advisor
University of Saint Joseph, CT;
– M.S. in Biology
– Graduate certificate in Genomics –
Alexandria University;
– B.S. in Chemistry
– WA state certified Teacher
– IB coordinator
Heba is a dedicated school leader, certified IB educator, and passionate scientist with over 8 years of specialized experience in education.
As an experienced IB Coordinator, Heba has led with a deep understanding of the IB philosophy, guiding both students and teachers through the rigor and richness of the program.
Throughout her career, Heba has successfully implemented and managed IB programs across multiple grade levels, while also teaching IB Biology and Chemistry at the high school level. Her expertise extends to AP instruction, as well as middle school Math and Science, teacher development, and curriculum design for grades 6–12.
Heba is a WA state certified teacher, holding an M.S. in Biology and a Graduate Certificate in Genomics from the University of Saint Joseph, CT, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Alexandria University.
Her commitment to education is fueled by a love of learning and a strong desire to empower students—particularly within the Muslim community—to reach their academic and personal goals. In her free time, Heba enjoys hiking, gardening, interior design, and traveling.
Director of Outreach & Advocacy
Commonwealth Open University BSc Human Biology 2004
American Health Science University, Certification in Nutrition CN 2007
With 17 years of unwavering commitment, Samia champions the fusion of American and Muslim identities among her community’s youth. She’s the visionary behind Hijabista Girls Program Inc. and the author of “Becoming a Hijabista.” Her expertise fuels her drive to create an Islamic school environment that not only attracts but fully engages the youth, molding them into proud Muslim Americans who excel in society. As a mother of two, she courageously withdrew her children from public schools and explored alternative education options to safeguard their Islamic values when needed. In her spare moments, she seeks inspiration by the lake, engaging in insightful conversations with the youth to better serve them.
Director of Religious Affairs & Tarbiya
My name is Yumna Abdelrahman. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, attended university in Egypt, got married in Canada, and, 5 years ago, moved to WA. I worked as a project manager for five years after completing two Master’s degrees at McMaster University. Following our move from Canada, I dedicated my time to my children’s education, with a focus on Arabic language and Islamic Studies. For me, Arabic is associated with many positive experiences that bring feelings of joy, love, empathy, reminiscence and, above all, a connection to the most beloved: Allah swt, His words, His Messenger and the honorable companions. I am excited to share this love with RISE students of all levels! I will be working under the guidance of an Arabic language expert to tailor curriculum to our student’s needs while applying positive discipline and inviting classroom strategies according to the RISE vision.
Treasurer
Aayah is a Certified Health Coach and a photographer accomplished entrepreneur with a business background. With a successful track record in health coaching, photography, and e-commerce, Aayah is driven by her passion for transforming ideas into reality. She takes pride in being a devoted mother to two daughters, aged 15 and 12, and has found her cherished home in the stunning landscapes of Washington state over the past twelve years. Her future aspirations include climbing Mt. Saint Helens, establishing an Islamic school in Washington, and empowering women to realize their full potential through healthy lifestyle changes.
Director of Finance & Technology
University of Boston, MA;
– M.Sc. in computer science – 2014
Ain Shams University;
– B.Sc. in computer science- 2005
Sara, a seasoned software engineer with 15+ years of experience in the tech industry, currently thrives at Google. Her passion for learning fuels her dedication to both personal growth and assisting others in their educational journeys, particularly within the Muslim community. Outside of work, Sara enjoys exploring new destinations and sampling diverse cuisines.”
Get to know us
Advisory Board
Shaykh
Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda is the Founder and President of Qalam. He is a faculty member at the Qalam Seminary where he teaches Sahih Bukhari, advanced Tafsir, Usul, Fiqh, Aqidah, and Balaghah. He has completed an extensive study of the life of the Prophet ﷺ in the Seerah Podcast. He annually teaches the Qur’an Intensive and Seerah Intensive, and leads groups on the Seerah Umrah tour, as well as to Masjid Al-Aqsa.
Born and raised in Dallas, he currently resides there with his wife and three children. He memorized the Qur’an in Karachi at an early age. After high school, he returned to Karachi to study the Islamic sciences full-time at Jamia Binoria. He graduated from the rigorous ‘alim program in 2001 at the top of his class. He then completed specializations in Fiqh and Tafsir. He also attained a B.A. and M.A. in Arabic from Karachi University while completing a Masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Sindh. After returning home, he taught at the local university and Islamic schools, and served as an imam in the Dallas area.