Board of Directors
ZAENA RIHANI
President
Zaena was born and raised in Chicago and is a fourth-generation Jordanian American. She has professional experience in real estate management and actively volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and other Chicago-based organizations. Zaena lived with her family in Jordan from 2004 to 2016, when she returned to Chicago. Living in the Middle East, Zaena met and interacted with refugees that escaped wars from surrounding countries. Zaena joined SCN’s Board of Directors in 2019 to work on equipping refugees with the proper tools needed to integrate into their new home.
GERALD DOYLE
Vice President
Jerry has a breadth of experience in higher education including in teaching and admissions at prestigious universities across the world. Jerry first connected with Suzanne, SCN’s Founder, in June 2012 when his team launched the IIT Syrian student initiative which eventually enrolled 26 students during the 2012-13 academic year. This work has led to the establishment of the IIE Syrian Higher Education Consortium which now has forty university and college members. He joined SCN’s Board of Directors in 2020 because of its deep commitment to social justice, human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Lauren Zajac
Secretary
Lauren has worked in higher education for the past fifteen years, with much of her experience in teaching Adult Education and working with non-native speakers. She is well-versed in identifying opportunities for community members and connecting them with opportunities to achieve their goals. She joined the SCN Board of Directors in 2022 to connect with and support refugees and immigrants in the area.
Karim Awwad
Treasurer
Karim, our Treasurer since 2023, brings financial expertise and dedication to SCN's mission. Originally from Amman, Jordan, he moved to Chicago in 2014, where he's been an active member of the Arab American Community. Karim's role is vital in optimizing SCN's financial resources to support refugees. Before joining SCN, he served as Student Trustee on Moraine Valley Community College's Board of Trustees. Beyond SCN, Karim is the local Chapter Treasurer with PCRF and contributes to the Chicago Palestine Film Festival committee. In his spare time, he's a two-time Chicago Marathon finisher, a passionate tennis player, and a tech/finance podcast enthusiast.
RANA JABER
Member at Large
Rana is a Palestinian American who has dedicated 15 years to the IT sector and is passionate about giving back to her community. In her experience as a business analyst, she bridges the gap between business groups and IT. She brings the same vision to her volunteering work over the last 2 decades. She co-founded and leads the volunteer group Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which brings the community together through acts of service. Rana joined SCN’s Board of Directors to support refugees and immigrants in her community.
AMENA QURESHI, MHSA
Member at Large
Amena has over a decade of experience in the healthcare field working in strategy, operations, and managing large scale projects. She recently joined IMAN Health Center as an Associate Director. She is very passionate about youth development, especially for those with a Muslim American experience and tutored youth for over 5 years through the Rohingya Cultural Center. Most recently, she is one of the founders of the organization Neighbors Helping Neighbors where she leads monthly volunteering events to service the local community. You can always catch Amena trying something new like biking around the city, hiking anywhere, and playing tennis.
NINA SHOMAN-DAJANI, Ed.D
Member at Large
Nina has over two decades of experience in adult education and currently supports one of the largest programs in the state, serving students from over forty-five countries. She is also passionate about mentoring college students and teaching courses on Middle Eastern and Arab American studies. Her research focuses on the racial identity construction of Arab American college students. She joined SCN’s board in 2021 as part of her community advocacy which is also reflected in her active involvement with other organizations such as the Chicago Palestine Film Festival and Arab American Studies Association.
FARAH SIDDIQUI
Member at Large
Farah Siddiqui has been working in the tech space for over 15 years in various roles, including Accounting, Business Operations, Training, Mergers & Acquisitions, and now works in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Google. She is a trusted thought leader in interfaith engagement and faith-based inclusion efforts in the workplace. Previously at Salesforce, Farah was the Co-Founder and Global President of Faithforce, the Interfaith Employee Resource Group, which added the lens of religious identity into the diversity and inclusion space. She's advised numerous companies as they embark on their own interfaith and faith inclusion efforts, has spoken at DEI conferences, and facilitated trainings around engaging religious diversity in the workplace. Farah first worked with SCN in 2016 for our Ramadan Toy Drive and has continued to help us bring smiles to refugee and immigrant children for the Eid holiday since then. She joined SCN’s board in 2020 to continue to support and amplify our work for the refugee and immigrant community in and around Chicago.
KIRAN SIDDIQUI, M.Ed, LPC. COO.
Member at Large
Kiran has two decades of experience working in the field of behavioral health and management and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She leads Hamdard Health Alliance, an important community partner for SCN in Rogers Park and the western suburbs. As a daughter of refugees and growing up in Africa, she was acutely aware of service and providing for others. Kiran joined SCN’s Board of Directors to contribute to an organization that is committed to improving the lives of Syrian refugees and others in a holistic manner.
