MEET OUR TEAM
The Yallah AlQuds team comes together across many continents, cultures, disciplines, life experiences and ambitions, but we are united by our shared commitment to this community and to the ongoing work of growing our platform to be more inclusive, innovative and collaborative. As the program expands to include new learners from all over the world, we are proud to say that our founding spirit only grows stronger; Yallah AlQuds continues to be community-powered, values-driven, and socially engaged. Join our team!
FOUNDERS
Elizabeth Saylor
Ahlein! My name is Elizabeth Saylor and I am Assistant Professor of Arabic at North Carolina State University. I studied Arabic at Columbia University and completed my Ph.D. in Arabic Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. I am a passionate teacher of Arabic language, literature, and culture.
Youssef El Berrichi
Marhaba! My name is Youssef El Berrichi and I am an Arabic instructor currently based in Morocco. I studied Islamic education at Al-Qarawiyyin University and the University of Mohammed V in Rabat. I am passionate about Tajwid (Qur’an recitation), sociolinguistics, collaborative learning, and innovative pedagogy.
OPERATIONS
Mohammed Touaoussa
Program Assistant
Joy Al-Nemri
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist
Zack Jenio
Data Analyst
Bre Pyfrom
Lecture Series Coordinator
Ghassan Murad
Media Specialist
Tara Di Cassio
Program Strategist
Madeline Ewbank
Program Assistant
Redouan Hmeid
Media Specialist
Traveling freely between cultures, there is room for all who seek the essence of humanity.
— Mahmoud Darwish
CURRENT TEAM MEMBERS
Chaimae Karouach
Bre Pyfrom
Cleo Baldoumas
Charlie Forbes
Ian Gomez
Chaimae Ennasr
Nicolas Bilal Urick
Alexis Brewer
Asmae Ait Mama
Michael Duncan
Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.
- bell hooks
ALUMNI
Lauren Bates
Shams Mohajerani
Jack Carew
Saed Hmidat
Abdjalile Rafik
Abdulmalik Almughairy
Andrew Willis
Cassia Barry
Christina Bouri
Dana Slayton
Meryem Machtor
Jason Brown
Jackson Goedjen
Sajeda Muhsin
Aidan Wertz
Meryem El Assli
Kassidy DeMaio
Hamza Lamsahel
Hans Johnson
Sam Naumann
Megan Sears
Michael Lewis
Ghazi Ghazi
Maryem Abarchem
Mohamed Soudani
Jordan Mizell
Grace Landsberg
Magan Leystra
Vivian Nguyen
Katie Kavanagh
Fatma Mohamed
Mari Odoy
Shraddha Joshi
Eman Safi
Ru’a Rimawi
Alexandra Pasqualone
Shahd Qannam
Lynn Travnikova
Gianna Jones
Nadin Mukhtar
Leith Wazani
Marouane El Habchi
Maram Abu Zayyad
Hassan Weshah
Yasmine Koussa
Maissae Bouiz
Sam McRee
Nash’at Al-Nawasrh
Mark Drummond
Soukaina Essalhi
Yaza Sarieh
Hajar Baba
Houda Omrani
Mohamed Bouelli
Katherine Yolitz
Abdeslam Outaleb
Katie Mann
Samah Rahhal
Deena Alotaibi
Anna Tyshkov
Renad Bdair
Saadi Sandouka
Sofie Leathers
Karis Ailabouni
Harper Slusher
Leen Jayousi
Melita Piercy
Rami Fararjeh
Abdullah Damra
Ammar Safi
Meriem Ganoune
Anas Tardei
Wiame Korchi
Caitlyn Buckley
Jayna Lennon
Abed Abu Rmeileh
Christina Walker
Jihan Qawasme
Trista Acebo
Rand Suleiman
Taoufiq Benkhadda
Hafsa Mokhlis
Niama Ndadani
Safae El Yaagoubi
Amjad Al Bahal
Cameron Pattison
Reem Saeed
Safiya Hilal
Rimsha Alam
Chloe-Kate Abel
