Board Members
The Islamic Association of Cincinnati is governed by a Board and an Executive. The Board consists of active members who have been duly elected by members of the community and typically serve a 4 year term. Board meetings are held periodically and are open to the public.
Majed Dabdoub
President
Majed Dabdoub has been in Cincinnati since 1981. He has served IAC for more than 20 years as committee member, board member and president. He has served local, national and international professional organizations for the last 32 years. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ohio and the President of Dabdoub & Associates a consulting company.
First of all, he wants to serve our community so that Allah will be pleased with all of us. It is very critical that we have a united community where we trust, help and support each other.
Second, he would like to use his experience and knowledge so that we can build a strong Muslim community for our children and their children. It is very important that we have a place for our community members to learn about Islam, practice Islam and raise our children in an environment that will help them to be proud of being Muslims
It is also essential that we have a welcoming place for the community at large where they can learn about Islam. After all, we were created so that we worship Allah (SWT) and inshaa Allah we will be rewarded for our good deeds. With the help of Allah and the support of our community members, Inshaa Allah, we can work together so that we can achieve the vision of the Islamic Association of Cincinnati.
Mohammed Shamma
Chairman
Mohammed Shamma was Born in Cairo, Egypt. He received his undergraduate degree from Cairo University, a MS From The University of Californina, Berkeley and a Ph.D in Management Science from SMU Dallas Texas. He is married and has 5 children.
He has been involved with the local Muslim community and national Muslims Students Association and the Islamic Society of North America since 1969. He was chairman of the National Muslim Students association in 1970, the first business manager of the National Islamic Muslim Trust, and the first business administrator of ISNA in the mid seventies.
He has been active in the local community at the same time as he has been active nationally. Besides attending many international conferences representing the Muslims of North America, he has served many times as chairman of the board of the IAC. He was instrumental in bringing IBS (Islamic Book Services) to Cincinnati in the 70's.
Professionally he was a professor at the University of Cinncinnati College of Business and also taught in the School of Economics at the International Islamic Uninversity for two years. He continues to be active in business ventures.
Ibrahim Amidou
Vice Chariman
IBRAHIM AMIDOU, PhD. Adjunct Assistant Professor at UC and Miami University. Author and researcher in Humanities. I teach French and Francophone Literatures, Cultures and Civilizations, French Enlightenments, Postcolonial Africa, English Composition and Ethnic American Literature.
Owner of a Private firm of Translation and Interpretation, Immigrants and Refugees Advocate. I have been with Clifton Mosque since 1991 and currently a volunteer, Vice-Chair of the Social Services Committee. I have also served, for the past few years, as member-volunteer of the (Ramadan) Iftar dinner committee. I am married and a father of five.
Samir Chandiwala
Secretary
Samir Chandiwala, is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering and twenty plus years of professional experience at Procter & Gamble where he is currently a Data Science Director . Samir was born in California and spent most of his formative years in the southeast states. He was on the board of the masjid in Augusta, Georgia for several years before moving to Cincinnati. He has been in Cincinnati since 2007 and has been active in the Islamic community first in West Chester, where he used to live and now in Clifton. He has been living with his wife Sarah Taufique and son Zayd in the neighborhood of Clifton mosque for the past five years and has been the chair of the education committee for the past three years. Samir loves attending community events and classes at Clifton Mosque. He loves the welcoming warmth of the mosque and hopes to continue the beautiful work of Clifton mosque.
Tala Ali
A daughter of immigrants, Tala Mohammad Ali grew up in inner-city Cincinnati, attended CPS K-12, and identifies as a proud Cincinnatian. She has now served as the Muslim Chaplain and facilitator of service, justice, and interfaith immersion programming at Xavier University for over 7 years. Tala is also an active member of the national Association of Muslim Chaplains and Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education. She has actively worked with Interfaith America and annually leads students on a delegation to their national conference in Chicago. Tala was recognized by the YWCA as a Rising Star and completed the Rising Star Leadership Program in 2022, which “equips high-performing women to become equity leaders… and prepares participants for non-profit board service.” She was also a founding board member of CAIR-OH-Cincinnati for 7 years, working to hire its first executive director and establish the first Cincinnati CAIR office.
She is a passionate and present member of the Cincinnati community, involved in various justice and equitable initiatives and movements. She has over 20 years of experience working with non-profit, community organizations, and political campaigns.
Tala is a longtime member and attendee of Clifton Mosque and holds its community close to her heart. She is a passionate advocate for creating nurturing and inclusive spaces in the Muslim community, where a diverse spectrum of people not only feel safe, but want to be a part of. Tala hopes to share her expertise in strategic planning, non-profit development and community organization and cultivation to the Clifton Mosque Board.
Dr. Serry Hassan
Dr. Mohammad Alvi
Dr. Alvi received a Doctorate of Education from U.C. and he taught physics and math at high school level. He delivered lectures on Islam to college and high school students. He served on Education Committee at ISNA in Plainfield, IN. He worked as Social Services Coordinator for many years at IAC.
Dr. Alvi initiated Iftar Dinners almost 30 years ago, which are still going on at IAC. He is teaching Islamic Education to our children every Sunday. He is coordinating services and providing Islamic material to inmates in Greater Cincinnati area. Dr. Alvi served as member of planning committee for building West Chester masjid and he also served as member of planning committee for building new Clifton masjid. He served as Treasurer for IAC and as member of Board of Trustees at IAC.
Khalid Alnajar
Khalid Alnajar is a successful businessman and community leader. He is a long time member of the Clifton Mosque. He brings new and exciting ideas and strategies to our board and to our community.