Meet Mona Foundation Board of Advisory

Rainn Wilson, Actor, Author and Philanthropist

Rainn Wilson is a writer, comedian, podcaster, producer, actor and a committed philanthropist. He is best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office, for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Outside of acting, Wilson published an autobiography, The Bassoon King, in 2015, and co-founded the digital media company SoulPancake in 2008.

Rainn became involved with Mona Foundation in 2007 and joined the board of directors in 2014. Rainn and his wife Holiday have visited the schools Mona Foundation supports in Haiti and India. They continue to have a deep connection to Haiti and in 2013 formed a nonprofit called LIDE which focuses on educating girls and healing through the arts.

Dr. Urvashi Sahni, Founder & CEO of Study Hall Educational Foundation, India.

Urvashi Sahni is a social entrepreneur and educationist of 29 years standing, founder of the Study Hall Educational Foundation which runs educational programs in India. Urvashi leveraged digital technology to create flexible teaching methods to address challenges in under-resourced schools and was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship in 2010 for her work with Digital Study Hall (DHS). DSH is now capitalizing on the widespread mobile and internet network, using mobile phones and tablets as a medium to distribute their content. Urvashi is using DSH technology as the framework for her new initiative of girl empowerment, currently reaching around 10,000 adolescent girls from underserved areas. Dr. Sahni is a non-resident fellow with the Brookings Institution and a member of Hillary Clinton’s CHARGE commitment to ensure that more girls complete secondary education around the world.

In her own words, “Mona provides continuous communication, trust, and involvement. They don’t tell us what to do. The say, ‘Tell us your problems and how we can help.’ Then they work alongside us. Because of their long-term commitment and thoughtful funding, our work has reached more than 40,000 students and teachers. This has happened only because of Mona’s support.

In her own words, “an empowering education can help girls recognize themselves as important persons worthy of respect. I want to educate as many girls as I can so that we have a generation of empowered girls.

Nikki Meshkin, Advisor & Business Operations Manager, Intel

Nikki Meshkin has been a Technical Advisor and Business Operations Manager at Intel Corporation Technology & Manufacturing Group for 25 years with responsibilities in strategic planning, marketing and business operations. She previously held senior positions at Merrill Lynch and other financial institutions. Nikki currently serves on the Andisheh Center Board of Directors, celebrating and promoting Iranian culture, heritage, and the arts. She is also engaged in a global process of learning with the aim of enhancing the capacity of individuals and communities to serve humanity. Nikki holds an M.B.A. and B.A. in Finance & Management and lives in Portland, Oregon with her family.

In Nikki’s own words, "To educate girls is to reduce poverty...What is close to my heart is Mona’s focus on the projects that provide girls a real chance at a better life for themselves, their families and their communities."

Parisa Fitz-Henley, Actress, Producer and Writer

 
Parisa FItz-Henley is an actor, writer and producer with a passion for public health and education. She is best known for her roles in series such as USA's The Sinner, and the Marvel/Netflix collaborations Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, as well the films My Spy and Fantasy Island. She rounds out her creative endeavors occasionally jumping into the world of music. 

Having spent much of her life working with children and youth in artistic and community development projects in the US and abroad, Parisa was naturally attracted to Mona Foundation's efforts. She saw in Mona the power of education that honors culture and empowers young people to become agents of change in their lives, as well as the lives of those around them. She began supporting their events before happily committing to being part of the Mona team.   In her own words,

"The more I learn about Mona, the more inspired and encouraged I feel. In a world where so much is crumbling, Mona's dedication to building strong foundations for young people provides not just hope, but assurance, that the future will be in capable hands. It means so much to me that Mona sees the priceless gifts inherent within each soul and community. The educators who've seen (and still see) me in this light have helped me remove obstacles to fulfilling my true potential --- a process that will last a lifetime. I'm honored to be part of something that makes that possible for so many young people the world over." 

Ridvan Foxhall, Founder and Executive Director at New Era Creative Space

Guided by the belief in the oneness of humanity, Ridvan Idara Foxhall is committed to promoting in young people the conviction that they can be the voice of positive change in the world. To this end, for over two decades, she has committed her time, energy, and resources to develop creative and educational programs for children with an emphasis on developing their moral capabilities alongside their intellectual and artistic talent.

In 2006, inspired by the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) a non-profit organization based in NYC dedicated to “building character on stage,” she founded a Peekskill chapter of CTC. In 2013, New Era Creative Space came into being, in response to the growing need for educational programs that were both creative and provided children the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Ridvan’s vision for NECS to become a hub for creative initiatives, community engagement and to inspire the next generation of mindful and innovative thinkers.

Ridvan holds a Master’s degree in occupational therapy and is a certified parenting educator. Originally from Nigeria, she currently resides in Peekskill with her husband and two children. She enjoys reading, dancing, playing tennis, and hiking.

Dr. David Khorram, Director, Global Ophthalmology University of Virginia

We all want to have impact.

The Mona Foundation makes it easy for each of us to have an incredible life-changing impact on the life of a child.

David Khorram is a physician, writer, and educator with extensive experience in grassroots development and capacity building. He has served on and chaired boards of both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
 

After completing his training in eye surgery in the United States, he spent 22 years in the South Pacific developing eye care in the Mariana Islands. In addition to co-founding Marianas Eye Institute, he helped establish programs to build capacity in health care and administration among island residents. Dr. Khorram has participated in and led eye-care projects across the continents with a recent focus in Ethiopia, Tajikistan, and Honduras. He currently serves as the Director of Global Ophthalmology for the University of Virginia from his home in the Czech Republic. He has been listed in Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists. David and his wife, Mara, are the co-founders of Brilliant Star School, a non-profit school on the island of Saipan.
 

He is the author of the books, “World Peace, a Blind Wife, and Gecko Tails,” and “Diabetic Eye Disease.”

Roy Steiner, Ph.D., SVP for the Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation

Roy Steiner, PhD, is the Senior Vice President for the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation, where he leads a team focused on creating access to nourishing food for millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, supporting scientific advances in human nutrition and sustainable food production, and carrying forward the Foundation’s enduring commitment to a sustainable Green Revolution in Africa.

Prior to the Rockefeller Foundation Roy worked at Omidyar Network, where he served as Director of the Intellectual Capital team since 2015, focused on helping Omidyar achieve its strategic objectives at all levels including in the agriculture space. He dedicated nearly a decade of his career to leadership positions at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he was a founding member of the Agricultural Development initiative and was instrumental in working with The Rockefeller Foundation to develop the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, or AGRA. His work for Gates was central to the creation of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation Agency, or ATA, which helps accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, and dozens of other partnerships that are critical to the fight against food insecurity around the world.

Before the Gates Foundation, Roy spent eight years in Africa where he was founder and CEO of Cyberplex Africa, one of the largest web development and knowledge management companies in southern Africa. Early in his career, he was an original founder and managing director of Africa Online, which pioneered the delivery of Internet service in Zimbabwe. Additionally, he was a founding member of CH2MHill’s Strategies Group and has consulted for McKinsey & Company in the areas of technology innovation, growth strategies and international development.

Roy holds a PhD and a Master of Science in agricultural and biological engineering with minors in economics and international development from Cornell University, as well as two bachelor degrees in mechanical engineering and biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Education is at the core of every positive social change.



Nikoo Mahboubian

Ms. Nikoo Mahboubian worked for the Baha’i International Community, a non-governmental organization (NGO) at the UN from 1994 to 2002. As an Alternate Representative to the United Nations for this organization, she worked with UN officials, UN diplomats and other NGOs to advance human rights agendas, especially in the area of freedom of religion or belief. She also participated in many sessions of the United Nations General Assembly Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee, the Commission on Sustainable Development, and the sessions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council Commission on the Status of Women.

She was the President of the NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief for two terms leading the committee to coordinate the NGO activities in support of protecting the rights of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; communicating with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, other relevant UN Offices, and UN member states. Ms. Mahboubian was also a member of the NGO Committee on the Family assisting to advocate for the inclusion of the family in decisions and policies at the United Nations.

As part of the Baha’i International Community’s campaign on human rights education, Ms. Mahboubian organized, coordinated and facilitated meetings with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Missions to promote human rights education.

Ms. Mahboubian holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business from the University of San Diego. She also has a certificate of French language from the Sorbonne University in Paris

"The experience of seeing ADCAM in Brazil was transforming and has added to my resolve all I can in support of Mona."

Shiva Riddell

Shiva believes in lifelong learning and education. The fact that Mona Foundation’s mission revolves around education is what motivates her to action. She began her own education with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and subsequently completed her Masters in Education. Throughout her nursing career, she worked in cardiac care units, surgical units, and public health departments. After taking time to raise her two sons, she redirected her focus to personal well being and preventative health. Over a 17 year period she trained clients in fitness, yoga and a healthy lifestyle. Rumi’s “Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do” became the cornerstone of her approach to life and growth.

Shiva has travelled extensively throughout the world and during her travels, she became inspired to represent the beautiful art created by local women artisans. She was the founder and CEO of Lotus by Shiva – Accessories from around the globe, specifically jewelry and scarves. She provided an avenue for women artisans to sell their art here in the US. She worked with women in India, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Tibet, China, Japan, Belgium, Indonesia, Mexico and the US. When we help elevate women, we see its fruits in creating a better world.

Shiva has always been active in her local community. She served on the Sister City Commission for many years, serving as its Chairperson for 5 years. She represented the US traveling three times with the Mayor of Edmonds and his delegation to Hekinan, Japan, to promote friendship and cross cultural exchange. She and her family hosted 10 students over the years from Japan.

Shiva’s passions include her family, traveling, vegetarian cooking, gardening, poetry, dance, and painting. She is currently focused on her art and has been painting commissioned artwork.

When we widen our vision to include all of humanity, it is easy to see that we are more similar than different. Every child has so much unrealized potential! What better purpose in life than to help advance that potential. Mona Foundation has the perfect approach to helping children and girls in particular in that quest.

Maleka Darvish

Maleka Darvish is an undergraduate business student at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Her goals include becoming a human rights attorney one day to work towards creating a more equal world. Maleka’s extracurricular activities include leading the UW American Marketing Association and competiting in case competitions for the University of Washington Global Case Competiton Club. Through these activities, she has built a community of diverse and intelligent students.

She has interned for many large and small businesses including, Scener, Wallace Properties, and Holistique Health Institute. During high school, she spent four years teaching and coordinating a Baha’i-inspired childrens class to her community. When not in class, Maleka enjoys going for runs around Green Lake and exploring new restaurants around Seattle. Spending time with friends and family are her most treasured moments. She is excited and humbled to serve on the advisory board.

Education changes lives and I want to do my part to provide this precious opportunity to those who do not have it.

Don Dao

Don is a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group and a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. From a young age, Don has been involved in both fundraising and execution of projects to provide education for women and children around the world, most notably with Sunflower Mission in Vietnam. In 2015, Don and the Texas Wranglers, a service and spirit organization on UT’s campus, founded Texas Two Step Throwdown – an annual philanthropy concert benefiting the Mona Foundation.

Don is an avid traveler who aims to visit as many countries as possible, which has allowed him to understand and appreciate the importance of Mona Foundation’s work. He believes through experience that education is the most sustainable path to raising communities out of poverty and improving the lives of others.

To those whom much is given, much is expected.

Desiree Akhavan

Désirée is an attorney and entrepreneur in New York. She is a Co-Founder at Lazeez, a paleo baking company with a mission to empower women and build healthy communities through food. Previously, she was Deputy General Counsel and Head of Legal and Compliance for North America at Third Bridge, a primary research provider to the global investment community. Désirée holds a B.C.L and L.L.B. from McGill University Faculty of Law and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University.

Désirée has held international speaking engagements with Ethical Business Building the Future on themes of Corporate Social Responsibility and Capacity Building, and worked on projects for the International Labor Organization and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. She creates spaces for women to engage in meaningful conversations and works to raise awareness about menstrual inequity through her professional and personal endeavors.

Désirée seeks to empower women and girls and create opportunities for their economic and spiritual advancement.

Women and girls across the globe face systemic inequities that prevent them from becoming full and active participants in all spheres of society, and in order to advance civilization as a whole, we must address these inequities and build capacity through education.

Tanya Zabeti

Tanya has a Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law and has joined in the initiatives of Mona with the desire to be a part of meaningful change towards universal education and gender equality.

Her love of traveling has allowed her to experience many cultures that have provided perspective and focus in her volunteering efforts.

“I’m excited about the social and economic change this organization will undoubtedly continue to ignite globally in making education a more easily attainable right.

Education provides opportunities. It lays the foundation upon which we build our lives and, in essence, learn to interact with one another. By focusing initiatives on educating women and children in countries where education is scarce, we are helping to provide opportunities that will be a catalyst in alleviating poverty and injustice. I believe in Mona.”

By focusing initiatives on educating women and children in countries where education is scarce, we are….alleviating poverty and injustice. I believe in Mona.

Dr. Marjan Davoudi

Dr. Marjan Davoudi is the Clinical Director of the Behavioral Mental Health P.C. in two locations, San Diego and La Jolla California. She is a clinical psychologist, Board certified in three states, California, Illinois and Arizona. Her research concertation is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the areas of her clinical expertise are mood disorders (Anxiety and Depression) personality disorders, adjustment to medical conditions and transitional stages of life, loss and grief, family therapy with wide range of relationship problems.

Dr. Davoudi has been also a faculty member of the Baha’i institute of Higher Education (BIHE) for the past 13 years teaching psychopathology and serving at several committees for the development of master level programs at BIHE.  The BIHE was created 38 years ago after the Iranian government systematically withheld the right to education and official employment to Baha’is in Iran. The volunteer services that the Global faculty proudly provide for this unique institution is the only avenue of higher education available to members of the Baha’i faith in Iran, (its largest religious minority) and the only means with which the students can pursue and ultimately hope to achieve their educational goals.

Dr. Davoudi has also been a part time Faculty at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, has lectured internationally, and participated in significant number of television programs focused on different psychological topics.

Education is one of the most powerful tools to transform this world. This is why I have fallen in love with what the Mona foundation has been doing around the world and its incredible mission. Working with the foundation has brought immense joy and meaning to my life.

Nava Ghalili

Nava Ghalili was one of the youngest news anchors in the history of American television and is an active youth empowerment activist. She had also created, produced and hosted an Emmy-nominated series as a 24 year-old journalist. She is a film producer, actress, voiceover artist as well as a media consultant to multi-media agencies that serve as a voice to underrepresented population, political consultant for films and general consultant for non-profit organizations worldwide as an activist for education and women’s rights. Nava has been an international motivational speaker on topics related to social transformation and youth empowerment since 13 years of age.

Sought out for employment for senior-level advisory positions in counterterrorism by the government, Nava gives talks around the world on groundbreaking ways to prevent youth radicalization and violent extremism of various kinds from the perspective of her research, experience and as a millennial. Of Iranian heritage, Nava was born in America and also raised in Australia. She has advocated for issues ranging from moral education to gender equality and is currently developing educational curricula aimed at empowering youth called “Purify My Heart”. In addition to acting, dance and vocal training, Nava’s education includes Commerce (Curtin University) in Australia and Journalism (Harvard University). She also holds a Master of Science in Comparative Politics (Middle East Conflict) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Some of her recognitions and awards include West Australian Youth of the Year, Oprah Winfrey OWN Finalist to create a show for the network and a finalist to serve as a United Nations Ambassador for Youth Affairs.

Nava’s work has also been published by various media outlets including the Huffington Post.

The prosperity of our future will depend on the moral empowerment and education of children, as they are the future champions of justice.

Elham Rouhani

Elham Rouhani was born and educated in Dubai, U.A.E. After completing her primary studies, she attended college in the U.K, then later transferred to West Virginia University in the U.S.A. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Management SUMMA CUM LAUDE and a Master of Science degree in Economics in 1988.

Rouhani has worked with a Fortune 500 company in Dubai in the field of Human Resource Management. Her professional work enabled her to gain experience with managing people in different countries and support job placements of students from Higher Colleges of Technology at Citibank N.A. branches in U.A.E. In addition, Rouhani has served as an international Business Consultant working with both small and medium sized businesses, and an entrepreneur. Today, as an educator Rouhani teaches Economics at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia and also serves as the discipline program director.

In her own words, “I give to Mona Foundation because I believe in what they do and the lives they change. What we do for others remains and is immortal. This journey helps me find myself as I serve others.”

I give to Mona Foundation because I believe in what they do and the lives they change.

Chloe Rastegar

Chloe Rastegar graduated summa cum laude in 2021 from the University of Southern California, where she earned her B.A. in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change and minor in Psychology. At age 15, Chloe was elected as Mona Foundation's youngest Advisory Board Member. She supports Mona Foundation through fundraising efforts via social media and social commerce platforms as well as organizing in-person events. Chloe founded the Mona Global Citizens Club, a platform for students to participate in local service projects, support international efforts of Mona Foundation, and engage in dialogue regarding education. The Mona Global Citizens Club has since grown to include several chapters spanning across the U.S. Chloe aspires to advance gender equality and expand access to education internationally. She traveled to Panama in 2017 to visit the Badi School, where she interviewed students and faculty about the institution’s progress. Chloe utilizes her formal education and experiences to ensure that women and girls have access to education. 

     I support Mona Foundation because it strategically and effectively implements the bottom-up

    grassroots model. Mona Foundation empowers local community members to be at the forefront of

    defining and solving the obstacles they face, while serving as their long-term support system along

    the way.

Janet Zabeti

Janet has extensive experience in banking and investment. She started her banking career in retail banking at Bank of America in Southern California in 1981 and worked in variety of different capacities including as Business Development Officer involved with marketing plans to achieve revenue goals. In 1993, she moved to Portland, Oregon with her family and continued her career in Wells Fargo bank. She worked in Wells Fargo Private Client Services and Wealth Management as a VP Senior Financial Consultant / Relationship Manager. There, she held a Securities License as well as an Insurance License and worked with high net worth clients helping them with their investment planning, setting their financial goals and managing their investments.

Janet retired in 2011 and since then has focused on her philanthropic activities . In her own words, “it is an absolute pleasure and honor to be part of this organization and to be working towards making a difference in children’s lives.”

It is an absolute pleasure and honor to be working with Mona towards making a difference in the lives of children.