Meet Mona Foundation's San Diego Chapter

Champions of Mona's mission and our ambassadors within the larger philanthropic and humanitarian community.

Mona Foundation Chapters are Mona’s advocates and champion our goals in their local regions. Every chapter represents Mona to organizations and businesses in their area, engages the youth in philanthropy at the local level, and helps build our leadership and financial resources by hosting events or other activities in Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego.

San Diego chapter is dynamic, fun and ever active. They love and involve their children and youth in all their philanthropic activities. The result? The youth have already formed two Mona Global Citizen Clubs at their school! The chapter hold several events a year in support of Mona’s projects. The members include Nika Samimi, Director, Nava Ghalili, Director, Nadia Mahalingam, Director; Nicole DeBerg, Nour-Dean Anakar, Farah Ghalili; Nikoo Mahboubian, Jaleh Brunst, Yolanda Walther-Meade, Lori McKinney, Stacie Devitt, Heather Hays Eady. Interested in joining this chapter? Email Nava Ghalili.

Heather Hays

Heather has been working in Education for the past 19 years as a teacher and school counselor. She is currently working as a high school level counselor in San Diego helping students achieve their high school diploma and develop their post-secondary plans. Earlier in her career she taught high school and middle school students in Bolivia as a social science teacher, and travel teacher for the Baha’i Faith.

Heather holds a M.S. in Counseling from San Diego State, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, holds a Single Subject Teaching degree and has a B.A in History from UC Santa Barbara.

"I believe that education has the power to unlock potential and empower individuals to transform themselves, their communities, and eventually the world."

Albert Knowles

Albert Knowles began his career as an elementary and high school teacher and wrestling and football coach working with underserved children. He saw firsthand the transformation that education and a supportive environment can create in an individual’s life. After more than a decade of teaching, he had the opportunity to pursue a new passion. A desire to understand the nature and quality of our food supply led him and his wife to purchase a homestead farm in Washington State and develop an organic farm business where service, education and community building were the overarching goals. In addition to providing organic produce, meat, and eggs, their farm hosted monthly concerts in their barn to promote the arts and create community. He also supported other local farmers in the area and provided education to the local community about organic farming and local food. In addition to working as a teacher and a farmer, Albert supported his wife through medical school and residency. For several years, he stayed home to care for his two young daughters. As an educator and stay at home father he has first-hand experience of the power and difference that a quality education has on children and girls in particular as women continue to close the inequality gap with men. Albert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and a Masters in Education from the Claremont Graduate University. He is excited to be a part of the Mona Foundation team to aid in their mission to educate and create opportunities for girls and disadvantaged children across the world.

Stacie Devitt

Stacie Devitt is an accomplished professional and philanthropist. She is committed to the promotion of human rights and the advancement of peaceful societies. She is a champion for underprivileged families and actively supports and is engaged in many social causes, including the advancement of fairness in the United States’ immigration process.

Stacie is currently the Board Chairman of the American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project, an organization that promotes due process and access to justice for immigrants and asylum seekers through the provision of high-quality legal services.

After a successful career in commercial real estate, Stacie is now actively involved in local political analysis and development, while working on her political science degree at the University of San Diego. Stacie believes that access to a quality education is one of the greatest gifts a child can receive

"I am deeply honored to be a part of an organization that works tirelessly to empower girls through learning."

Lori McKinney

Lori McKinney is the Chief Financial Officer at McKinney Capital and Advisory with over 30 years of experience in understanding and maximizing finances in investments of real estate and portfolio management. Lori takes pride in providing clients with confidence in their real estate decisions by bringing best practices and a fiduciary approach.

Lori has assisted investors and owner-users in managing expenses, budgeting, and forecasts, as well as strategic remodel for maximum value add in real estate investments. She is thorough and careful with each asset working from the perspective of maximizing asset value for future disposition. Lori brings her financial expertise to the asset management team. Her role includes financial forecasting & re-positioning of assets. Lori carefully prepares tax documents for all investors and keeps important dates for clients.

Lori has responsibility for everything that approaches a balance sheet or profit and loss statement. Her understanding of finance and accounting provides a ready resource to all with informative reporting for the team.

"I focus not on the bottom line, but on the relationships that create the bottom line."

Jaleh Brunst

Jaleh has been the resident of San Diego County for the past 37 years and is married and the mother of one son. She is a nurse by profession, and together with her husband established their private Medical Corporation where she has been the manager and the administrator for the past 37 years.

Her community involvement and volunteer services include establishing in 1982 the Scripps Memorial Hospital of Encinitas the Doctors’ Wives Auxiliary Board where she served as a liaison to Scripps Auxiliary Board. Established and chaired annual Medical Staff events, and hosted and chaired the first ever Gala Fund raiser. Since then, she has chaired or co-chaired the annual fund raising Galas for 22 years. She also served as a member of Scripps Hospital Community Advisory Board for two terms.

She is one of the eight founding members of Circle of Life 100 established to assist Scripps Hospital with their special needs. Jaleh was the honoree at the 10th year Gala fund raiser for Scripps Memorial Hospital and the first recipient of its Inaugural Achievement Award.

Jaleh has also served on the Hospice of the North Coast Board for several years and has similarly hosted and chaired Gala fund raisers for Hospice and volunteer’s appreciation events. In recognition of her immense services she was inducted to the Hospice of the North Coast Hall of Fame in 2005.

Jaleh is an active member of the Baha’i community and honored by the local Spiritual Assembly of San Diego for services rendered to its cause. She enjoys playing tennis and Equestrian activities, gardening and of course spending time with her grandchildren.

I am impressed and inspired by Mona’s efforts and accomplishments in educating and advancing the underserved children, particularly girls.

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."

Farah Ghalili

Farah Ghalili’s professional background ranges from healthcare in nursing to Real Estate, interior design and building/property development management across two continents. Farah’s primary time is dedicated however to helping to build moral capacity in communities in innovative ways. Her extensive work with moral education curricula in Australian school systems and her direct work with children in the schools on moral empowerment has crossed over into the United States where she has developed similar curricula for children in local communities and carried it out here in the San Diego community.

Farah hosts dozens of community members from a variety of backgrounds in her home weekly in a creative way that engages three separate capacity building which serves as a model of its kind in the area. She is consistently involved with a range of social action initiatives aimed to stimulate and develop unity in neighborhoods while she serves on related institutions.

"I  am dedicated to the education and empowerment of children, especially girls."

Nadia Mahalingam

Nadia s a teacher, mother and French Baker. She has dedicated her life to serving humanity. This is the one thing that brings her true happiness. Nadia and family owned and managed a very well-recognized French bakery in Santa Barbara area called Le Chateau Bakery. In a short time, it became renowned for unique pastries and cakes using fresh and natural ingredients. This experience working under my parents has allowed her to use her talents for doing something she truly enjoyed which is catering special occasions using highest quality of fresh and natural ingredients. Her new business, The Lunch Box Cafe Deli in La Mesa, CA is a popular meeting place with those looking for best quality and home made cuisine, while enjoying a warm and welcoming environment. She has a very popular YouTube Channel, “Baking with Nadia’. with more than 63,000 subscribers and surpassing 1 million viewership, All proceeds from her online income is contributed to Mona Foundation.

"Service to Humanity is the one thing that brings me true happiness."

Nour-Dean Anakar

Nour–Dean is the Managing Partner and the Director of International Business Development at Mckinney Capital Group and has 28 years of experience and a successful track record in leading the development and executive management of top ranked gaming and hospitality Corporations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and North Africa.

Nour-Dean contributes a high level of international collaboration to business developments and his expertise and global connections allows McKinney Capital and its partners to reach additional opportunities on an international platform. Nour-Dean specializes in identifying not only the right country to host a Corporation’s enterprise, but discovering the unique opportunity the country has to offer.

Nour-Dean has developed market studies, feasibility studies, and financial structures, in addition to having the diplomatic expertise with foreign governments to ensure projects commences and grow and expand successfully.

Nour-Dean is fluent in Spanish, Arabic, French, and English.

"I am very happy to be part of such a great cause and support the Foundation any way I can."

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."

Nicole DeBerg

Nicole DeBerg currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research organization in La Jolla California, founded by biotech icon Craig Venter.

A seasoned financial leader with nearly 25 years of experience, DeBerg comes to JCVI most recently from the San Diego Housing Commission where she was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Financial Services. Prior to this role she held senior financial leadership positions at several emerging biotechnology companies including Altair Therapeutics, Kalypsys and Depotech, as well as the position of Chief Financial Officer at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute.

DeBerg is a Certified Public Accountant and began her career as an auditor with Deloitte & Touche. She has held Board positions at other non-profit organizations and is actively involved in the San Diego community.

"I am looking forward to working with all of you on accomplishing this wonderful and important mission."

Nika Samimi

Nika Samimi has been involved in the non profit world since 1998 beginning in Toronto, Canada. Her educational background is mainly in the business and legal world which includes mainly banking industry with her last career being a Vice-President of Canada’s largest Bank.

She is currently serving on the Board of Angels Foster Family Network and previously served on Committees of Miracle Babies, RBC Trust Board and York University in Toronto, Canada. She is a philanthropist in San Diego and gives her time or support to an array of San Diego nonprofits which have included Just Like My Child, Scripps Health, Francis Parker School, San Diego Salvation Army, Tahirih Justice & San Diego Museum of Art among others. Having 2 children herself, her goal is to empower children specially girls all over the world to be educated and in turn empower their own children and other girls.

"Empower and educate children, particularly girls, and they empower their children and communities."