Board of Directors

The activities of Cornell Muslim Life and the chaplaincy are overseen by the Board of Directors of The Diwan Foundation. Diwan was created by Muslim alumni of Cornell University as a financial vehicle to support coordinated Muslim life programming at Cornell. Diwan seeks to enhance the quality of life for self-identifying Muslims and all Cornellians, by providing resources, implementing programs, and developing opportunities for students. Diwan is a 501(c)(3) non-profit federally tax-exempt organization.

 

Dr. Jarra Jagne '90

President

A 1990 graduate of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine following which she completed a residency in Avian Medicine and Pathology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is presently a Senior Extension Associate at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She and her husband Amadou have two daughters and a son. 

Jainal Bhuiyan '04

Vice-President

A 2004 graduate from Cornell’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. He is currently a Director and Head of Healthcare Equity Capital Markets with Highline Research Advisors in New York. He was a founding Director of Muppies, New York, an organization dedicated to mentorship and leadership development.

Fatima Iqbal '05

Chief Financial Officer

A 2005 graduate of Cornell University with a BS in Applied Economics and Management. She is currently an investment advisor and financial planner with Azzad Asset Management, specializing in Islamic finance and socially responsible investing. Fatima lives in the Greater Philadelphia area with her husband and son.

Nadeem I. Shafi '96

Director (Fundraising)

Nadeem graduated from Cornell’s College of Arts & Science in 1996 with a concentration in Cell Biology. Following his M.D. and residency in Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, he completed a clinical fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston. He is presently an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Neuroscience at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He and his wife reside in Gainesville.

Saad Y. Hassan '98

Director (Tech Ops)

Saad graduated from Cornell’s College of Engineering in 1998. He worked in Corporate IT for Rohm and Haas Company for several years, before launching the IT consulting firm Hassan Associates. Saad and his wife reside with their son and daughter in the greater Chicago area.

Khairul Anwar '09

Director (Outreach)

Khairul graduated from Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 2008, with a Bachelors in Urban and Regional studies, before completing his Masters in Urban Design and Social Science at the London School of Economics. He is currently with International Enterprise Singapore overseeing infrastructure and international cooperation projects with government partners in emerging markets, having previously covered business and investment promotion in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He currently lives in Singapore.

Want to get involved?

The Board comprises alumni volunteers who are committed to strengthening Muslim Life at Cornell. We’re always on the lookout for more alumni and student volunteers.