Organizers, Counselors & Teachers
Mizaan Team
Mizaan is made possible by dedicated volunteers who bring their knowledge, experience, and passion to create a meaningful experience for all campers.
Khalil Abdullah
Imam Khalil Abdullah is the Assistant Dean for Muslim Life in the Office of Religious Life at Princeton University. He works closely with students on campus to support their diverse cultural and spiritual identities while helping to strengthen their religious literacy and mutual respect for others. In addition, Imam Khalil offers pastoral care to students, staff, and faculty. He hosts campus dialogues on topics related to Islam and social justice, faith identity, meaning, and Muslim American history.
Nausheena Ahmed
Nausheena Ahmed grew up in London, England and Halifax, Nova Scotia. She studied history and political science at Dalhousie University. Nausheena attended her first Muslim camp when she was in fourth grade where she camped with her (unbeknownst to her at the time) future husband. Nausheena loves to travel, DIY and is a gourmet cook of much reknown. She has been actively involved in all eleven past Mizaan camps and is looking forward to attending her twelfth IA.
Arshe Ahmed
Arshe Ahmed was raised in Brooklyn, NY and currently resides in central New Jersey. She is the mother of an energetic and creative 8-year-old. Arshe has long been committed to community service and masjid-based initiatives, including over a decade of volunteering with the Princeton University Muslim Life Program. She has served on the organizing team for the Mizaan Retreat for the past 10 years. In her personal time, she enjoys capturing meaningful moments through photography and writing reflective pieces on faith and self-discovery.
Malak Atut
Malak Atut is an entrepreneur in healthcare IT/digital health and luxury goods, with a previous background in consulting and professional services. She is passionate about interfaith & DEI work, crossword puzzles and all things soccer. She resides in Morristown, NJ with her 2 teenage sons and husband.
Rafique Vahora
Rafique Vahora has been part of the Mizaan Retreat community since 2013 and has been helping organize the retreat since 2014. He grew up and went to school in Connecticut, has lived in New Jersey and Massachusetts, and is now based in Philadelphia. By day, Rafique works as an operations manager at a life science instrumentation company. Outside of his 9–5, he and his wife (whom he met through Mizaan) run a small custom decor and design business together. In their free time, Rafique and his wife enjoy DIY home projects, crafting, traveling, and spending time under the night sky. Mizaan is especially meaningful to Rafique because it brings the community together for a memory-filled weekend. Many of the friendships he formed at Mizaan over ten years ago are still an important part of his life today. In gratitude for all that Mizaan has given him, Rafique is committed to giving back and helping create the same meaningful experience for others.
Haroon Kalimullah, PhD
Haroon is an award-winning author of four books, a scholar, researcher, and transformational trainer. He loves working with youth, especially through sports camps (tennis, pickleball, soccer) and entrepreneurship bootcamps. He's blessed to be raising his kids with his better half in Princeton and is still learning to make dad jokes cool again
Maryam Abdelhamid
Maryam Abdelhamid is a mother, school design partner, and avid Central Jersey café hopper who believes deeply that Islam is the path to liberation. She is guided by curiosity, care, and connection in both her personal and professional life. At her core, Maryam is committed to building spiritual communities and spaces that are inclusive, humanizing, and rooted in the Prophetic tradition. She has been deeply shaped by her journey through motherhood and her work alongside historically marginalized communities.
Leena El-Mufti
My name is Leena El-Mufti. I reside in central Jersey with my husband and 1 yo daughter and worked for the Princeton University Muslim Life Program between '23-'25. I find joy in time spent with family, in movement, and all sorts of hands-on activities & crafts. These days, I am inspired by the ideas of treading lightly, the bounty in less, and living in harmony with nature and in service of community.
Karin Firoza
I am Karin (pronounced: Car-IN) Firoza. I am a mama to two littles and honored to be organizing this experience for you as a member of the Mizaan Retreat planning committee. I am originally a Queens girl and have landed in Central Jersey by way of Boston. As an educator, I work closely with college students at Princeton University to imagine, learn, and build inclusive and just community. I am excited to engage in meaningful conversations and activities that enable us to practice joyous Islam with our family, friends, and community at the Mizaan Retreat.