Ta’leef aims to make service & good character a standard.

Ta’leef Collective has a diverse board ranging from scholars, community leaders, activists and business professionals. Our Board of Directors are responsible for overseeing the management of Ta’leef’s mission at an operational level and our Board of Trustees provide input into long-term strategy and organizational needs.

Ali Dia

Executive Director
& Board Member

For the past three years, Ali was the Director of Operations for Ta'leef Chicago, in addition to playing a significant role in continuing to shape the vision and strategy for Ta'leef. Many of you might know Ali from his classes in Chicago, the weekly Burdah, or teaching at our Ta'leef Academy retreats. A Chicago native and a student to many of the teachers and scholars we hold near and dear, Ali has been a mentor and leader in our community and understands the value of love and service in our tradition.

Ahmed Ali

Board Member

Sameena Basha

Board Member

Sameena Basha holds a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a law degree from the University of Chicago. In the last decade, she has largely focused her time as a community organizer by serving on the boards and committees of Islamic non-profits in Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. Some of her various projects and interests include coordinating interactive Qur'an programs for youth, developing refugee assistance & support for the homeless, organizing Muslim girl scout programs, streamlining masjid facility clean-ups, and hosting spiritual retreats, events and classes. She enjoys hiking, bicycling and gardening in her spare time.

Diane Stair

Board Member

A lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Diane began working in Silicon Valley directly out of college, and moved through the waves of technology innovation over the next twenty-five years. She joined Cisco Systems in 1998, and eight years later, working alongside Muslim engineering colleagues, she became curious about Islam. On a 2007 trip to Pakistan for a hospital networking project at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (during which she and her colleagues met Imran Khan, now Prime Minister) Diane experienced pivotal openings about Islam. Upon her return, she embarked on a journey of discovery working with a small Zawiyah, and with luminaries at Zaytuna Institute. Soon after, Diane took her shahada and volunteered as an advisor to both Ta’leef and Zaytuna Institute (as a member of the Management Committee which helped launch Zaytuna College in 2010). In 2011, Diane made a career change, choosing to devote herself to Muslim non-profit organizations. During her three-year stint in Development and Community Outreach at Zaytuna College, she also joined the Ta’leef Board. In November 2017, Diane came aboard as Ta’leef Collective's first Executive Director.

Mansoor Kazi

Board Member

Mansoor has been a long-time supporter and volunteer of Ta'leef Collective. He is a native of Augusta, Georgia and his lived all over the U.S. He has a background of working within the Muslim and broader communities through various organizations and volunteer activities, and is deeply inspired by Ta'leef's vision of organically building Prophetic communities. Mansoor is an avid college basketball fan, and is passionate about everything related to food.

Parvez Ahmed

Board Member

Parvez Ahmed is an attorney specializing in business litigation and electronic discovery. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco where he teaches a course on Islamic Jurisprudence and serves as Chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Directors at Ta'leef Collective. He has taught undergraduate courses related to Islam and Islamic Civilizations at the University of Arkansas and Wayne State University and has lectured on topics related to Islam at various college campuses, forums, and religious institutions. Parvez studied Arabic, Islamic Theology and Jurisprudence under the tutelage of teachers in Michigan, Chicago, and Cairo. He has been involved with the Muslim community for over 25 years serving as advisor and on the boards of several Muslim organizations and institutions. For almost 5 years, Parvez has co-hosted Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, a monthly podcast seeking to celebrate the many facets of the American Muslim experience. A native Texan, he presently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two daughters.

Ali Dia

Executive Director
& Board Member

For the past three years, Ali was the Director of Operations for Ta'leef Chicago, in addition to playing a significant role in continuing to shape the vision and strategy for Ta'leef. Many of you might know Ali from his classes in Chicago, the weekly Burdah, or teaching at our Ta'leef Academy retreats. A Chicago native and a student to many of the teachers and scholars we hold near and dear, Ali has been a mentor and leader in our community and understands the value of love and service in our tradition.

Ahmed Ali

Board Member

Sameena Basha

Board Member

Sameena Basha holds a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a law degree from the University of Chicago. In the last decade, she has largely focused her time as a community organizer by serving on the boards and committees of Islamic non-profits in Illinois, Arizona and Michigan. Some of her various projects and interests include coordinating interactive Qur'an programs for youth, developing refugee assistance & support for the homeless, organizing Muslim girl scout programs, streamlining masjid facility clean-ups, and hosting spiritual retreats, events and classes. She enjoys hiking, bicycling and gardening in her spare time.

Diane Stair

Board Member

A lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, Diane began working in Silicon Valley directly out of college, and moved through the waves of technology innovation over the next twenty-five years. She joined Cisco Systems in 1998, and eight years later, working alongside Muslim engineering colleagues, she became curious about Islam. On a 2007 trip to Pakistan for a hospital networking project at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (during which she and her colleagues met Imran Khan, now Prime Minister) Diane experienced pivotal openings about Islam. Upon her return, she embarked on a journey of discovery working with a small Zawiyah, and with luminaries at Zaytuna Institute. Soon after, Diane took her shahada and volunteered as an advisor to both Ta’leef and Zaytuna Institute (as a member of the Management Committee which helped launch Zaytuna College in 2010). In 2011, Diane made a career change, choosing to devote herself to Muslim non-profit organizations. During her three-year stint in Development and Community Outreach at Zaytuna College, she also joined the Ta’leef Board. In November 2017, Diane came aboard as Ta’leef Collective's first Executive Director.

Mansoor Kazi

Board Member

Mansoor has been a long-time supporter and volunteer of Ta'leef Collective. He is a native of Augusta, Georgia and his lived all over the U.S. He has a background of working within the Muslim and broader communities through various organizations and volunteer activities, and is deeply inspired by Ta'leef's vision of organically building Prophetic communities. Mansoor is an avid college basketball fan, and is passionate about everything related to food.

Parvez Ahmed

Board Member

Parvez Ahmed is an attorney specializing in business litigation and electronic discovery. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco where he teaches a course on Islamic Jurisprudence and serves as Chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Directors at Ta'leef Collective. He has taught undergraduate courses related to Islam and Islamic Civilizations at the University of Arkansas and Wayne State University and has lectured on topics related to Islam at various college campuses, forums, and religious institutions. Parvez studied Arabic, Islamic Theology and Jurisprudence under the tutelage of teachers in Michigan, Chicago, and Cairo. He has been involved with the Muslim community for over 25 years serving as advisor and on the boards of several Muslim organizations and institutions. For almost 5 years, Parvez has co-hosted Diffused Congruence: The American Muslim Experience, a monthly podcast seeking to celebrate the many facets of the American Muslim experience. A native Texan, he presently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two daughters.