• Experienced broadcast journalist with exceptional communication skills
• 10+ years of experience including a background in broadcast media as a reporter, show host, editor, writer, certified voice-over talent and producer
• Expert in Islam, Arabs and Muslim related topics
• Leadership roles in mentoring, non-profit and professional development organizations
• Certified Public Speaker with experience presenting to corporate, government, civic and religious organizations, both locally and nationally.
• Fluent in Arabic and conversant in Spanish.

JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

CNN Newsource Digital: Assignment Editor/Producer 01/2015-present

CNN Digital: Newsdesk Editor/Writer 04/2011-present

CNN Image and Sound: Cross-Platform AP (Digital) 06/2014-01/2015

CNN International: Assignment Editor and Translator  04/2011-09/2014

Atlanta Interfaith Broadcast (AIB): Show Host   10/2012-present

Azizah Magazine: Freelance Talent/Writer 01/2007-present

Bridges TV: GA Correspondent / Freelance Reporter  05/2005- 05/2007

April & Company LLC: Freelance Producer/Talent 12/2004- 12/2005

Taqwa Productions: Youth TV host for show entitled Reflections 05/2004- 08/2004

Signal: Writer for Georgia State University’s newspaper 11/2003- 12/2004

EDUCATION

Oxford University Oxford, United Kingdom
Annenberg-Oxford Summer Institute
Global Media Policy: Technology and New Themes in Media Regulation
Enrolled: 06/2010  Graduated: 07/2010

Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303
M.A. Applied Linguistics Focus on Arabic and Spanish
Enrolled: 08/2005  Graduated: 12/2007

Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303
B.A. Journalism Minor, Sociology
Enrolled: 06/2002   Graduated: 12/2004

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

Brenau University: Adjunct Faculty School of Business and Mass Communication 10/2009-present
• Teaching graduate students business and communication courses.
• Course taught on-ground and on-line: Academic Research and Writing, Critical and Creative Thinking, Undergraduate-level Business Communication and Graduate-level Business Communication

Georgia State University: Visiting Instructor Middle East Institute 01/2007-06/2009
• Teaching Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced level courses of Modern Standard
Arabic to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Developing, designing and teaching a special seminar 4000 level course on Egyptian
Colloquial Arabic to undergraduate and graduate students.

INTERNSHIPS

CBS46: Interactive Media News Room 09/2004-12/2004

Taqwa Productions: Television Production Company 05/2004-08/2004

Governor’s Internship: Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 09/2002-12/2002

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENTS 

U-Beyond Atlanta Mentorship– Board member of this networking, leadership, education and professional advancement non-profit organization

Atlanta Interfaith Broadcast: Board member of this interfaith television network

CNN Diversity Council Member: Organizes panels on specific topics of potential guests for the entire CNN network and assists as need be during events

Atlanta Press Club– Active member since 2004

Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta – Certified Public Speaker presenting and creating educational interactive workshops and sessions on the culture and religion of Islam, to universities, civil and government organizations, churches, synagogues, temples, etc.

Egyptian Colloquial Arabic Immersion Program – Director of Georgia State University based Arabic Immersion study abroad program to Egypt in May, 2009. Organized and developed this study abroad trip, designed as an intensive summer experience for Arabic language students.

Workshop for Georgia Educators – Developing and presenting a workshop on Media of the Middle East to Georgia Educators sponsored by Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College.

Arab-US. Association for Communication Educators (AUSACE)– Translated a participant questions document from English to Arabic for the AUSACE pre-conference held in Beirut, 2011.

Annenberg-Oxford Summer Institute– Selected as a participant among 30 other selected individuals from different countries and attended a seminar on Global Media Policy: Technology and New Themes in Media Regulation at Oxford University, UK in July, 2010.

Southern States Communication Association– Conference paper on “Framing the American Muslim identity: American Muslims political, social, and spiritual engagements after 9/11”. San Antonio, TX April 2012.

European Communication Research and Education Association– Conference paper on “The Egyptian Revolution: Egyptian-American Diaspora, Media and Identity Construction”. To be presented in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2012.

SKILLS

Computer: Final Cut Pro, CMS, Chartbeat, Aspen, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign 2.0, iNews, Avid
Work: Expert level on topics of diversity, broad cultural awareness and understanding, social media expert, excellent communication, networking and organizational skills
Foreign Language: Arabic, Intermediate Spanish

ACHIEVEMENTS

2016 CNN Diversity Ovation Awardee: For influence of culture and diversity in workplace and to the network
B.A. Completion: Completed Journalism Bachelors degree in a compressed 2 ½ years of college