Hindis Board
Hindis board members bring diverse expertise and experiences crucial for guiding the organization strategically, ensuring effective governance, managing resources, mitigating risks, fostering partnerships, advocating for the mission, and providing leadership. Their collective contributions are vital for the organization's success and impact.
Saida Hassan
Founder/CEO
Saida is a committed professional in the Education field. She is currently pursuing her M.A. at Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on Policy and Analysis. Over the past five years, she has dedicated her efforts to education in Somalia, holding various positions within the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education. As the Founder of Hindis, she is actively working to address the challenges within Somalia's education system by introducing innovative teaching and learning methods.
Susan Staats
Susan Staats is a distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Minnesota's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. With a unique academic background combining a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s in Mathematics, Dr. Staats specializes in enhancing educational equity for early undergraduates, particularly those transitioning to university life. Her pioneering research delves into mathematics discourse, exploring how dialogue facilitates students' understanding of mathematics. This is exemplified in her current study on the mathematics learning conversations of Somali speakers. Dr. Staats is committed to teaching a diverse range of courses, including educational discourse analysis, action research methods, and foundational mathematics subjects like college algebra and calculus. Her teaching spans various academic levels, from undergraduate to doctoral programs.
Amal Dirie
Amal Dirie is the co-founder of award-winning Beydan Coffee and Beydan Pastry. She is a trailblazer who is passionate about progressing the life, minds and skill sets of those around her, especially women and children. She firmly believes in creating your own opportunities and encourages people to hone their skills and monetize their interests.
Aside from her entrepreneurship, Amal holds a degree in General Medicine from the Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy. When she is not working or studying, Amal enjoys spending time with her family and researches enriching activities to boost children’s development.
Hodan Hassan
Hodan Hassan, an expert in international development and program management, is the Executive Director of Kulan Consulting. Her firm works with governments and organizations, focusing on program learning, socio-political research, and event facilitation. At USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives, Hodan played a key role in a $20 million political transition project in South Sudan. She also assisted the U.S. Embassy's Somalia Unit. From 2008 to 2016, her leadership in the USAID Somalia Office was vital, overseeing budget and staff expansion and playing a crucial part in developing USAID's first country strategy for Somalia and a major $100 million stabilization initiative. Post-2016, she's been a consultant for top institutions like the World Bank and UNICEF. Hodan, a UCLA alumna, has a Bachelor's in Political Science and a Master's in African Studies.
Ibrahim Mohamed
Ibrahim Mohamed holds a master’s degree in public and international Affairs, concentrating on Global Security, and a bachelor's in Economics. Ibrahim is a seasoned professional with extensive experience fostering social, economic, and political peace across diverse communities. His career spans various roles, demonstrating proficiency in conflict transformation, stakeholder engagement, and change management.
At Copper River Technologies in Chantilly, Virginia, Mr. Mohamed is a Senior Management Analyst who drives strategic planning and process improvement initiatives for the Washington Headquarters Office. His expertise is facilitating business process reengineering efforts, standardization planning, and data analysis to optimize organizational performance. In previous assignments, Ibrahim consulted with NORCAP as a Business Process Evaluation Expert with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Beirut, Lebanon. Mogadishu, Somalia, played pivotal roles in voter education and stakeholder engagement at the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) as a Senior Organizational Change Management Advisor. I led efforts to enhance institutional capacity and streamline operations at the Ministry of Education in Somalia.