MOHAMMAD ALI AZIZ-SULTAN, MD

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ali Aziz-Sultan embarked on his lifelong commitment to health and innovation after receiving his Medical Degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Sultan proceeded to complete his Neurosurgical Residency with an in-folded Radiology Fellowship at the University of Miami, followed by two Fellowships at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix Arizona (one in Endovascular Neurosurgery and the other in Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Surgery). Respected among peers and understanding the importance of innovation, Dr. Sultan quickly advanced to the position of Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Director of Endovascular Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Opportunity giving way to present day, Dr. Sultan currently holds the title of Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, all the while pursuing a degree in Master of Business Administration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which he completed in the Spring of 2019.

Dr. Sultan’s most impactful contributions have been in the field of education. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is an ad hoc editor for several of the most prominent neurosurgical publications. He has been involved in training of over 60 residents 25 fellows in neurosurgery and currently serves as the associate program director for the residency at Brigham.  Most of the fellows that have trained with him have gone into academic programs and are now training other physicians. He is an invited speaker at most of the national and international cerebrovascular conferences.  He has also used his platform at Harvard to tell his story as a young Afghan refugee who fled a war torn country at the age of six to eventually come to the United States. The opportunities afforded by education has allowed him to practice medicine in an unparalleled environment. He has given these stories of hope and resilience of the Afghan people as invited professor at Universities and to the Afghan-American Conference aimed towards youth empowerment.  He has also returned to his homeland on a few occasions to help collaborate with neurosurgeons in Kabul Afghanistan in service to the Afghan community.

FARHAT HANIFI

Farhat Hanifi serves as the Director of Philanthropy for the Waterford Foundation where she oversees the implementation and execution of domestic and international projects that serve under-resourced communities.

She is a founding board member for the Valley Health Education Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to promoting access to higher education in health sciences and related fields in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Farhat was a founding committee member of the Afghan-American Conference and served as the Finance Co-chair for the first three years of its inception. She is also a proud Bruin and graduated from UCLA with a degree in Anthropology. Farhat presently lives in Fresno, California with her wonderful husband and amazing son.

SPOJMIE NASIRI

Spojmie Nasiri is the principal attorney at the Law Office of Spojmie Nasiri, PC in Pleasanton, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, in 1998 and her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of Law, in 2003. Mrs. Nasiri is a member of the California State Bar and is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Mrs. Nasiri is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and currently serves on AILA's Afghan Response Task Force, advocating for recently evacuated Afghans. She has extensive experience representing clients in family-based immigration matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and handling complex deportation matters.

In addition to her legal practice, Mrs. Nasiri served as Board President of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) for the San Francisco Bay IArea Chapter from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, she was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame for her significant contributions to immigration law and community advocacy. In recognition of her outstanding pro bono work on behalf of Afghan refugees, Mrs. Nasiri was awarded the AILA President's Commendation Award in 2022 and 2023.

Mrs. Nasiri currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Afghan American Community Organization (AACO), the Alameda County Bar Association, and on the Board of Directors for CAIR National, the largest civil rights organization serving American Muslims, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Nasiri is fluent in Pashto and Dari.

SARA NOORZAY

As a two-time boomerang, Sara has been part of the AACO family since it's inception in 2015. Serving both as a participant, and multi-year committee member, Sara returns to this space because of her deep passion for AACO's mission and vision. Sara is a Director of Customer Success at Slack, where she has been supporting Slack's largest enterprise customers for the past 7 years. Prior to Slack, Sara worked in management consulting at firms like Slalom, Hitachi and Deloitte.

ZOHAL KARIMY, Associate Director of Marketing

Born and raised in Fremont, California, Zohal spent the past six years in New York City earning her Master's degree in English and American Literature from NYU and building a career in publishing and marketing. Although her decision to study English initially raised a few eyebrows at home, it ultimately led her to a career centered on helping meaningful stories find their audiences.

Professionally, Zohal began her career in book publishing before transitioning into marketing, where she managed campaigns and creative initiatives for brands including The Wall Street Journal. Working across global campaigns taught her how to connect with audiences and inspire engagement in a rapidly changing digital landscape. After attending her first AAC conference in 2025, Zohal was inspired by the organization's community and joined AACO eager to use her marketing experience to help strengthen connections across the Afghan diaspora.

In her free time, you'll usually find her reading one of the four books she's somehow convinced herself she can finish simultaneously, attending one of her many book clubs, or balancing things out with a healthy dose of reality TV. In her view, life is all about balance.

DAIANA HABIB, Marketing Coordinator

Daiana Habib is a healthcare professional with a passion for patient care, community engagement, and initiatives that create meaningful impact throughout a patient's healthcare journey. Her connection to the Afghan-American community deepened after attending her first annual conference hosted by the Afghan-American Community Organization in 2025. Inspired by the organization's commitment to empowering individuals, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening community connections, she became more actively involved in AACO's work.

Through her experience in healthcare, Daiana has developed a strong commitment to service, leadership, and advocacy. She believes in creating opportunities for education and mentorship, particularly for the next generation of professionals. Joining AACO has allowed her to combine her passion for healthcare with her desire to give back to the community that has shaped her.

As Marketing Coordinator, Daiana is excited to contribute her skills, learn from fellow members, and support AACO's mission of strengthening and uplifting the Afghan-American community. By fostering meaningful relationships and encouraging growth, she hopes to help create lasting positive change both within the organization and beyond.

NOOR MUJADIDI, Marketing Coordinator

 Born in Maryland and raised in the DMV area, Noor grew up surrounded by a vibrant Afghan community, shaping a strong sense of identity and a deep connection to her roots. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Politics with a minor in Marketing, bringing a global perspective and a strong passion for advocacy and humanitarian relief efforts.

During college, Noor served as President of the largest Afghan Student Union on the East Coast, leading initiatives that strengthened cultural connection and expanded community outreach. She also served as Vice President of a nonprofit organization that supported those in need during the 2021 Afghanistan humanitarian crisis, contributing to relief efforts for affected communities.

Noor is dedicated to uplifting Afghan voices and fostering meaningful community engagement. Through her work, she aims to create culturally grounded messaging that resonates with the Afghan-American diaspora while promoting unity, representation, and impact.

SANAZ FARHAD, Marketing Coordinator

Sanaz Farhad is a Business Administration student who is looking forward to pursuing her career interests further in management, marketing, and consumer behavior. Currently in her second year of college, she plans on transferring to a school in Southern California in the fall semester. After her undergraduate studies she wishes to obtain her MBA.

Sanaz has prior leadership experience from her high school years which strengthened her planning, communication, and collaboration skills. It helped her get out of her comfort zone which is an experience that she is grateful for. Outside of school, she enjoys connecting with new people, gaining new experiences, and seeking new opportunities to build her career in the future.

DAWOUD WAZIRI, Summit & Alumni Programs Director

Dawoud Waziri is a dedicated community advocate who is passionate about building connections, supporting cultural understanding, and creating opportunities for others to succeed. As an Afghan American, he values the importance of preserving cultural heritage while fostering meaningful engagement across diverse communities.

Through volunteerism, mentorship, and community participation, Dawoud strives to make a positive impact by helping individuals access resources, develop professionally, and strengthen their sense of belonging. He believes that strong communities are built through service, collaboration, and mutual respect.

In addition to his community involvement, Dawoud enjoys following international football, learning about different cultures and languages, and supporting initiatives that promote education, economic opportunity, and civic engagement.

WAZHMA SAIDI, Scholarships Coordinator

Born and raised in the U.S., Wazhma grew up in Oklahoma, where she navigated exclusively white spaces with little connection to her Afghan identity. It wasn’t until 2017 in DC where she connected with family, AAC, and other like-minded Afghans that she began to embrace and define her Afghan American identity.

Wazhma has spent over a decade directing client success and account management teams in the tech industry, specializing in growth marketing, advocacy, and professional development. She is now pursuing a master’s in Mental Health Counseling to support families and adults through trauma-informed care. In 2021, she worked with Task Force Argo, playing a critical role in the evacuation of Afghan allies and refugees.

As Scholarships Coordinator for AACO, Wazhma is dedicated to expanding access to financial and professional opportunities for Afghan-American students, believing that mentorship and education are key to empowering future leaders. She remains deeply engaged in advocacy and community-building efforts while continuing to travel, watch stand-up comedy shows across the US, and discover the best foodie spots.

SHABNAM NIKZAD, Regional Event Lead

Shabnam Nikzad is an Afghan-American advocate, educator, and incoming law student at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Persian Studies.

Throughout her academic and professional career, Shabnam has been dedicated to advancing educational access, legal literacy, and community empowerment. She is the founder of Mizan, a student-led initiative focused on expanding access to legal resources and fostering civic engagement among underserved communities. Her service experience includes working as a volunteer interpreter for asylum seekers, teaching English and citizenship preparation courses to refugee women, and supporting legal aid and community-based organizations throughout Southern California.

Shabnam served as Outreach Director for Women for Afghan Women at UCLA and worked to strengthen partnerships between students and the broader Afghan-American community. As the daughter of immigrant families from Afghanistan and India, she is passionate about public service, advocacy, and creating opportunities for future generations. She currently serves on the 2026 Afghan-American Conference Organizing Committee as Regional Event Lead for the Summit.

ATIFA HABA, Mentorship Volunteer Program

Atifa was born in Afghanistan and experienced immigration firsthand as a child when her family left during the civil war. That early experience of navigating change and rebuilding shaped both her character and her career.

She returned to Kabul and built her professional foundation earning a Bachelor’s in Psychology of Administration and Management and an MBA while working through international organizations, including a U.S. Department of State-funded program at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Following the government’s collapse in 2021, she relocated to the United States in January 2023.

Today, Atifa serves as Human Resources Manager at Fairfax General District Court in Virginia, bringing over 15 years of HR experience across governmental, judicial, and international organizations.

She connected with AACO at the 2025 Gala and found immediate alignment, an organization built on the same belief she had carried through every chapter of her life: that education, civic engagement, and community can change the trajectory of a person’s future.

As an AACO Mentorship Program volunteer, she shows up for the same reason AACO does, because an empowered Afghan-American community doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when people who have walked the road turn around and light the way for those still on it.

OMAR NOORZAY, Project Management & Technology Director

Omar was born and raised in Los Angeles, where he has always been surrounded by his extensive Afghan family. His involvement with the Afghan-American community began during his undergraduate years at UCLA when he joined the United Afghan Club. This sparked a growing passion for being an active member in the community, which was further strengthened after attending the first Afghan-American Conference in 2015. Since then, he has been constantly seeking ways to stay involved. In 2018, he took his involvement a step further by designing and developing AACO’s first mobile application for iOS and Android.

In his professional career, Omar combines his passion for innovation and commitment to making a difference as Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Weeve, LLC, where he and his team designed the first ever AI chatbot for employee engagement. Omar also serves as a strategic workplace program manager at Amazon, where he leverages his expertise to create workplace strategies that are focused on technology and efficiency in the new work-from-home era.

MOHAMMAD FAZELYAR, Finance Coordinator

FAISAL KARIMI, Legal Services Coordinator, NorCal

Faisal Karimi is NorCal Legal Coordinator at AACO. He is a journalism educator, media researcher, and media entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in journalism, academia, and community media. He is the founder and director of Nowruz Media, a California-based multilingual newsroom serving Afghan immigrants and communities, and the founder of the Afghanistan Institute for Research and Media Studies, which includes the Afghanistan Women’s News Agency. He also teaches journalism at California State University, Sacramento.

Before relocating to the United States, Faisal served as an assistant professor at Herat University’s School of Journalism and Communication and worked with several national and international media and research organizations. He is a former John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University and Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow at University of Missouri

Through his work with AACO, Faisal supports community outreach, communication, and coordination for Afghan immigrant legal and resource services in Northern California. His work focuses on connecting Afghan communities with trusted information, civic resources, and support systems.

SAMERA YOUSUF, Legal Services Coordinator, SoCal

Samera Yousuf is a UC San Diego graduate residing in San Diego, California. She was President of the Afghan Student Association at UCSD, where she graduated with a BA in International Studies in Political Science/Economics. Under her leadership, UCSD ASA raised approximately $17,000 for non-profit organizations working in Afghanistan. Samera was also an attendee at the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) in 2011 and 2012, and both years her proposed “commitments to action” were initiatives alleviating the lack of access to medical care in Afghanistan. Samera has attended and helped organize numerous types of awareness events and fundraisers geared towards helping those in Afghanistan, and in the conference is excited to finally be part of an endeavor with the purpose of strengthening our own community here in the United States.