Our Speakers
our speakers
All ING MidWest speakers complete intensive training and pass competency exams on content knowledge, and presentation style.
Fadia Abaza, MD
Dr. Abaza is the ING MidWest President and Co-Founder. Dr. Abaza is a retired Pediatrician who obtained her medical degree from Damascus Medical University. She received diplomas in Childhood Diseases from the University of Dublin, UK and from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dublin, UK. She is also certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She has been very active with multiple community service work. Some of her community involvements include being the President of the Toledo Chapter of the Islamic Medical Association of North America and a member of the Board of Education at Toledo Islamic Academy
Munawar Haque, PhD
Munawar Haque earned his PhD in Islamic Studies with a specialization in Islamic Theology and Comparative Religion from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Dr. Haque was the editor and staff writer for the Research and Publications Division at the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA); was an Adjunct Professor at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary (ETS); taught Arabic and Islamic History in the Muslim Chaplaincy Program; and taught courses on Islamic Worldview, Ethics, Islamic Jurisprudence, and Family Management & Parenting at the IIUM.
Wahida Abaza, MD
Wahida Abaza holds a Medical degree from the University of Illinois and completed her Postgraduate Medical training at the University of Michigan’s Mott Childrens’ Hospital. She currently works as a Pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Dr. Abaza has been involved in many community organizations, primarily focusing on young people. She is a public health writer for The Family and Youth Institute . She is chairing the outreach committee at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center.
Fozia Saleem Rasheed
Fozia Saleem-Rasheed received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. She specialized in Neonatology and now is a board-certified neonatologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Rasheed is part of the Sisters of Salaam Shalom which is an interfaith organization where women from the Jewish and Muslim faith get to know one another. She is the mother of four children and enjoys doing medical mission work in underserved areas around the world.
Mazan Tayyen
Mazan Tayyen obtained a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of MIchigan-Dearborn. She has been working with the Metro Detroit interfaith community for more than a decade; Mazan was a council member of the Multi-Cultural Multi Racial committee of Farmington Hills Michigan for many years. She continues to speak at different events presenting Islam to both students and adults. She is passionate about creating an environment of open dialogue. She has served many terms on the PTO council and on the school board’s Executive Committee.
Aisha Arshad
Aisha holds a Master’s in Educational Technology, a Bachelor’s in IT, and a Higher Diploma in Islamic Studies, and has studied personal and professional growth for the last 25 years.
Aisha is the Academics Head for Qabeelah Ittihaad , which is the Michigan chapter of AlMaghrib. In 2020 she developed a mentorship program for sisters called The Strong Believer .
She is also a member of the Community Advisory Panel at Detroit PBS.
Ruqaya Ali
Ruqaya Ali has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Alberta as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business and Computer Information Systems from Ferris State University. Presently, Ms. Ali is a business manager at Waterford Family Medicine. Ms. Ali has worked on various projects with various organizations such as being the 10 year long editor of the Islamic Association of Greater Detroit’s (IAGD) monthly newsletter, being a member of the IAGD Outreach Committee, and giving community and school lectures about Islam and Muslims.
Noorah Mosselmani
Noorah Mosselmani obtained a bachelors of science in nursing from Madonna University. She was a co founder of a non profit organization. She is also trained in diversity, equity and inclusion through the Bloomfield hills school district where she volunteers most of her time. Noorah is a mother to four children and enjoys time with her family, friends and spending time in nature.
Amin Varis
Amin obtained Master Degrees in Business from the University of Chicago and in Computer Science from McGill University with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia . Amin has worked as the Vice President of Engineering for Rockwell International, Harris Corporation and many other high technology companies located in Chicago, Ill., San Jose, and San Diego, CA. Amin has served as an ING presenter in California for many years, as the Director of Outreach at IONA, Warren, MI, and as an Advisory Board member for AMDA, Sterling Heights, MI. He continues to make presentations about Islam and Muslims to many different groups in Michigan.