2008
Bethanie Legare
Civil Rights Law Clerk - Fall '08
Bethanie Legare is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a third-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she serves on the Editorial Board of the International Law Review. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in French and a minor in Business Administration. Beth is from Morton, Illinois, but has also lived in Paris, France. She enjoys reading, running, cooking, and music, while her professional interests include international human rights, immigration and asylum, and employment discrimination.
Gregory Conner
Communications Intern - Fall '08
Gregory Conner is a recent graduate of the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration and minor in Communications and coordinates community relations for Urchin Studios, a record company. He was a member of the Muslim Students Association where he helped lead educational events, including events for Black History Month. Greg joined the CAIR-Chicago communications internship to gain experience that would benefit his interest in a career in communications and international relations.
Nicholas Short
Communications Intern - Fall '08
Nicholas Short is a Fall Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago. Though he has gained much experience in other fields including sales, his main focus is on journalism. After receiving his bachelor's degree in communication at Saint Xavier University, he decided to continue his training by going for a master's degree in journalism at Roosevelt University. After earning his master's, he became a freelance writer and has written for several publications, including the Chicago Crusader and Clubline Chicago Magazine. He still occasionally writes for such publications as Urban Influence Magazine. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, he currently lives in the city's south side (in the Englewood area).
He chose the CAIR internship because he felt that the experience would not only make him a better journalist but a better person. His interests range from politics to the entertainment industry.
Rubina Ali
Communications Intern - Fall '08
Rubina Ali is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Journalism and Political Science. She thought a Communications Internship at CAIR would be a great way to gain experience in the Journalism field, and get a chance to observe some of the civil rights work that CAIR does. Rubina is interested in helping the Muslim community by making a conscious effort to present Muslims in a positive light through the news media. Rubina is on the staff of Loyola University's student newspaper- the Loyola Phoenix and enjoys reading, writing, and running.
Haadee Siddiqui
Outreach Intern - Fall '08
Haadee Siddiqui is an intern for the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) program. He is a recent graduate from Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center in Chicago. Currently, he attends Harold Washington College and plans to enroll at DePaul University as a pre-law major. At Von Steuben, Haadee was inducted into the National Honors Society (NHS), and served as a Team Leader and Ambassador of Link Crew, a group that helps freshman adapt to the social and academic rigors of high school. Haadee was attracted to the MYLS program because he believes in helping Muslim youth understand why it is important for them and their community to stand up for their rights. He looks forward to sharing his experience in volunteerism and mentoring with the Muslim community. In his spare time, Haadee enjoys working with technology and playing various sports.
Dr. Tim Jon Semmerling
Civil Rights Legal Research Fellow - Summer '08
Dr. Tim Jon Semmerling holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from Indiana University. His literary accomplishments include the books, Israeli and Palestinian Postcards: Presentations of National Self (University of Texas Press, 2004) and Evil Arabs in American Popular Film: Orientalist Fear (University of Texas Press, 2006), which the Arab-American National Museum has awarded Honorable Mention, 2006 Book Award in Adult Non-Fiction and which Choice Magazine has awarded Outstanding Academic Title, 2007. He has also recently co-authored a manuscript titled An Overview of Post-Conflict Justicefor publication by the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University and for use by the Iraq History Project. His articles, Those Evil Muslims! Orientalist Fears in the Narratives of the War on Terror, will be published in The Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs (Forthcoming Vol. 28, No. 2) and, The John Marshall Clemens Law Ledger: A Legal Vestige of the American Frontier, will be published in Western Legal History: The Journal of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society (Forthcoming, 2008).Presently, Semmerling studies law at DePaul University's College of Law where he is a Jeanne M. and Joseph P. Sullivan Human Rights Law Fellow. He will receive his J.D. in 2009 and is now concentrating his law studies and activities toward human rights and criminal law.
Kenya N. McCarter
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Kenya N. McCarter is a Law Clerk at CAIR -Chicago and also serves as a Law Clerk for the 16th Judicial Circuit. He is a student at Northern Illinois University where he is the school representative for the Illinois State Bar Association. Kenya is also a member of the National Black Law Student Association and the American Bar Association. Prior to attending law school, he served as a law enforcement official and he was enlisted in the United States Navy. He has a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Administration and his professional interests include intellectual property law, civil liberties, and corporate law.
Kevin P. Walsh
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Kevin P. Walsh is a summer Legal Intern with CAIR-Chicago. He currently attends DePaul Law School in Chicago where he is the Student-Faculty Representative for the Student Bar Association and a member of the Dean's Advisory Council. Kevin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Kevin is from Colorado, but has also lived in both Ireland and Egypt. His experiences abroad have afforded him an understanding of Islamic culture, which he hopes to apply to the practice of international law. For now, he has chosen to apply his background to serving the Islamic community of Chicago by interning with CAIR-Chicago.
Kulsoom Naqvi
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Kulsoom Naqvi is a Civil Rights Legal Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She graduated Cum Laude in 2007 from Northwestern University, receiving a BA and double majoring in Political Science and English with a sub-specialty in Writing (Fiction). Kulsoom is currently studying at New York University School of Law, where she actively pursues projects with Law Students for Human Rights. Kulsoom's professional interests include civil liberties, immigration and human rights; in her free time she enjoys writing and painting. Kulsoom chose to work at CAIR because of her interest in civil rights and in serving the Muslim community; so far, she's really enjoying it.
Mani Mostofi
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Mani Mostofi is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Illinois. He just finished his second year at Fordham Law School, in New York City, where he is a board member of the Immigrant Advocacy Project and a Crowley Scholar with the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice. Additionally, Mani has taken part in Fordham's International Justice Clinic representing Guantanamo detainees. Prior to law school, Mani received a MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin where he researched media and democratization. Mani has also been a dedicated advocate of Palestinian human rights. In his personal life Mani enjoys to writing music, traveling, and watching the television program, Battlestar Galactica.
Nadia Abusumayah
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Nadia Abusumayah is a 2008 Summer Civil Rights Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She recently graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Governors State University. She also recently completed an internship with the States Attorney's Office as a victim witness assistant coordinator. Nadia joined CAIR-Chicago to gain knowledge and experience in the law field. She plans on taking the LSAT and applying to law school in the near future. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, shopping and volunteering with community events. Nadia is excited to be working with CAIR as a Civil Rights Intern.
Umair Malik
Civil Rights Intern - Summer '08
Umair Malik is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. In Fall '08, he will start his second year at Michigan State University College of Law. He is the co-founder of the Muslim Law Students Association at his law school. Umair earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting, at Eastern Michigan University. His main interests of law are Civil Rights and Business. He pursued this position with CAIR- Chicago to help provide the proper remedies for the innocent people, who have faced religious and ethnic discrimination. His strongest personal interest is the National Basketball Association; especially the Detroit Pistons.
Mahvesh Jamil
Outreach Intern - Summer '08
Mahvesh Jamil is a summer intern in the Outreach department at CAIR-Chicago. She is a recent graduate from DePaul University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and as an honorary member of Psi Chi, the National Honors Society in Psychology. She plans to pursue a Master's in Industrial Organizational Psychology and hopes to acquire the essential skills necessary to apply in the human resources sector. She is very passionate and interested in helping the Muslim community in any way possible, which is what attracted her to CAIR. She is eager to share her professional and social savvy with CAIR-Chicago's personnel, partners and supporters. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
Min Rui
Outreach Intern - Summer '08
Min Rui, from Nanchang, China, joins Outreach department at CAIR-Chicago as an intern through the International Visitors Center of Chicago (IVCC) and the Global Education Association (GEA). He is a senior at University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), majoring in Communication Engineering. Min is fascinated in traveling, politics and communicating with people of diverse backgrounds. He is also very passionate and interested in helping people and communities. He served as a volunteer for the 50th Anniversary of UESTC and the Sichuan Earthquake Rescue Team. He looks forward to sharing his experience and professional skills with CAIR-Chicago in human resources, while understanding and helping Muslim Americans. He hopes to have a wonderful summer in the U.S.
Helena P. Haas
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Helena P. Haas is a 20-year-old rising senior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Having chosen a Communications Internship here at CAIR-Chicago she is excited to contribute her skills and interests in communications and photojournalism. For the past three years Helena participated in Division I field hockey at Cornell University but her interests have switched to pursuing her degree in communications. She finds interest in new media and photography while also having an outside concentration in history. Outside of school Helena enjoys the outdoors, traveling, participating in athletics, and swimming at her home in Wisconsin.
Joe Lindahl
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Joe Lindahl is a senior at DePaul University pursuing a degree in Journalism. Hailing from Des Moines, Joe has joined CAIR-Chicago as a Communications Intern. With an open mind to a variety of career paths, Joe is excited about working with CAIR-Chicago this summer. Joe is a current staff writer for the DePaulia, and enjoys writing both feature and news stories. The idea of working with both online and print content has become a central interest for Joe. Also working at Lincoln Park Athletic Center as a child care provider, Joe has worked with children for over six years, from Los Angeles to Chicago. In his free time Joe can be found training for his first half marathon, or traveling. Joe is glad to be onboard with CAIR-Chicago.
Lana Nowedar
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Lana Noweder is a summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She has completed her junior year at Loyola University Chicago, where she is pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in political science. Lana has interest in politics, communications, religion, and civil liberties. She chose CAIR because of their commitment in protecting the civil rights of American Muslims. She is also passionate about the media's portrayal of Muslims and Islam, and likes to help monitor the media for any inaccuracies or misconceptions. After she graduates, Lana plans on going to law school. Her professional interests include civil and immigration laws. In her spare time, Lana likes to read, travel, and spend time with family and friends.
Leena Saleh
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Leena Saleh is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Leena is Arising sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an English major eventually aiming to become a journalist. Her professional interests include race relations, portrayal of Muslims in the media, a preservation of civil rights, the Palestinian conflict, literature, cultural studies, and writing. Leena chose CAIR-Chicago because she believes in what they're accomplishing and wants to be a part of the process. Leena has lived in Chicago for most of her life, although she did spend two years in Jordan. In her free time, Leena enjoys painting, drawing, listening to music, and watching movies. Leena is thrilled to be working with CAIR-Chicago this summer.
Mohammad Sagha
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Mohammad Sagha is a Freshman at DePaul University where he plans to concentrate on Political Science, Finance/Economics, and Linguistics. He is involved in journalism and hopes to one day become a political commentator and/or scholar. Mohammad chose CAIR-Chicago because of his deeply personal beliefs in freedom, civil rights, liberty and the role of Muslims in the future of America. Mohammad loves to read, though it is Wikipedia much too often, and plays soccer whenever he gets the chance. He is fluent in Farsi and plans on learning Arabic soon.
Nizamuddin Alavi
Communications Intern - Summer '08
Nizamuddin Alavi is a summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a senior journalism major and Biology minor at Loyola University Chicago. Nizam hopes to help the Muslim community at large and in the process develop skills that can be applied to his career in the future. His interests include everything from politics to technology, and occasionally the latest video game.
Chamandeep Bains
Communications Intern - Spring '08
Chamandeep Bains is a senior at DePaul University. Her major is Communications and she is perusing a minor in Creative Writing. With her Communications Internship at CAIR-Chicago, she looks forward to a bolstering her career in writing. Chamandeep believes social activism has a place in writing which can be brought forward by the writer's responsibility. In the future she hopes to pursue an MFA in creative fiction.
Luke Wilson
Communications Intern - Spring '08
Luke Willson is a Winter/Spring Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is a graduate of DePaul University, with a degree in Communications and a minor in Religious Studies. Luke was born in Tokyo, Japan, and lived in New Delhi, India, for eleven years before coming to Chicago. At DePaul, he was a staff writer for the university newspaper. He is currently pursuing a career in Journalism. Luke was initially drawn to CAIR-Chicago because of his interest in religion and cultural exchange. The internship experience brought out a commitment to service and civil rights that will continue to impact his life.
Sandy Abdallah
Communications Intern - Winter '08
Sandy Abdallah is a fall Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. Sandy holds a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She majored in English with a focus on cultural and media studies and minored in Communication. She chose to intern at CAIR-Chicago for their dedication to the American-Muslim community, professionalism, and media savvy. Sandy has been with CAIR-Chicago for about a year and is currently planning on using her experience with the organization towards building a career in writing and public relations. She hopes to expand her experiences and education through traveling.
Erum Ibrahim
Government Affairs Intern - Summer '08
Erum Ibrahim is a senior at DePaul University in Chicago, double-majoring in International Studies, with a concentration in Islamic World Studies, and Political Science. Erum has been involved in several organizations on campus, including serving on the Executive of Board of DePaul's MSA, UMMA, working on the Student Interfaith Council, serving as a Mentor to students in the Honors Program, and is the current President of DePaul Society for International Affairs - Model United Nations. Her community involvement includes a Fellowship with the Interfaith Youth Core, volunteering for the Inner-city Muslim Action Network through DePaul's UMMA, and aiding her local mosque in a variety of capacities. As a Government Relations intern with CAIR-Chicago this summer, Erum is excited about the opportunity to engage with the Muslim community in civic participation.
Gwendolyn Bowman
Government Affairs Intern - Summer '08
Gwendolyn Bowman is a political science and sociology major at North Central College in Naperville. She will be a senior next fall and hopes that her Government Relations Internship at CAIR-Chicago will help her discover what she wants to do with her life after graduation. Her interest with CAIR-Chicago was prompted by a course she took about women in Morocco and Iran where she learned about the way Islam is misunderstood by Americans. When she is not studying about politics and social inequalities, she enjoys playing in the North Central College band and flute choir.
Rachel Wilson
Government Affairs Intern - Summer '08
Rachel Wilson will be entering her senior year at Northwestern University, majoring in Political Science and Religion with a minor in Environmental Policy and Culture. She also serves as an active and enthusiastic member in the student group Bridging the Gap, aimed at breaking down barriers and stereotypes in and outside of the Northwestern community. Rachel comes to CAIR-Chicago this summer as a Governmental Relations intern with the interest of understanding the intersection between religion and politics and what this relationship means for both people of faith and for those who do not count themselves apart of any religion.
Seth Winnie
Government Affairs Intern - Summer '08
Seth Winnie joins CAIR-Chicago as a policy research intern after completing his third undergraduate year at the University of Chicago. He is concentrating in political science and international studies. Though Seth does not know what he shall do after receiving his degree, he has an interest in the advancement of human rights and democratization. He runs cross country participates in track and field for the University of Chicago.