Dr. Mazen Kudaimi
Board Chairman
Muhammad Mazen Kudaimi, MD, FACG, is a Board Certified physician in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and currently practices gastroenterology in Northwest Indiana. He was born and raised in Syria and graduated form Damascus University Medical School in 1979. He moved to Chicago in 1980 and was trained at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Kudaimi served on the board of Universal School, the Mosque Foundation Board and the board of the Mosque Foundation Youth Center. In addition to being a board member of CAIR-Chicago, he is currently President of the Illiana Islamic Association in Highland, IN. He is married to Dr. Randa Loutfi and has six children. More
Dr. Gloria Bashir
Board Member
Dr. Bashir has a dual career as a Social Worker and acupuncturist. She has been a Social Worker for over 35 years and is a fierce advocate for social, emotional, and economic justice. Her work as a social work has included psychiatric social work, manager of a child welfare program, foster parent trainer, and a social work consultant. She was a School Social Worker with Chicago Public Schools for 25 years, and currently contracts with a suburban district as a School Social Worker. Dr. Bashir developed an interest and desire to broaden her understanding of holistic wellness that led her to study Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, and other modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her interest in holistic medicine was born out of a personal need for healing that ultimately blossomed into a way of life. She has been a practicing acupuncturist over 12 years working for a pain management clinic, as well as in private practice, all while continuing her work as a Social Worker. Dr. Bashir’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University, Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois Chicago, Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine, and a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Science. In Dr. Bashir’s free time, she enjoys museums, concerts, theatre, performances, and any activity that allows her to interact with others in a nurturing and supportive space. Dr. Bashir shares her life with Roderick Bashir, her husband of 39 years and they are the parents of two young adult daughters.
Asma Akhras
Board Member
Ms. Asma Akhras completed her B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in math education Summa Cum Laude from Saint Xavier University in 1995. She is certified in teaching elementary, middle, and secondary mathematics and is a licensed administrator in the state of IL. She continued her education at Benedictine University and obtained a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in 2002. Ms. Akhras has work experience in teaching at all levels form elementary to college level. Ms. Akhras has presented at several workshops and teacher trainings both nationally and internationally. She also has experience working as an instructional coach, curriculum coordinator, and as a consultant for curricular projects. She served as a faculty member at both Moraine Valley Community College and as a Student-Teacher Supervisor at Benedictine University. She is currently working as an Implementation Leader at Great Minds, a non-profit curriculum company. She resides with her husband in Darien, IL and has 3 children.
Kamran Aslam Chaudri
Board Member
Kamran Aslam Chaudri is a crisis and business attorney hoping to carry on in the spirit of his father and uncle, qualified attorneys overseas who served people and causes from every strata. After spending over a decade at international law firms advising development projects and corporate investments, he went in-house as counsel to several international relief and non-profit organizations. Kamran now operates his own legal practice at Berlas Legal, working with families, charities and fintechs. Kamran joined CAIR Chicago’s board in the Summer of 2021.
Ahmed Rehab
Board Member
Ahmed Rehab is the Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. Rehab is a regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Public Radio. He has been interviewed hundreds of times by newspapers, radio, and TV venues, both national and international. Rehab lectures at various University campuses in Chicago and around the nation. Prior to joining CAIR in August of 2004, Rehab was a freelance speaker, writer, and activist in the fields of interfaith collaboration, education, and community outreach. Between 1999 and 2002, Rehab served as a consultant for Arthur Andersen LLP – a global consulting firm. Rehab serves as a board member of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). He also serves on IL. Governor Pat Quinn’s Muslim Advisory Council. He is a board member and secretary of the Egyptian American Society, a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ (CCGA) Muslim task force, an Eisenhower fellow of the American Assembly, and alumnus of the FBI Citizen’s Academy.