Staff
Iman M. Jodeh, MPA
Executive Director | iman@meetthemiddleeast.org
Iman has worked with international non-profits since receiving her masters degree in Public Policy. A first-generation Palestinian-American, Iman is fluent in Arabic and maintains a second home in Ramallah, Palestine. In addition to her role at Meet the Middle East, she lectures at the University of Denver, and is a regular guest speaker on Islam and the geopolitical climate of the Middle East.
Board of Directors
Ali Mabardi
A Campaign Manager at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Ali has 11 years of nonprofit career and volunteer experience. Ali has gained valuable practical knowledge in international development, education, development, and fundraising. She holds a Master of Arts in International Studies with concentrations in International Development and Conflict Resolution from the University of Denver.
Dr. Hanan Shaban, PhD
Dr. Hanan Shaban is a Pharmacist working for Veterans Affairs. She teaches at Regis University School of Pharmacy, and is a clinical instructor at the University of Colorado Department of Clinical Pharmacy. As a Palestinian-American, Hanan was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, and has lived and traveled extensively in the Middle East.
Barbara Fenton
Barbara is a Denver native with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Denver. She has worked in the corporate and non-profit sectors for over 30 years and has served on numerous non-profit Board of Directors in the Denver area. Barbara has made several trips to the Middle East and has a passion for the cultures of the region.
Amanda Blaurock
Amanda has 15 years of experience as a realtor, investor, entrepreneur and lawyer. Focusing on international law in both the public and private sector representing the United States, Fortune 100 companies and international entrepreneurs, Amanda is interested in bringing her business and legal expertise to bear in bridging the gap between the local and international communities.
Brandon Peterson
Development Director at Interfaith Alliance of Colorado
Affiliated Faculty and Staff
Deborah Rohan Schlueter
Co-Founder, Executive Director Emeritus
Author, speaker and catalyst for change, Deborah is passionate about promoting a healthy relationship with the Middle East. She has 25 years experience bringing diverse cultures together, and believes strongly in the power of personal connection as a means to build a more peaceful world. Deborah’s undergraduate degree in International Business, graduate studies in Conflict Resolution, and extensive training in Multicultural Studies have further prepared her to lead youth, adults and businesses to a more robust interaction with peoples and lands of the Middle East.
Dr. Todd Bryan, PhD
Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
A Senior Program Manager at CDR Associates, Todd Bryan has spent the last 10 years as a mediator, trainer and organizational consultant to facilitate the resolution of national policy conflicts in energy, environment, health and other areas. As a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan, Todd brings decades of experience to the classroom.
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
Judaic Studies
Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, is an author, psychotherapist, and founding rabbi of Congregation Nevei Kodesh in Boulder, Colorado. Widely known for her groundbreaking work on Kabbalah and depth psychology and the re-integration of the feminine wisdom tradition within Judaism, Rabbi Firestone lectures and teaches throughout the United States on the overlapping disciplines of psychology, spirituality, and human rights.
In Memoriam
Mohamad Jodeh
Mohamad Jodeh was an esteemed teacher and consultant at Meet the Middle East. Because of his vast knowledge on the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict and Islam, he educated many of our Adult Alumni while on our trips, taught the Islam unit to our Youth Ambassador Students, and educated the Denver community at large. In August of 2016, Mohamad Jodeh lost his battle with cancer. We were blessed to have the time we had with him and he passed peacefully at home surrounded by his entire immediate and extended family. It has indeed been a challenging adjustment and there is a huge void in our Meet the Middle East family. Nonetheless, the outpouring of support that we have encountered, both within our local Colorado community and in the region abroad, has been overwhelming. Overall, it makes us realize how many he impacted and the importance of honoring his legacy by continuing our work because of his passion for the MTME mission.