Leadership

Our Board of Directors

Jo Ann Samah Ross

Jo Ann’s clients include the U.S. and foreign governments, nonprofit associations, and global companies to whom she offers consultancy services such as:

spirituality in the workplace
cross-cultural communications
diversity
global awareness
global leadership
multicultural team-building

Jo Ann’s Master’s degree in French Literature and Civilization is from the University of Maryland, where she was a faculty member for thirteen years. She holds a second Master’s in Divinity from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism, which allows her to offer Sufi healing sessions to curious hearts and lead workshops on Sufism. She holds the rank of Maqadum.

Jessica Rahima Pasko, MD

Rahima Pasko is a medical doctor double-boarded in Internal Medicine (adult medicine) and Pediatrics. She has been a traveler on the Sufi path for nearly two decades and completed the three-year certificate program at the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism in 2005.

She is passionate about running youth programs at the Farm of Peace where children both near to far can come to the Farm and experience country life including farming, hiking, exploring local streams and making nature art and even most recently star gazing with a local astronomy club.

She also participates in the Wellness Weekends on the farm offering Hijama or wet cuppings.

Sabrina N’Diaye, PhD, MDiv, LCSW-C

Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye is an integrative psychotherapist and founder of the Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing in Baltimore, Maryland. There, she lovingly serves women, couples, other healers, and small groups. Her approach to healing is a blend of wisdom, science, and ancient spiritual practices.

She is a proud senior faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, where she teaches the art of self-care to healthcare professionals around the globe. As Center faculty, she has responded to community trauma in Las Vegas, Houston, the Pine Ridge Reservation, New York City, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, and the Veterans Administration. She is currently serving the Center as a teacher and guide for healthcare professionals in Jordan and East Africa.

Dr. Sabrina is a highly-respected member of the global mental health community, and frequently lectures on cultural diversity, spirituality, stress management, self-care for healers, addictions, and the “magic” of connection. Her many audiences include police departments, flight attendants, healing artists, peacebuilders, and aspiring writers. She is currently writing her first book, The Laugh of Love, based on her maternal grandmother’s ability to transcend multiple traumas and chronic illness.

Dr. Sabrina is a devoted wife, mother, daughter, and life-long learner, who remains humbled by the healing power of compassion, love and forgiveness.

Manijeh Marvastian

Manijeh Marvastian is a teacher and Sufi spiritual healer, who brings to her powerful work a unique blend of ancient mystical healing, and expertise in a variety of modern energy therapies. Manijeh recognized her gift of healing at a very young age but did not follow her calling until after earning a Bachelors’s degree in Computer Engineering and working in corporate America for many years. While healing from a serious injury, she started her journey of becoming a healer through intense prayer and studying BioEnergy, Esoteric Healing, Polarity, Reiki, Massage, Yoga and Qi Gong. Manijeh graduated with a Master of Divinity from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism. Manijeh has a private healing practice in Bethesda Maryland and has devoted her life to guide hearts to taste Divine love, healing, and inner peace. She is also engaged with her family foundation in altruistic projects worldwide to help bring justice and healing for those in need.

Robert “Jamil” Bastress, M.Ac. M.Div. MMQ

Jamil is the current chairman of the board, former Imam of the Farm of Peace and muqaddam in the Shadhiliyya Sufi order. Jamil is also a nationally board-certified licensed acupuncturist. He earned a master’s degree at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Maryland in 1999. In 2003 he graduated from the Jaffe Institute of Spiritual and Medical Healing with a Masters in Spiritual Ministry. He earned a master’s in medical qigong in 2016. Jamil currently resides in Pittsburgh with Na’ima his wife of 18 years and 16-year-old son Salim.