Leadership

Our Board of Directors

Hassan Amiri – Board Chair

Alexandra “Amina” Knox – Treasurer

Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye

Manijeh Marvastian

Laila Nina Hamm

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.

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.

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.

Alexandra (Amina) Knox

After 15 years as a writer and editor, Alexandra (Amina) Knox luckily fell backwards into an unusual profession at the time: acupuncture. Watching suffering slip away, helping people get their groove back has turned into an extended source of satisfaction for her. She’s been practicing Chinese medicine now for the past 25 years.

Inspired by the power and beauty of this ancient medicine, she co-founded The Acupuncture Society of Washington D.C., holding various leadership roles, including president, until 2017. She testified on acupuncture at FDA hearings. She also co-headed a committee of a national acupuncture organization.

The deep transformation she experienced from Shadduli Sufi healing methods inspired her to attend the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism. Over the years she has attended countless workshops and retreats employing Shadduli Sufi healing methods. They have had a rich and profound impact on her quality of life.

Her previous hats as a writer and editor included financial writing for a 2-million-circulation agricultural trade publication, fundraising for the Philadelphia Zoo, and research and writing at the Philadelphia bureau of The New York Times .

Her current passions are drawing and painting, not to mention the sweet, slow indulgence of creating a flower garden that unfolds in seasonal color changes. She thinks pollinators love it at least as much as she does.