Board Members
John W. Kiser III
Founder
John Kiser is one of AEP’s founders. He is an author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He serves on the board of the William and Mary Greve Foundation from which position he has been spearheading, for the past twenty-five years, projects to address America’s dangerous ignorance of the Muslim faith. It is an ignorance, he has learned, that also infects Muslim communities.
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His engagement with the Muslim world began in 1994, after winding down Kiser Research, Inc. in Washington D.C., a business that challenged the conventional wisdom about Russian secretiveness and won national attention by documenting and implementing opportunities for acquiring advanced technologies and intellectual property rights from Russia. His innovative thinking was recognized by both congressional intelligence committees and the Russian Academy of Science in 1993.
In the early 90’s John took his family to France for a sabbatical. His goal was to improve his French, read the Bible, and expose his children to other cultures. Ten years later, two books emerged: “The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love and Terror in Algeria”, and “Commander of the Faithful: A Story of True Jihad”. In 2012, John’s book about French Benedictine monks was the basis for the Cannes Festival’s award-winning film “Of Gods and Men”.
In 2008, the launch of the book “Commander of the Faithful” in Elkader, Iowa, led to the creation of the Abdelkader Education Project. AEP is now developing strategies for the globalization of Abdelkader as a teacher for the world. Today, audiences for the Emir’s demonstrated values and universalist thinking include educators, civic leaders, diplomats, religious communities and the military.
Kathy Garms
Founder
Kathy Garms is AEP co-founder and executive director. She lives in Elkader, named after Emir Abdelkader, and believes Abdelkader’s legacy has important lessons for today. She is passionate about building community by promoting education and cultural understanding to inspire future leaders and compassionate global citizens. Her international curiosity and interest in citizen diplomacy and civic engagement began while hosting Russians and Ukrainians and later as a USAID volunteer in Kyrgyzstan. Kathy revived Elkader’s sister city program with Mascara City strengthening relationships between the U.S. and Algeria. She organized the Elkader launch of John Kiser’s biography Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abdelkader that inspired the Abdelkader Education Project. AEP continues to expand its network at home and abroad. As a guest in France, Algeria, and Indonesia, Kathy participated in events focused on Emir Abdelkader’s impact as a Hero for Humanity. She shares the Abdelkader Story with hope of a more civil world for all people.
Alia Abdelkader
Alia Abdelkader is a first-generation Egyptian American who grew up in central Maryland. While living in Maryland, she did volunteer advocacy work on behalf of the Muslim community with the Howard County Muslim Council and United Maryland Muslim Council. She holds a B.S. in Operations Management & Business Analytics with a minor in Spanish from the University of Maryland, College Park and an M.S. in Data Science for Public Policy from Georgetown University. She started her professional career in consulting and now works as a data scientist and policy researcher in Washington, D.C. Though she does not know whether she shares any lineage with the Emir, she is passionate about educating others about his life and legacy and fostering global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding among people of all ages.
Mounira Keghida
By her seventh birthday Mounira Keghida had already lived on three continents, as her Algerian father and American mother crossed many borders in forging a loving and supportive family and modeling global citizenship. Currently completing a doctoral dissertation at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Mounira holds several degrees and looks back on more than a decade of professional experience working at not-for-profit organizations in New York. Her thesis focuses on the life, times and intellectual origins of the French nineteenth-century anti-colonialist parliamentarian and author Amédeé Desjobert, who supported the Emir Abdel Kader and the Algerian people in their struggle for self-determination during the conquest of Algeria. Her most recent article, published in the online academic journal Age of Revolutions, is titled “Revolution in Search of a Father: The Return of the Emir Abd el-Kader.”
Del Christensen
Del Christensen joined the AEP Board in 2022. He is Executive Director of Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), a nonprofit organization based in Iowa that promotes international peace and understanding. Since 1993, IRIS has coordinated internships, educational, and outreach programs for nearly 3,000 participants from 58 different countries. Del also serves on the Board of the Japan America Society of Iowa and has been involved with various committees of Iowa Sister States, most recently the Yamanashi Sister State Committee. He helped to establish the first State-department sponsored high school exchange program in Sub-Saharan Africa, coordinate the first American college football game on the continent of Africa, coordinate the first pan-African community health education training in Senegal, coordinate several health-related projects in Nigeria through Rotary International and has made more than 75 trips to countries around the world coordinating humanitarian programs.
Saoussen Cheddadi
Saoussen Cheddadi, PhD is a former Fulbright grantee, accomplished Learning and DEI practionner with a PhD in American Studies, specializing in learning design, curriculum content, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. She has proven expertise in teaching, curriculum development, and mentoring students. She is skilled in reviewing learning and DEI content, creating DEI curricula, and implementing change management strategies. She has a strong track record in increasing diversity, fostering inclusion, and building partnerships within higher education. She presented at conferences and served as a reviewer for academic journals. She is currently the co-founder and CEO of www.limitlesslearning.us an e-learning platform. She is based in San Jose, California and loves spending time with her two young children. She enjoys swimming in the mediterranean sea, dancing, reading and traveling.
Daud Shad
Daud Shad grew up in northern New Jersey and his primary interests are in sustainable urban development and human rights. He recently completed his master’s degree in city planning at MIT. As an undergraduate student, Daud was an active member of Dwight Hall, Yale’s center for public service and social justice. He learned about Emir Abdelkader while participating in AEP’s 2016 high school essay contest. Daud continues to be inspired by the Emir’s courageous commitment to serving others.
Jennifer Sayed
Jennifer Blanchard Sayed taught K-12 English and social studies in public urban and private Islamic schools and is currently pursuing her doctorate in teaching and learning at Southern Methodist University. Her current research focuses on how integrating traditionally marginalized voices into world history education prepares students for citizenship in a multicultural democratic society. Jennifer has spoken on education and history at the local and national levels. She was part of the 2022 TEKS Review World History Workgroup and is currently the High School Representative to the Texas Council for Social Studies and a member of work groups with Data Science for Everyone and the National Council for Social Studies. Jennifer holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts University, MEd in Secondary History Instruction from Merrimack College, and MALS in Global Studies and Humanities with a focus on Islamic Studies from Southern Methodist University.
Tim Knepper
Timothy Knepper is Professor of Philosophy at Drake University, where he directs The Comparison Project, campus-community programming in comparative religion, religious understanding, and interfaith leadership. He is the author of three monographs and many articles and essays, and the editor of three comparative volumes and two student-written photo-narratives.