The ISB Team

Executive Director

“SHE IS A FORCE OF NATURE”
– Greg Cole, Executive Director at Emmaus House

Soumaya Khalifa

along with a group of Atlantans, launched the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) of Atlanta in August 2001. As the current Executive Director of ISB, she serves the Muslim and wider community by building bridges of understanding, creating interfaith partnerships, developing community leaders, and creating spaces for mutual understating and respect. Under Soumaya’s leadership, the ISB has developed its core programming and launched other key initiatives, including ISB Leadership Institute (ISBLI), 100 Influential Georgia Muslims, and 40 Under 40 Georgia Muslims. In 2017, Soumaya created a partnership with the Atlanta Mayor’s Office to host the ISB’s first ever Ramadan Iftar hosted at Atlanta’s City Hall and in 2018, the second Atlanta Mayor’s Iftar was attended by over 250 people.
Soumaya has received many awards and recognitions for her work with the ISB:
  • 2019 Academy of Women Achievers, YWCA
  • 2018 Arab American High Achiever Award, Alif Institute
  • 2017 City of Atlanta Phoenix Award, presented by Mayor Kasim Reed
  • 2012 FBI’s Community Leadership Award
  • Citizen Diplomat for the U.S. State Department
  • 2012 Invited to the annual White House Iftar hosted by President Barak Obama
  • 2015 Inducted into the College of Ministers and Laity
In addition to her work with the ISB, Khalifa is president of her intercultural consulting firm Khalifa Consulting. Soumaya is also an adjunct faculty member at Emory University’s Center for Continuing Education where she offers courses on intercultural communication and Human Resources Certification. Khalifa serves on Grady Foundation’s Grady Ambassadors, the board of the Concordia Forum, and is a past board member of AIB TV and SIETAR USA.

Board of Directors

Dr. Laura Badwan

Imam Plemon El Amin

Mr. Faraz Iqbal

Ms. Intisar Rashid

Mr. Amin Tomeh

Dr. Ahmad Hashem

Nouha Zaabab, Esq.

Mohamed Balla

Advisory Council

Mr. Mohammad Azam

Rabbi Peter Berg

Mr. Kenny Blank

Mr. Bill Bolling

Mr. Imara Canady

Mr. Greg Cole

Ms. Ann Cramer

Mr. Curley Dossman

Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley

Mr. Jason F. Esteves

Ms. Hiba Ghalib, Esq

Mr. John Horn

Ms. Maria Saporta

Ms. Jill Savitt

Mr. Doug Shipman

Chief Mark Mitchell

Ms. Condace Pressley

Mr. Kent Alexander

Rev. Sean Smith

Staff

Soumaya Khalifa

ISB Founder & Executive Director

Judy Marx

Development Consultant

Sarah Quraishi

Social Media Associate

Amani Elghorouy

Community Outreach Coordinator

Reem Faruqi

Communications Consultant

Mannal Atwa

Bookkeeper