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Shqipe Biba, Director for Outreach, is also AAWO’s founder – the first and only Albanian women’s organization in the United States -- and an active member of its board. She was born in Kosova where her family was persecuted for years by the Serbian regime there because of their love for their nation and democracy, as well as their promotion of their rights as Albanians. Her father, Nexhmi Sejdiu, a well-known Kosovar-Albanian intellectual and education pioneer, was imprisoned for years and sent away from his hometown to do grueling forced labor.

Ms. Biba holds a B.A. in Journalism and Albanian language and literature. She has over 20 years experience as a journalist and is a recognized community activist. Ms. Biba is a devoted advocate of human rights, especially women’s rights. She is a founder and first president of the Democratic League of Kosova – New York. She is a founder of the first information radio station for the Albanian community in New York, and a founder of the first Albanian elementary school in New York. Ms. Biba now dedicates her time and efforts to organizing outreach activities for the Albanian community.		  
Dolore Bushati, was born in Tirana in 1969. She completed high school “Sami Frasheri” (gymnasium), in 1987, with excellent results. She graduated from “Tirana University” in 1995, with a degree in Business Management. Same year, she was employed by Albanian-American technical high school “Harry T. Fultz,” in which, she became one of the founders of the business branch. She worked there as a professor and chair of the business department until 2001. She also worked at “Tirana University” as an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics from 1998 till 2001. In 2001, she came to the United States to continue her further education at the University of Kansas. In 2003, she received a Master of Science in Education and she is currently continuing her Ph.D. program in Economic Education. She works as adjunct Professor at Metropolitan College of New York City from January 2004.  
Sevina Cici, Program Coordinator, assists the program manager in the realization of numerous projects. Sevina is a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York majoring in Fashion Marketing.  
Elona Pira has joined the AAWO as an IT-Marketing Associate. She is in the process of completing her B.A.S. in Applied Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology at Pace University in New York. At the AAWO, Elona has been a great resource of marketing and programmatic ideas. She is currently helping design the new website and contributes to “Shpresa” magazine with writing and reports. Elona was the liaison person for the participation of a group of Albanian children in the Cross-Cultural Youth Leadership Retreat organized by Safe Horizon. Elona is extremely involved with the Albanian immigrant youth community in the New York area and abroad. She has volunteered in a number of city based community service organizations and brings a lot of passion for community outreach. Elona also participated in the summer 2004 archeology school in Butrint, Albania.

Prior to joining AAWO, Elona served as research assistant at Pace University and was a member of the Pace Poll Search Committee.		  

Anila Jaho, Program Development/Grant Writing Specialist; she was born in Albania, where she also obtained a Law degree from Tirana University, in 1995.
In 2003, she graduated from American University, in Washington DC with the Master‚s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Having art background in painting and photography and specialized on human rights and international law, she is enormously contributing at Albanian American Women‚s Organization, „Motrat Qiriazi.

  
Smoki Musaraj recently joined the AAWO as a grant-writing associate. Together with the other colleagues, she is working towards building a strong arts and culture program for new-immigrant Albanian youth. Smoki was born and raised in Tirana, Albania. She pursued her higher studies in Canada and USA, in both English and French. She received a B.A. in Political Studies and Cultural Studies from Trent University, Canada and an M.A in Political Science and Cultural Studies from the New School University in New York. During her stay in New York, she worked with the Vernon Center for International Affairs at NYU and the Social Research Journal of the New School. She taught a course on “Race, Class and Gender in the United States” at the Empire State College of SUNY and is currently tutoring several students in Albanian language. In 2000, Smoki assisted with translation and editing of the Criminal Code of Kosovo. Among other thing, in her free time she contributes to the E-Zeta, an independent Internet magazine by and for Albanian youth all over the world.  
Nakije Berisha, assistant to Domestic Violence Coordinator, Nakije Berisha has graduated in Albanian Language and Literature in Prishtina University of Kosova. She has been a volunteer of AAWO for many years and is specifically interested in cultural events and family issues.  
Tamara Thompson, Director of Marketing and Program Development, works to develop AAWO’s image and programs, create AAWO materials for presentation to the public, and strengthen AAWO’s relationship with community members, funders and the press. Tamara is originally from Minnesota, where she studied Theology and Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas. Living and working in Haiti for one year as a college student taught her about the interconnectedness of all people and the need to promote human rights and social justice. Since then she has worked as a Social Justice Coordinator at the University of St. Thomas working with college students to raise awareness of social justice issues; a human rights observer with the Organization of American States/United Nations International Civilian Mission to Haiti; a teacher in the Model United Nations Program at the American School of Puebla in Puebla, Mexico; a development assistant at the National Coalition for Haitian Rights in New York City; and a fundraising consultant to community-based organizations in New York City.  
Venera Bekteshi, Deputy Director, assisted the Executive Director in responsibilities related to the development of AAWO’s structure and programs; supervision of staff; financial management; fundraising; networking; and public relations. Venera was born in Mitrovica, Kosova. She left Kosova in 1994 at the age of 16 and continued her studies at Strother High School in Little, Oklahoma. Venera is currently pursuing an M.P.A in International Public Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Venera holds an M.A. in International Relations from St. John's University and a B.A. in Polical Science and Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She has participated in Ethical Leadership Training at The Woodhull Institute, Leadership Middle Management Training at the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia University, and Training in International Popular Economics at the Center for Popular Economics. Venera's work experience includes Instructor of Political Science at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey; Associate Producer at Channel 9 Spirit of Oklahoma; Associate Producer at Oklahoma State Educational Authority; Reporter/Editor at Cable Channel 48, Norman, Oklahoma, and Administration Coordinator at Aon Re Inc. (the world’s largest reinsurance broker). Presently she works with Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Youth and Community Development.  
Mailing Address: AAWO | 676A Ninth Avenue, Suite 425 | New York, NY 10036 Tel: 1 (212) 244-8440 | Fax: 1 (212) 751-7782 E-Mail: contact@aawomq.org
 

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