Alum Stories
Our Amazing Alums
Ask any HIU alum about what they do, and you're sure to get a great story. Our incredible graduates are running nonprofits, leading congregations, working as chaplains in a huge variety of settings, and building peace around the world.In 2022, we started a web series called "Inspired with Liz," in which Communications Coordinator Liz Ryan interviewed students and alums to ask them about their training and their work.
Please enjoy these YouTube links, and further below, some of the written stories about our amazing alums and their impact on the world.
Marni Loffman, MA in International Peacebuilding, '22
Mbeki Yunana, MA in International Peacebuilding, '22
Jeremy Schulz, Cooperative M.Div. graduate '18
Jamie Johnson, Cooperative M.Div. graduate '21
Denise Wolferman and Abdalrahman Moustafa, Jewish and Muslim chaplaincy students
Heather Brubaker, MA in Chaplaincy student
Islamic Chaplaincy Alum Joins Trinity College as Director of Muslim Life
Osman Simsek '24, MA in Islamic Chaplaincy alum, was recently hired as the Director of Muslim Life at Trinity College in Hartford.
His journey towards becoming a Muslim chaplain began with the unsettling images of doctors and nurses fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moved by their determination to help others despite facing death, Osman asked himself how he could contribute to society.
As a devout Muslim, he reflected on a teaching by the Prophet Muhammad: "All creatures are [like] a family of God: and He loves most those who are kindest to His family." He had extensive education in the Islamic tradition but wanted to adapt it to American pluralism. When he became aware of the field of chaplaincy, which provides spiritual care in secular settings, he decided it was the right path. He now blends his traditional Islamic knowledge with a modern understanding of spiritual care.
MAP Alum Speaks at the United Nations as an Artist for Social Good
On Thursday, July 11, Master in International Peacebuilding alum Amar Al Moussawy '24 spoke for the United Nations at an event titled "Visions for Sustainable and Youth-Led Peace Ahead of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review 2025."
Focusing on firsthand experiences with local peacebuilders and youth activists, Amar stressed the importance of involving the people of unstable and conflicted areas, such as Lebanon and the Middle East, in decision-making processes instead of bringing pre-established agendas. "I especially focused on funding dilemmas and how sponsors force a certain theme on local youth, whereas their real needs don't always match," Amar said.
Dr. Irfan Omar '94 Reconnects with Old Friends at HIU
Dr. Irfan Omar ‘94, an MA alum, flew to Connecticut from Milwaukee, WI, to attend a conference at Yale University and along the way visited the HIU campus. Dr. Omar was once an international student from India who said that Marie Rovero, Library Acquisitions and Interlibrary Loans, and other staff members made him feel he had a family here.
Peacebuilding Alum Builds Anti-Poverty Program Leasing Motorbikes in Nigeria
Dogara Simon Danbaba, MA in International Peacebuilding '22, has implemented a project he began planning while a student at HIU. Dogara reports that the Muna-Tare Empowerment Center in Northern Nigeria is now in full operation. The center has been able to purchase 40 motorbikes, which have been distributed under a "lease-to-own" program.
"I am profoundly happy and fulfilled as the founder of Muna-Tare Empowerment Center, an interfaith social enterprise that aimed to bring Christian and Muslim communities in Northern Nigeria to harmoniously live together in a cohesive society with a sense of shared identity and purpose," Dogara said via What's App.
Married Peacebuilders Effect Change in Nigeria
International Peacemaking Program (IPP) alum James Danladi ‘20 and MA in International Peacebuilding (MAP) student Shekhe Danladi met in their teens when Shekhe’s family moved to Nasarawa, escaping from interreligious violence in another state of Northern Nigeria. Their interests in fostering peace and care for others quickly united them, and both are making their peacebuilding dreams a reality. “He is very creative, and I’m very hands-on,” Shekhe says.
Ph.D. Alum Ramy Marcos Adapts Dissertation into a Book
Dr. Ramy Marcos, a distinguished scholar and minister, has a diverse educational background and extensive expertise. He completed his undergraduate studies in philosophy at Cairo University before pursuing theology at the Evangelical Theological Seminary. And in 2023, Dr. Marcos earned his Ph.D. in Interreligious Studies from Hartford International University.
Bishop Alford Miller '92 Receives National Award for Volunteer Work
On Aug. 28, 2023, Black Ministries Program graduate Bishop Alford Miller ‘92 received the prestigious U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. The very next day, he came to the Hartford International campus to tell us the news personally. “This is where it all started,” he said.
The award is the highest level of recognition within the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program. It was founded by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003 to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity.
To qualify for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, nominees must complete over 4,000 hours of community service within their lifetime.
MAP Student Lyka Mtambo to Speak at International Conferences
MA in International Peacebuilding student Lyka Mtambo, who has a passion for women’s rights, interfaith work, and children's rights, will be presenting at these major conferences in the following months: “Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue: Working together for our Common Future” in Morocco; at the “Women Deliver 2023 (WD2023) Conference” in Rwanda; and the “Parliament of the World Religions” in Chicago on the theme “A call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights.”
Her interest in interfaith work started when Lyka attended the Africa Interfaith Youth Assembly in Kampala, Uganda. There, her approach to public affairs changed completely. “ I was amazed at the potential that interfaith collaborations have in addressing our common problems in our societies,” she said.
Rev. F. Lydell Brown '97 Appointed President and CEO of The Conference of Churches
Black Ministries Program (BMP) alum Rev. F. Lydell Brown '97 once heard from a mentor, "God didn't call you to be successful; he called you to be faithful."
Lydell's faithfulness resulted in 30 years of pastoring, a 20-year successful performance as Chief Operating Officer of The Conference of Churches (TCC), Interim CEO, and his recent appointment as permanent President & CEO, succeeding Rev. Dr. Shelley Best, also an HIU alum. The Conference of Churches works to eliminate poverty by providing direct services to address social injustice and poverty.
Lydell joined the Black Ministries Program to learn from Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt Jr., the program's founder, whom he refers to as "the man in African American ministries." The most valuable teaching Lydell learned in the BMP was to build relationships.
Annie Smith '21 Starts Her Days With Empathy
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Annie Smith '21 always starts her day with empathy.
“A person can sense if you are not being authentic,” Annie said. “And if you are not being authentic, this can create a huge obstacle in terms of meeting that person where they are at in their journey.”
Annie meets with people between the ages of 10 and 64. She must have cultural competence, for which she seeks to remain current on different religious and cultural perspectives. "It is important because you want to be aware of differences, but you also want to be respectful of them,” she said.
MAP Alumni Collaborate for Peacebuilding
Back in 2020, MAP alum Imbran Bonde '22 founded Rodo nDaya, a library for his community in Poso, Indonesia on Sulawesi. He had the belief that there was a correlation between children learning about the world through literature and reducing conflict in an area known for violence between Muslims and Christians.
Recently, Imbran began a class for Christian and Muslim kids and has been collaborating with fellow MAP alum Fatima Basharat '22 to talk with the Christian children about Islam.
MAP Alum Yazeed Kamaldien to Participate in Odyssey Fellowship
MAP alum Yazeed Kamaldien has been selected to participate in the year-long Odyssey Fellowship, which will start with its first session at Rose Castle in England in August. The program seeks to support and train the fellows as emerging faith leaders working in communities “to engage difficult civic issues and provide resources for seminaries to meet the growing needs of contextual education. Engaging the immersive power of documentary film, Fellows convene brave and healing conversations across lines of difference within their community, resulting in faithful actions inspired by their leadership.”
Rev. Dr. Sheila Harvey '07 to Chair Alumni Council, Join Board of Trustees
The Rev. Dr. Sheila Harvey is an ordained, full-time pastor of Union Congregational United Church of Christ in West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, Rev. Dr. Harvey sits on state and national non-profit boards to further serve others. Before joining Union, she served as a full-time chaplain for several years. She also has more than two decades of combined ministry experience in Florida, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.
Jason Fredlund '21 Hits the Road to Work Toward Justice
When Jason Fredlund, MA ’21, parked his vintage RV on a side street in Brooklyn, NY, earlier this year, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for his life and ministry.
As a Racial Justice Educator & Equity Consultant, most of Jason’s work is virtual these days, but the RV gives him the option to travel — working “remote” from anywhere. It means that he can drive into a community and explore, make connections, build relationships, and “dwell among” the folks he’s working with. That side street in Brooklyn where he “urban-camped” for five days was around the corner from the church where he co-facilitated a racial justice retreat. Traveling and staying in the RV was cost-effective, and it meant he could be more intentional about his relationship with the church, worshiping together on Sunday after the retreat was over, having lunch with one of the co-pastors, and attending a small group gathering the following day.
Rev. Dr. Shelley Best '10 Named One of Connecticut's Great Innovators
The Rev. Dr. Shelley Best, D.Min. ’10, has been highlighted as one of 11 innovators in the inaugural “Innovators Issue” published by The Hartford Business Journal and New Haven Biz. The selected are “individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields who are change-makers -- helping to improve the lives of people, shape industries, and bring new or better solutions to age-old problems.” The publication “recognizes talents from a range of disciplines including the arts, real estate, venture capital, entertainment, business, life sciences, philanthropy, and more.”
Guat Kwee See ’07 Helps Launch Centre For Interfaith Understanding in Singapore
The Centre for Interfaith Understanding (CIFU), an interfaith initiative providing an inclusive space and critical engagements that bridge theory and practice on interfaith issues, launched virtually on Oct. 30, 2020, with Guat Kwee See, MA ’07, proudly looking on.
Guat, who has kept in close touch with Hartford International University since her time here studying Christian-Muslim relations, is the first chairperson of CIFU with Founder Mohamed Imran, a known interfaith advocate in Singapore, as vice-chairperson. Its 10 founding members, prominent interfaith advocates and bridgebuilders in Singapore, are Christian, Muslim, Bahá’í, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Humanist.
Singapore is one of the most diverse countries when it comes to religious faiths. CIFU plans to develop programs in interfaith leadership, help strengthen the fabric of society, and bring interfaith discourse in Singapore to greater heights, with greater appreciation of diversity, challenging assumptions and stereotypes, and finding common ground, all things Guat enjoyed learning in Hartford.
Join our mailing list
Keep up with all the latest happenings at Hartford International.