Mona Shadia joined the Iranian American Women Foundation this year as its associate director in charge of operations, communications and community and membership relations. An Egyptian American, Mona is an award-winning journalist who spent nearly the last decade working for newspapers in Southern California, including the San Bernardino Sun, the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times Community Newspapers in Orange County.

She wrote an award-winning column for the LA Times and the Register on life in America, addressing issues from religions and women’s rights to gender and culture. Mona is passionate about women’s rights and human rights violations throughout the world.

In addition to her post at the IAW Foundation, Mona is an adjunct professor of political science at Long Beach City College. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in international politics, and a master’s degree in political science with a focus in international politics.

Mona, who moved to the United States with her family when she was 15 years old, is fluent in Arabic and understands some Farsi and Turkish. In her spare time, Mona writes, sings, dances and travels.