Yale SOM Students Honored for Community-Building Among Muslim Americans
Two Yale School of Management (SOM) students, Dalia Hammouri ’25 and Mohammed Serdah ’26, have been recognized for their outstanding efforts to strengthen community ties and support among Muslim Americans. The students were awarded the prestigious Victor H. Frank, Jr. Fellowship for U.S. and Muslim World Relations, an honor established to encourage innovative approaches to building bridges between the United States and the Muslim world. The announcement was made on April 28, 2025, at Yale SOM in New Haven, Connecticut, highlighting the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive leadership and civic engagement.
Fellowship Empowers Student-Led Community Initiatives
The Victor H. Frank, Jr. Fellowship, created in 2012 by the Asian Programs Foundation, supports students in any SOM degree program who are dedicated to exploring how the business community can enhance relations between the United States and the Muslim world. The fellowship provides both financial support and institutional recognition, enabling recipients to launch or expand community-focused projects.
Dalia Hammouri, a Silver Scholar and graduate of the University of California, Irvine, was honored for her volunteer work with the Majlis, a California-based nonprofit that offers faith-centered educational programs, community events, and interfaith dialogue. With the fellowship’s backing, Hammouri plans to launch a peer support program for Muslim mothers, which she describes as addressing “a critical gap in community support.” In her acceptance remarks, Hammouri stated, “The Victor H. Frank, Jr. Fellowship empowers me to launch this initiative, furthering my commitment to creating environments where Muslim moms feel empowered to show up fully to their workplaces and communities,” according to Yale SOM’s official announcement.
Mohammed Serdah, a University of Connecticut graduate, has played leadership roles in several Muslim student organizations, including the UConn Muslim Student Association, the Connecticut Muslim Basketball League, and the SOM Middle East and North Africa Club. Serdah has also served as a mentor within Yale’s Middle Eastern and North African Cultural Community and is currently working to establish a Muslim Student Association at SOM. “I am committed to fostering opportunities for young Muslims to enter and thrive in the business world,” Serdah said. “This fellowship will enable me to expand mentorship programs and curate speaker events that connect leading business professionals from diverse Muslim communities,” as reported by Yale SOM.
“The Victor H. Frank, Jr. Fellowship empowers me to launch this initiative, furthering my commitment to creating environments where Muslim moms feel empowered to show up fully to their workplaces and communities.”
Dalia Hammouri, Yale SOM ’25, quoted by Yale SOM
“This fellowship will enable me to expand mentorship programs and curate speaker events that connect leading business professionals from diverse Muslim communities.”
Mohammed Serdah, Yale SOM ’26, quoted by Yale SOM
The Broader Landscape: Muslim Americans and Community Building
Muslim Americans represent a growing and increasingly active segment of the U.S. population. According to the 2020 United States Religion Census, there are approximately 4.45 million Muslim Americans, accounting for 1.34% of the national population4. Major population centers include New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and California, with New York alone home to over 724,000 Muslims. The community is highly diverse, with over half of Muslim Americans being immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Despite facing persistent challenges, including discrimination and negative stereotypes-particularly post-9/11-Muslim Americans have made significant contributions to the nation’s social fabric. Research highlights that mosques and Muslim organizations often serve as hubs for civic engagement, philanthropy, and social service, providing an “invisible social safety net” that benefits both Muslim and broader American communities. Initiatives like those led by Hammouri and Serdah reflect a broader trend of Muslim Americans mobilizing to address community needs and foster cross-cultural understanding.
Leadership Development and Empowerment Initiatives
Across the United States, programs dedicated to leadership development among Muslim Americans are gaining traction. The Muslim Institute for Leadership and Empowerment (MILE), for example, is a university-based program that cultivates socially aware leaders within the Muslim community. Participants engage in workshops, guest lectures, and personal development sessions designed to empower them as agents of change in their communities. MILE’s mission echoes the values promoted by the Victor H. Frank, Jr. Fellowship: “Lift As You Climb,” “Challenge Yourself and Others,” and “Come As You Are.” These principles foster a culture of mutual support, critical self-reflection, and empathy-qualities essential for effective community leadership.
Institutional Support and Representation
Efforts to institutionalize support for Muslim Americans extend beyond academia. Organizations like Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) work to increase representation and professional development opportunities for Muslim public servants. Since its official launch in 2021, MAPS has aimed to create a more just and equitable society by equipping Muslim Americans with the resources and networks needed to succeed in public service roles. According to MAPS, a lack of open and supportive environments has historically hindered the professional advancement of Muslim Americans in government. Their initiatives seek to normalize Muslim-identity-led programming and foster a culture of mentorship and inclusion.
Government and Interfaith Engagement
Government agencies have also recognized the importance of building partnerships with Muslim American communities. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, for example, offers training programs designed to increase community awareness and foster relationships between law enforcement, government officials, and Muslim Americans. These trainings aim to dispel misconceptions, address hate crime trends, and promote best practices for engagement, ultimately enhancing public safety and mutual understanding.
“Community awareness is the first step in effective community engagement. Learning about other communities is critical for successful engagement and describes the issues impacting Muslim Americans.”
U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service
The Role of Nonprofits and Grassroots Movements
Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in advancing the well-being and empowerment of Muslim Americans. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), for instance, is at the forefront of efforts to protect civil rights, train future leaders, and build community through interfaith initiatives. CAIR’s Executive Director in Philadelphia, Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu, emphasized the importance of grassroots power in defending values and advancing the mission of justice and understanding: “We need your help to defend individuals facing discrimination in their workplaces, universities and schools, train the next generation of Muslim youth leaders, and build community through our interfaith efforts. This work is more important than ever,” Dr. Tekelioglu stated in a December 2024 message.
Civic Engagement and Social Impact
Studies indicate that Muslim Americans are highly engaged in civic life. According to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, 74% of Muslim Americans who regularly attend mosques are registered to vote, compared to 49% of those who do not attend regularly. Furthermore, 92% of regular mosque attendees plan to vote, highlighting a strong commitment to civic participation4. Mosques also serve as centers for political mobilization, social service, and interfaith outreach, with nearly 2,800 Islamic places of worship identified across the country-a 31% increase from 2010.
Women’s participation in mosque administration and community leadership has also grown. Pew Research Center found that 61% of surveyed mosques reported women serving on their boards in the past five years, and women’s attendance at mosques has increased since 2011. These trends reflect a broader movement toward gender inclusion and empowerment within Muslim American communities.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite these advances, Muslim Americans continue to face obstacles, including underrepresentation in leadership roles, limited access to professional networks, and ongoing discrimination. Organizations like MAPS and CAIR are working to address these challenges by advocating for greater transparency, mentorship, and institutional support. At the same time, grassroots initiatives-such as Hammouri’s peer support program for Muslim mothers and Serdah’s mentorship and networking efforts-demonstrate the power of community-driven solutions.
“Muslim Americans lack an open and supportive cultural environment for professional support within the public sector. Ensuring the door remains open for others like them has rarely been successfully approached in an organized or consistent manner.”
Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS)5
Building a More Inclusive Future
The recognition of Dalia Hammouri and Mohammed Serdah by Yale SOM underscores the vital role that young leaders play in shaping the future of Muslim American communities. Their work exemplifies a new generation of changemakers committed to building inclusive, supportive environments where all individuals can thrive. As the Muslim American population continues to grow and diversify-projected to become the nation’s second-largest faith group by 2040 the need for innovative, community-led initiatives will only increase.
Institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies are increasingly acknowledging the importance of empowering Muslim Americans through leadership development, civic engagement, and interfaith collaboration. The ongoing efforts of individuals like Hammouri and Serdah, supported by fellowships and organizational backing, offer a blueprint for addressing critical gaps in community support and fostering a more just and equitable society.
As Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu of CAIR-Philadelphia aptly noted, “Together, we can make 2025 a turning point-one where we turn toward each other to solve the problems that national leaders won’t. That’s real grassroots power. That’s direct impact on people’s lives-our neighbors’ lives. That’s the world we deserve, and that’s what we can build in the next 12 months”