Zahirah Lynn Eppard

Provide leadership, program management, and strategic planning for all aspects of organization's religious educational programs * Develop curriculum and produce all aspects of current and future online children's programs including 400+ Adam's World Club and Colors of Islam Club classes * Hire and retain top-notch host teachers and ensure that resources are available to provide a creative, high-energy and engaging online experience for our students * Manage the publishing of NEW weekly Muslim Home parenting newsletter that explores a wide array of contemporary challenges * Manage teaching staff, writers, and interns including HR responsibilities for hiring, contract negotiation and compliance, performance evaluation and mentoring, development of training programs, mentoring, and routine communications * Draw from contemporary research outlets and educational institutes to ensure offerings use best methods of delivery to promote understanding of concepts and their relevance to daily life * Ensure administrative policies and procedures are in place to sustain and grow online offerings * Promote Sound Vision as an Islamic education resource through outreach, service, and fundraising * As a senior manager, collaborate with organization leadership to expand visibility, service, and legacy

Administrator of program that provides Quranic Arabic language instruction to adults with various proficiency levels * Collaborated with community leaders to identify gaps in adult education and develop programming to meeting those needs * Worked with subject area experts to review and assess textbooks and resource materials and develop curriculum that accommodates a range of students from the beginning to intermediate levels * Manage upwards of 10 teaching staff members per semester including HR responsibilities for hiring, negotiation of employment contracts, timekeeping, mid- and end-of-year performance evaluations, mentoring, and development of training programs for personal and professional development * Facilitated a summit of teaching staff to assess and revise the curriculum * Initiated distance learning alternatives in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic

Provided leadership, program management, strategic planning, and creative problem solving for nationally recognized Islamic education program that currently serves 520+ students annually * Supervised the development of curriculum, school-wide projects, and activities for children ages Kindergarten through high school and adults, including the initiation of distance learning alternatives in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic * Managed nearly 70 teachers, teaching assistants, program coordinators, and administrative support staff which includes HR responsibilities for hiring, negotiation of employment contracts, timekeeping, regular performance evaluations, mentoring, and development of training programs * Developed routine communications and activities to build strengthen connection between home and school in order to ensure retention of students and sustained support for program offerings * Advocated for the needs of Muslim students before county leaders, superintendents of public schools, local school administrators, interfaith coalition partners, and at public hearings and town hall meetings * Spearheaded the installation of data base software that is used for academic and administrative recordkeeping, assess compliance and efficiency, and manage ongoing staff training

Established and operate business that specializes in corporate image development, marketing, promotional products, and public relations * Design newspapers, newsletters, advertisements, annual reports, books, and public relations campaigns with profit and non-profit organizations, private schools, and independent authors * Serve a diverse array of clients including the National Committee on Pay Equity, inspirational author and TV personality Iyanla Vanzant, Christmas in April (now DBA Rebuilding Together), the Mafiq Foundation, Ad Options Promotional Sales, and the Greenbelt News Review – the oldest consecutive running independent cooperative newspaper in the country – for a productive 14-year run which produced more than 700 weekly newspapers

Managed multi-tiered legislative program for non-profit membership organization that represents a diverse array of women employed by the federal government * Established annual legislative agenda highlighting issues relevant to female federal workers inside and outside of the workplace (accomplishments included the enactment of The Family and Medical Leave Act, various child care initiatives, expansion of sexual harassment policies, staff development training, affirmative action initiatives, and more) * Lobbied members of Congress, relevant House and Senate committee members, White House staff, and federal departments to advance constituent issues * Implemented strategies on a broad range of issues with coalition partners in various private and public sector entities, women’s, civil rights, education, labor organizations, and professional associations representing federal workers * Organized major grassroots campaigns and facilitated informational training sessions and speeches across the country to educate about and promote legislative initiatives * Developed public relations campaigns which included written press releases and op-ed pieces in major print, radio, and television media outlets, radio interviews, and internal publications * Initiated legislative intern program that hosted, supervised, and mentored students from institutions of higher learning including George Washington, Georgetown University, American University, and Loyola College

Performed an important staff role for the union that represented employees at the U.S. Information Agency, Voice of America, and foreign service officers at the U.S. State Department. * Advised clients about employment rights related to hiring, promotion, disciplinary actions, firing, employee disputes, and discrimination based on race, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, religion, age and physical and mental ability. * Represented union members in grievance processes which included submission of formal written documents and acting as lead advocate in meetings with managers, labor relations representatives, and arbitrators * Participated in contract negotiations and labor agreements with federal management officials, labor relations representatives, and HQ union staff * Developed and facilitated training programs for union stewards and members

Minor in Women's Studies Significant coursework in Social Work and African American Studies