Board of Directors
The legal and financial affairs of the school are managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board consists of a total of nine members: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and five members.
Four of those members are elected by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), another four are elected by the Islamic Society of Central Kentucky (ISCK) and the last member is appointed by the ISCK Shura Council (liaison).
In addition, the current administrator and academic director of LUA serve as ex-officio members of the Board.
Khaled Ghoneim, President
Khaled Ghoneim has been a member of the Lexington Muslim community for over 28 years. He served as a member of the planning committee and the first LUA board of directors initiated by the Islamic Society of Central Kentucky (ISCK) in 2002 which helped launch the construction and the development of our school, Lexington Universal Academy. He is a member of ISCK’s Shura Council and served as ISCK's president in past years. Khaled currently works at Humana as a Technology Portfolio Manager. He is the father of six children. Five of his children already graduated from LUA while the youngest is currently enrolled. Khaled had the honor of serving LUA in many capacities and is currently the President of LUA’s School Board of directors.
Atef Elgassier, Vice-President
Atef Elgassier moved to Lexington with his wife Warda Abuhajer in 2014. Dr. Elgassier currently works as a Hospitalist in the medicine department at Saint Joseph Hospital. He and Warda have been blessed with three children, Raseal, Muhammad, and Omar. His main motivation for moving to Lexington was for his children to attend LUA. His hope is to support LUA be the best private school in Lexington.
Nayan Mohamed, Secretary
Nayan Mohamed is a member of Islamic Society of Central Kentucky (ISCK), is part of Lexington Muslim community for 15 years. An Electronics & Communications Engineering graduate working as IT Project Manager at Lexmark International Inc. He is the father of two children. His daughter graduated from LUA and son studying in 7th grade at LUA. This is his first year serving in LUA board as a Secretary and looking forward to serve in LUA’s progress.
Alaa El Mediouri, Treasurer
Alaa El Mediouri is currently working as an Instructional Technology Director at the University of Kentucky. He has been a member of the community and this is his third year serving in LUA board.
His career in the nonprofit arena has afforded him with a comprehensive view of the opportunities and challenges that accompany change. Alaa learned from the ground up the importance of collaboration and the power of public support. He also learned the challenges and joys of nonprofit leadership from many different points of view.
Jamil Farooqui, ISCK Liaison
Dr. Jamil Azam Farooqui is a physician living in Lexington for more than 15 years. Currently he is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Saint Joseph Hospital and member of the Board of Directors, Lexington Clinic. He has been an active member of our community, currently serving Boards of CAIR Kentucky, ISCK and Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabbah. He is also the board member of the Share Center and Medical Director of the Share Center Free Clinic. He has served as the president of Masjid Bilal Executive Committee and Islamic Society of Central Kentucky.
Ahmad Kutkut, Marketing Committee Chair
Dr. Ahmad Kutkut is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky, College of Dentistry, since 2011. He is currently the Division Chief of Prosthodontics and Director of Predoctoral Implant Program and maintain a practice limited to Dental Implants, Fixed, and Removable Prosthodontics. He is married to Dr. Lina Sharab and a parent of 3 kids; 2 graduated from LUA in 2018 (Amr) and 2020 (Obaida). My youngest son Jude is currently in the 2nd grade.
As a Muslim family, we believe in Islamic education and, more importantly, the Islamic environment in the USA. We want to support LUA in any way we can as a whole family.
Yousef Darrat, Fundraising Committee Chair
Yousef Darrat is a native of Libya, he grew up in Cairo, Egypt. He returned to Libya after finishing his schooling in Egypt and graduated from medical school in Tripoli. He then moved to Canada in 2006 where he worked as a family physician. In 2007 he decided to pursue medical training in the USA. He completed his residency and fellowship in West Virginia. In 2013 he moved to Lexington for advanced training at the University of Kentucky and subsequently served as faculty in the school of medicine for about 5 years. He was actively involved in the education of medical students and trainees and has received a teaching award from the division of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Kentucky. He currently practices cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at St. Joseph Hospital.
Yousef has been involved in multiple hospital committees to improve the quality of medical care. He has also been an active member of the community; he has given a talk to students at LUA and has participated in the career day event.
Yousef enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. Two of his children, Zakaria and Maria are students at LUA. Yousef is interested in becoming an active member of the school board at LUA. He looks forward to contributing to this great establishment which is an important part of the future of our cherished and beloved children.
Zaeemuddin Ali Syed, Strategic Planning Committee Chair
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