Top Left: Salam Atassi, Top Right: Salwa Sunbulli, Bottom Left: Dr. Linda Hamadeh, Bottom Right: Mazen Asbahi

The Mecca Center recently welcomed four new board members as part of its 4th Annual Election on Friday, December 1. Mecca Center community members have elected Salam Atassi, Salwa Sunbulli, Linda Hamadeh, and Mazen Asbahi as new board members.

Salam Atassi is a mechanical engineer and graduated from the University of Romania in 1984 before moving to the United States in 1988. Salam started his own automotive business in 1992. In his free time, Salam loves to play tennis and enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and jogging. He also loves riding his motorcycle. One of Salam’s talents is that he makes friends easily. He is compassionate about other people’s needs, and offers his help whenever he can. He has been involved with the Mecca Center since its establishment and has served twice as part of the Mecca Center board. Salam has also served in several committees including volunteering, fundraising, construction, and facility management. Salam believes in diversity, stability, women’s rights, and youth participation and hopes to instill these values as part of his work with the Mecca Center. Salam is married with two children.

Salwa Sunbulli was born and raised in nearby Burr Ridge and attended the local public schools. Growing up, she spent her summers in Syria learning the traditional Islamic sciences of Aqeeda, Fiqh of the Shafi tradition, Seerah, and received an Ijaza in teaching Quran and Tajweed from the renown Sheikh al-Kurdi in Damascus. Salwa has a degree in Economics from Northwestern University and currently works in strategy and market intelligence at a consulting firm. She is a proud wife and mother of two girls ages 12 and 8.

Dr. Linda Hamadeh is a Curriculum Coordinator and Science Department Chair at Universal School, where she has been a part of the faculty since 1997. She has a Doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Xavier University. Linda has been serving as the principal of the Mecca Center Sunday School since 2004, and has overseen the school blossom to over 260 students. She is also currently a member of the Mecca Center’s education and youth committees. Linda has lived in the Chicago-land area her whole life, and has been an active member of the Mecca Center community since its inception. She currently resides in Burr Ridge.

Mazen Asbahi is an active member of the Mecca Center community and lives in the community with his wife Lena and their three children Ameen, Senna, and Zayna. Professionally, Mazen is a partner at a law firm where he specializes in healthcare, corporate, and nonprofit law.