Alaa Mohammad Shareef

Alaa Mohammad Shareef earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with additional certifications in Childhood & Adolescence Studies and Cultures & Communities Studies. She is currently completing her Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling at Columbia University (Ed.M). She is formally trained in Arabic and Quranic exegesis skills from Al Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan. Alaa has also served on the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s Education Board as Curriculum Developer and is experienced with behavioral therapy intervention and community education. She is presently a researcher and speaker with The Family and Youth Institute, focusing on Muslim mental health curriculum development, advocacy and literacy.

Alaa’s research on the Islamic history of Mental Health has led to her contributions as one of the leading authors for a Springer chapter titled Mental Health in the Islamic Golden Era: The Historical Roots of Modern Psychiatry.