Team

Spiritual Leaders

Dr. Hassan Lachheb

Dr. Hassan Lachheb is the founder and president of Tayseer Seminary, holding a Ph.D. in Religious Studies with a focus on the intellectual history and religiosity of Muslims in the Maghreb and Andalus.

Ustadha Zaynab Ansari

Spiritual Leader

Ustadha Zaynab Ansari is a full-time faculty member at Tayseer Seminary, serving as a women's scholar-in-residence and dedicated to reviving the Prophetic model of community and training the next generation of Muslim leaders.

Dr. Michael Dann

Spiritual Leader

Dr. Michael Dann is a faculty member at Tayseer Seminary, serving as an instructor of Arabic and the Islamic sciences, with a Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University.

Ustadh Nadeem

Co-Founder

Ustadh Nadeem is a graduate of Tayseer Seminary and serves as adjunct faculty, teaching a course in community activism while also being involved in various local Muslim organizations and businesses.

Ustadh Abdalla

Co-Founder

Ustadh Abdalla is a graduate of Tayseer Seminary and an experienced outdoor leadership instructor who currently serves as the Youth Director of the Muslim Youth of Knoxville.

Yow

Wilderness Program Director

Yow is an experienced wilderness guide and outdoor educator who has led backpacking trips throughout the Mountain West, Alaska, the Southwest, and the Utah canyonlands for over a decade.

Kate

Senior Outdoor Instructor

Kate is a seasoned wilderness guide and facilitator with over 15 years of experience leading trips in the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.

Aalya

Outdoor Instructor

Aalya is a University of Georgia Cognitive Science student and wilderness instructor who draws on her lifelong love of the outdoors to guide and inspire others.

Anas

Outdoor Instructor

Anas is the Chief Science Officer at Tarteel AI and a high-elevation wilderness enthusiast who leads Tayseer adventures to nurture others' love of the outdoors and discover The Creator through His creation.

Areej

Outdoor Instructor

Areej has traveled to several states in pursuit of backpacking.

Ashraf

Outdoor Instructor

Ashraf is the Youth Coordinator for the Muslim Community of Knoxville and a Tayseer Seminary graduate who leads young people into the wilderness to discover their strength and connect with something larger than themselves.

Blake

Outdoor Instructor

Blake is a mindful movement and strength training specialist who integrates physical exertion with personal growth and outdoor leadership.

Fatima

Outdoor Instructor

Fatima is a community-focused wilderness leader with a background in social work and nonprofit management, currently a Tayseer Seminary student.

Hussein

Outdoor Instructor

Hussein is an IT professional and experienced backcountry camping enthusiast leading wilderness courses while balancing work and family in Durham, NC.

Mariam

Outdoor Instructor

Mariam Husain grew up near the Great Smoky Mountains and has co-led Tayseer Wilderness expeditions since 2020.

Mussaab

Outdoor Instructor

Mussaab, an outdoor enthusiast and UT graduate, applies his adventurous spirit to his work as a Practice Management Consultant specializing in business leadership development.

Omayah

Outdoor Instructor

Omayah grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and recently graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Environmental and Soil Sciences.

Safiya

Outdoor Instructor

Safiya is a student wilderness instructor and rock climbing team captain passionate about encouraging young Muslims to explore the outdoors.

Tasneem

Outdoor Instructor

Tasneem is a student outdoor instructor with Wilderness First Aid certification who thrives on testing new experiences and learning adventures.

Ustadh Sean

Outdoor Instructor

Ustadh Sean is the Vice Principal (7-12) and language arts and history department head at Annoor Academy of Knoxville, bringing extensive experience in education and instructional leadership to the school.