Dr. Ali Eydgahi

Growth & Development Committee Chair

Dr. Eydgahi is an advisor to the Board. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He started his career as a faculty member at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985. Since then, he has been with the State University of New York, Oakland University, Tehran University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Eastern Michigan University as an administrator and/or a faculty member. Dr. Eydgahi has served as the chair and/or a member of numerous national and international professional societies and has received a number of awards for his accomplishments. Dr. Eydgahi joined the Child Foundation Board of Directors in August 2011.

Ms. Farideh Bakhtiari

Board and Executive Committee Chair  

Ms. Bakhtiari graduated from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. Her professional experience has included programming, product verification, design, system architecture and projects, products, resources, and budget management. My Engineering career started at Canadian Electronics & Aviation (CAE) as a programmer, followed by working at Ericsson Mobility for 4 years as software designer. Moving to Seattle in 1996, I started working at AT&T Wireless in progression from a platform manager to the senior lead engineer responsible for architecture, design, and implementation of Mobility Network Management Solutions. I strive to build professional and personal relationships based on trust, collaboration, and problem-solving through team work.

Ms. Manijeh Taherynia

Finance Committee Chair

Ms. Manijeh Taherynia is a certified public accountant with over 15 years of experience in state and local government auditing and accounting, as well as taxation in public accounting in Colorado. She received her Master’s in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Denver. Ms. Taherynia has also served on the board of other non-profit organizations. 

Ms. Kerry Ayazi

Compliance  &  Ethics  Committee  Chair

Kerry Ayazi holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law. Ms. Ayazi is currently an Executive Director with a renowned nonprofit center of excellence providing world-class healthcare, research, academic program, and innovations for cancer and other illnesses. Previously, she was General Counsel, Senior Vice-President, and Compliance Officer at a national nonprofit's Southern California affiliate system, advocating social justice, reproductive justice, healthcare access, and advanced equity and inclusion. Ms. Ayazi has served on several nonprofit, charitable, and academic boards and governing bodies and worked with several institutions advancing charitable, community, welfare, social justice, and academic engagement. Ms. Ayazi is also an avid supporter of children's welfare, animal welfare, social and health equity across spectrums, and the arts.