Meet the Team
Islamabad
Kathy Aziz
Director - EducationUSA Advising
Kathy Aziz is from St. Paul, Minnesota. She manages the EducationUSA Advising Department at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree from Columbia University. Prior to relocating to Pakistan in 2017, she worked for 15 years as a compliance officer at American Express Financial Advisers, later Ameriprise Financial, in Minneapolis.
Mashal Khan
Senior EducationUSA Adviser & Assistant Manager, Islamabad
Mashal completed a master's degree in teaching and curriculum in 2017 from Syracuse University, New York.
With limited means and higher education opportunities in Pakistan, Mashal was able to pursue her passion in the USA as an exchange student on a scholarship.
"International education is the key to success in today's world," she says. "The exchange of ideas and cultures across borders developed international-mindedness in me and prepared me for culturally informed interactions. Studying in the USA was a life-changing experience for me, which is why I want to continue inspiring my fellow Pakistanis in my current role as an EducationUSA Adviser."Zain Ali
EducationUSA Adviser
Zain Ali has graduated from Clark University with a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Economics. After graduating in 2020, Zain worked at a non-profit in Boston for a year before eventually moving back to Pakistan to be with his family. He feels that his time at a liberal arts college changed his worldview and opened him up to new and fun experiences. He joined USEFP in 2022, and is excited to work with students to help them achieve their dreams of studying in the U.S.
In his spare time, you can either find Zain hiking the Margalla Hills or drinking coffee at a local café with his friends.
Zubair bin Naeem
EducationUSA Adviser
Zubair bin Naeem, a 2020 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a Biology major specializing in genetic engineering, is a passionate advocate for global education and individual development. He believes in making diverse cultural experiences and pursuing one's true calling. Zubair's academic journey enhanced his scientific skills and broadened his worldview, emphasizing the value of cross-cultural exposure.
A defining moment in Zubair's life was successfully genetically modifying a worm to grow two heads, fuelling his commitment to helping others pursue their aspirations.
In his free time, you'll find him working on vintage car restoration projects from the 1980s, he's the type of guy with engine oil running through his veins.
Anas Akbar Ali
EducationUSA Adviser
Anas Akbar Ali recently graduated with a master's degree in Global Studies from Bard College, New York. As a master's student, he spent a semester in Austria, studying at Central European University. In 2021, he received his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
Prior to joining EducationUSA in 2023, Anas interned with the Open Society University Network (OSUN) in New York City.
Lahore
Aman Bashir
Senior EducationUSA Adviser & Assistant Manager, Lahore
Aman is from Lahore. He has a bachelor of science degree in economics from the Pennsylvania State University. He previously worked for five years as an operations manager for a school in Gujrat. Aman's success as an EducationUSA adviser has brought him into contact with hundreds of students, making him a key focal point for EducationUSA advocacy and outreach in the Lahore region. Reading tech news, FX trading and energy conservation projects are amongst his favorite hobbies.
Ayesha Siddiqi
EducationUSA Adviser
Ayesha Siddiqi is originally from Karachi and has also lived in Dubai, Manila, and Chicago. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Chicago and completed various Western Literature courses at KU Leuven in Belgium. Prior to joining the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan in 2021, she worked with several publications and multimedia platforms, primarily as an editor and editorial consultant. She is now based in Lahore and spends her time outside work running after her two hyperactive kids, painting still life, and reading works of magical realism.
Noor Ul Ain
EducationUSA Adviser
Noor Ul Ain is from Lahore, Pakistan. She is an education advisor at the EducationUSA Advising Office in Lahore. She has a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College in International Relations with a minor in Economics. She lived in the United States for over five years. During her time in the United States, she worked at different institutions. She most recently worked at a manufacturing company in Michigan. Noor always had great interest in the education sector since her mother is an educationist by profession. She wants more Pakistani students to grow and learn from American education.
Karachi
Shiza Toor
Senior EducationUSA Adviser & Assistant Manager, Karachi
Shiza Toor is a marketer-turned-EducationUSA adviser, passionate about transforming lives by advocating a U.S. college or university experience to Pakistani students. With over 8 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public diplomacy, she has a knack for developing and implementing creative strategies to promote U.S. higher education to key stakeholders in Pakistan. She also helps to manage the bi-annual U.S. university recruitment tours, which have gained momentum over the years. Shiza has an MBA with majors in International Business and Marketing from the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan.
Omer Bashir
EducationUSA Adviser
Omer Bashir graduated from University of Houston - Victoria with a master's degree in Business with concentration in Management. He had been living in Houston TX for the past 12 years before moving to Karachi, Pakistan and joining EducationUSA in 2023. Having worked in the educational sector for the past 7 years, he feels passionate about helping people be successful in their careers by obtaining higher education in the United States.
In his spare time, Omer enjoys spending time with his family, and exploring new restaurants in the city.
Amna Chandna
EducationUSA Adviser
Amna graduated from University of Maryland-College Park with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2015, and went on to complete her MBA degree from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.
Post graduation, Amna worked in the field of International Development with globally renowned firms like Chemonics and Mott MacDonald Inc. before assuming the roles of counselling and teaching full-time.
Amna is extremely passionate about working in the education sector, and aims to provide students with the guidance and inspiration that they need to bring about lasting positive changes in their lives.
In her free time, Amna likes to travel, read engaging works of fiction, and write poetry.