EMPOWERING STUDENTS.
CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP.
EMPOWERING STUDENTS.
CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP.
STUDENT LEADERS NETWORK FOR AMERICAN SHIA MUSLIMS
THE MAINSTAY
STUDENT LEADERS NETWORK
Join the Student Leaders Network for American Shia Muslims, a professional community that connects campus organizers, club officers, graduate and undergraduate students, young professionals, and alumni mentors to build values-aligned leadership and lasting impact on campus and beyond.
What
A member-led hub for leadership training, mentorship, tools, and opportunities spanning campus programming, service and advocacy, research, entrepreneurship, communications, and community partnerships.
Why
To develop confident, ethical leaders, amplify representation, and turn strong ideas into real initiatives, through mentorship, peer review, resource sharing, and partnerships that open doors to internships, fellowships, micro-grants, research roles, and leadership opportunities.
How
• Complete a brief interest sign-up and needs assessment survey.
• Join the welcome call and select a working group (e.g., Campus Chapters & Programming, Professional Development & Mentorship, Service & Advocacy, Research & Policy, Faith–Wellness–Culture, Communications & Media).
• Share and learn through regular leadership labs, skill workshops (e.g., public speaking, project management, fundraising/grant writing), and regional meetups.
• Showcase your impact at student leadership showcases and by publishing briefs on the network platform.
Membership includes access to:
• A national network of Muslim student leaders (undergrad, grad, early-career) and an alumni mentor directory.
• Cross-network mentorship with the AI, Healthcare, and Entrepreneurs Networks, plus opportunities to connect to Mainstay projects, networks, and chapters.
• Events and learning: frequent roundtables, virtual sessions, workshops, conferences, and in-person meetups focused on ethics, leadership, and community impact.
• A shared resource library (chapter starter kits, program playbooks, budget/marketing templates) and a jobs/internships/placements board.
• Attend and participate in the Annual ENGAGE Conference (student leadership track and showcase).
Whether you’re launching your first campus initiative or scaling a national project, this network is your place to grow, and to help others grow with you.
Apply now to become a member of our network.
We kindly ask that all prospective members complete a brief form. Expect an e-mail from us within 48 hours.
APPLY TODAY & JOIN THE
STUDENT LEADERS NETWORK
Individual Information
Network Focused Information
Our Network brings together American Shia Muslim student leaders from campuses nationwide to learn, organize, and lead with purpose in faith, identity, and community impact.
Through networking, leadership, and engagement, members gain faith-centered foundations and skills to help them excel personally, professionally, and within their schools and organizations.
Our Network brings together American Shia Muslim student leaders from campuses nationwide to learn, organize, and lead with purpose in faith, identity, and community impact.
Through networking, leadership, and engagement, members gain faith-centered foundations and skills to help them excel personally, professionally, and within their schools and organizations.
Scholarships
Supporting academic excellence and providing opportunities for educational advancement
Networking
Connecting student leaders nationwide for collaboration, support, and shared advocacy
Leadership
Developing student leaders through workshops and mentorship to enhance communication, organizing, and community impact
Engagement
Empowering students to lead service projects and faith-based educational programs
Mentorship
Building relationships with established professionals in law, medicine, business, education, and other fields to support personal and career development
Service
Encouraging community outreach and volunteerism rooted in faith and compassion
POWERED BY
POWERED BY
ABOUT MAINSTAY
The Mainstay Foundation was established in 2012. Dedicated to education, research, leadership development, and humanitarian outreach, it serves as a national hub, fostering collaboration among a wide network of Islamic centers and institutions across the United States.
The Foundation publishes scholarly works on Islamic thought, convenes national conferences, and leads cultural and educational exchange programs—bringing professionals and students to the Holy City of Najaf, while also hosting leading scholars from the Islamic Seminary to visit American centers, universities and places of worship. These initiatives bridge communities, foster dialogue, and deepen mutual understanding between the American Muslim community and global centers of Islamic learning.
On the international front, the Foundation advances humanitarian and development efforts by delivering aid and building sustainable partnerships in underserved regions across the world.
Director
HAJJ JALAL MOUGHANIA
Hajj Jalal Moughania is a law professor, attorney, lecturer, and author focused on the intersections of law, leadership, and Islamic thought. He teaches Islamic Law at Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy. Moughania is the author of Ali: The Elixir of Love, Husayn: The Saga of Hope, and Fatima: The Flower of Life, and co-author of The Pope Meets the Ayatollah. He also translated The Marjaeya by Grand Ayatollah M.S. Al-Hakeem.
He serves on the Board of the Mainstay Foundation and holds a J.D. from the University of Toledo, with certificates from Oxford and Harvard.
Moughania is the founding director of the Mainstay Law & Policy Society, a national platform cultivating Muslim legal professionals grounded in Islamic tradition and engaged in shaping the future of law and policy through scholarship, mentorship, and civic engagement.
The Student Leaders Network is a project powered by The Mainstay Foundation