Our Team

About Anjum

Anjum Malik is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the Alhambra-U.S. Chamber, Founder and Executive Director of the Global Impact Initiative and Vice President of the HOFT Institute.

Anjum is a global professional with 35+ years of experience in the fields of international education, educational consulting, business development, entrepreneurial management, and conference planning both in the U.S. and internationally.

She has built an extensive network of global contacts, which she leverages on behalf of her clients, connecting people and organizations for success. Along with her expertise in strategic planning, market development, negotiation and management, her work with the U.S. and multiple international agencies documents an impressive record of success.

Anjum’s belief in the power of education to improve society is evident in all aspects of her professional life. She has enriched the academic, linguistic, and professional development of international students, scholars, and administrators. The organizations she has created and managed have enhanced the global competence of more than 170,000 students and hundreds of professionals. Within her most nurtured passion – international education – Anjum constantly seeks innovative tools to improve teaching, learning, and access. In all her endeavors, she strives to advance the empowerment of women and their increased participation in the workforce.

Anjum consults and trains on a wide variety of issues related to international education, such as accreditation (presented to Saudi deans and senior university officials), gap analysis (presented at WISE and FranIndia conferences), leadership, and professional development (conducted at universities all across the MENA region, China and India), empowering women (IECHE conferences in Riyadh, WISE Conference in Malaysia, WIL-UAE), franchising and strategic planning (CLICKS Dubai Conference, Gulf Education Conferences in London, and at various institutions of higher learning), mentoring (conducted at WLS Norway), and cross cultural academic and workforce integration workshops across the world. She also developed an innovative approach to pre-departure training for international students, parts of which have been adopted by universities around the United States as well as the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Washington, D.C., The Qatar Supreme Education Council in Doha, Qatar and Liaoning Education in China.An expert moderator, Anjum has moderated panels on a broad range of issues within the field of international higher education at global conferences in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Whether critiquing the current model of education or exploring how to successfully keep the public accurately aware of the latest scientific developments or advancing ways to increase the number of women who can safely and fully participate in public life, Anjum has skillfully led panel discussions that inform and inspire audiences.

Based in Texas, she has partnered with institutions in locations as diverse as Turkey, China, and Korea as well as colleges and universities across the U.S. She has earned a reputation as an expert on international higher education and as a business woman with extensive experience and contacts in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, China and Eastern Europe. Anjum has given expert testimony on higher education matters before the Texas Legislature, has served as an advisor to The Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, worked with multiple educational and cultural outreach programs, served on numerous boards and has been interviewed and quoted in national and international media.

Anjum was the Director of International Marketing and Public Relations for The University of Texas at Austin’s Global Initiative on Education and Leadership, advising the initiative on international strategy, identifying opportunities for international collaborative projects, business endeavors as well as cross-cultural and educational exchanges, and negotiation of bi- and multi-lateral agreements.

The Chamber has working relationships with the OIC embassies and was instrumental in organizing the annual Embassy-University Showcases in Washington, D.C. Because of Anjum’s leadership in education delivery and development, the Chamber was invited to become a member of President Barack Obama’s Partners for a New Beginning Program. The Chamber is an implementation partner of the New York Academy of Sciences’ Global STEM Alliance and Professors Without Borders (PROWIBO), and is a partner of STEMconnector® and Women in Higher Education (WIHE). Through these partnerships, the Chamber strives to advance globally women’s participation in education and to increase their numbers in the STEM fields.

In recognition of her global contribution to women’s entrepreneurship, Anjum was designated as an Honorary Ambassador of the Polish Network of Women Entrepreneurship Ambassadors during the 2015 European Congress of Small and Medium Enterprises in Katowice, Poland. Under Anjum’s leadership, the HOFT Institute received national recognition as the first recipient of the Tom Tillia Community Service Award for a unique, spirited and outstanding record of community service established by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) in 2017. In 2019, she was named an Entrepreneur in Residence at the World Learning Summit and recognized as an International Research Associate of the Future Learning Lab at the University of Agder.

About Rose

A life-long educator whose dynamic and engaging approach to instruction has impacted the lives of thousands of students and educators, Rose Potter promotes active, student-centered leaning and an inquiry approach to teaching to build creative and critical thinking skills. She has taught and mentored others at all levels of instruction, K-12, higher education and professional development. In addition to her classroom experience, she founded and operated a business to organize college credit study abroad, immersion experiences for high school students that continues today, SPI Abroad. Since 2004, Rose has mentored pre-service teachers for the UTeach-Liberal Arts program at the University of Texas at Austin, first as a University Supervisor and, presently, as an Assistant Clinical Professor. A nominee for the ACTFL – NYSAFLT Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education, Ms. Potter continues to impact the profession through her ongoing work with future educators.

About Shawn

Shawn serves as the Director of Strategic Planning for the Chamber. He brings a wealth of knowledge from several industries, including healthcare, law enforcement, hospitality, higher education, nonprofits, and government. He has served in compliance roles, and many others, while addressing needs within governmental and private organizations, during mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Presently, Shawn serves as the Vice President for an education-based nonprofit organization in the United States, in addition to his role at the Chamber.

In addition to building international business relationships, Shawn utilizes his broad expertise and education to assist in developing custom made programs and curricula for the Chamber’s clients. Many of these programs are marketed domestically and internationally. Shawn directs the development of strategic information, analysis, and recommendations concerning the organization's competitive position in the market place, by reviewing industry trends, forecasting and regulatory requiremenets for each Chamber service line. His job assists in bringing the best services, including custom made programs, to clients around the world.

Shawn received a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.A. in Psychology, pursued a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Community Development, and most recently obtained a Master’s in Business Administration. He is credentialed as a Certified Scrum Master, a Certified Professional Agile Coach, and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional.

About Avery

Avery began developing websites in High School, and quickly developed a niche helping non-profits and small mental health practices establish a digital presence. Since then, he has developed dozens of websites for clients across the country, as well as interned full-time at a number of web-focused companies.

Avery recently graduated the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Computer Science and Public Affairs. He is currently working in Seattle as a Software Engineer for Google's Chrome OS team. He is particularly passionate about driving economic and social change through the power of technology and engineering. He began working for the Alhambra-U.S. Chamber in 2020 and, after a successful website overhaul, began working on the Global Impact Initiative's website as well.

About Adrianna

After finishing grad school, Adrianna found the Chamber which inspired her passion for higher education. She is currently helping the Chamber coordinate resettlement efforts among Afghan refugees and would eventually like to obtain a full-time career as a researcher for an education-based nonprofit. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, hiking, cooking and baking, and cats.

About Kate

Kate Canning, currently completing her Bachelor’s in international relations and sociology, is deeply passionate about helping others and the Chamber’s mission resonates with her. She hopes to enter the foreign service, working in global diplomacy. When not working with the team, she loves spending time outside, walking dogs at the animal shelter, and listening to live music.

About Kimberley

Kimberley serves as an Operations Co-Lead for the Alhambra US Chamber. As a multilingual administrative and communications professional, Kimberley has experience working in the non-profit, private, and federal sectors. Kimberley is a native Houstonian and alumna of the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in French and International Relations and Global Studies. During her undergraduate career, she was the Executive Coordinator for the Alhambra US Chamber and Coordinator for HOFT Institute, the Chamber's partner organization.

Currently, Kimberley is pursuing a Master in Public Policy at the University of Houston with certificates in Healthcare Leadership and Healthcare Policy. Her areas of interest include international security, human rights, global health security, and international development. She is thrilled to be part of the Alhambra US Chamber once again!

About Caitlin

Caitlin is a passionate storyteller, business owner, and student of inspiring communities that continue to shape her. She owns The Good Word, Co., a full-service communications business which specializes in helping nonprofits with their creative writing and grant writing needs. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur in 2021, Caitlin spent five years working for various nonprofits in California and Arizona.

During her tenure at the Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs, she witnessed youth from disadvantaged communities rise from intense poverty. She then had the opportunity to meet and share the stories of kids and teens who took part in the mentorship programs through the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. Her final in-house position was with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she saw firsthand the resilience, healing, and hope that can only be found in a place as life-changing and life-saving as a children’s hospital.

Inspired by what she saw and experienced during her time with these philanthropic organizations, she built The Good Word, Co. She is proud to have a career that allows her to serve and support multiple communities at once.

In 2017, Caitlin earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Her awareness of and desire to serve vulnerable communities derives directly from the content of her studies. She learned about the complexities in societies all over the world and how those complexities often lead to gaps in resources for certain groups. She has translated that awareness to an impressive career in which she uses her talents for the benefit of others.

Caitlin believes in the good things and good people this world offers. Hence, she named her business The Good Word, Co! More importantly, she wants others to have the chance to believe in themselves, as well. When asked about her personal mission she shares, “telling the life-changing stories of one person, one conversation or one opportunity at a time is the best way I know how to contribute to us all seeing the goodness in the world.”