Who We Are
About Us
We are proud of our team of experienced professionals and volunteers based in Lebanon and the U.S. They know what the conditions are and they are dedicated to bringing about positive change.
Annual Reports and Financials
Noor El-Salam's annual reports provide a snapshot of activities. They contain highlights of relief, education and community activities in Lebanon as well as information on funds raised and spent.
From 2022, a favorable determination letter was issued by the IRS that Noor El-Salam meets the requirements for tax-exempt status under the Code section the organization applied
Susan Bryant - Founder
Susan Bryant, co-founder and treasurer, is an attorney who worked in higher education and as a practicing lawyer, owning her own firm. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University and B.A. from Duke University. She has served on the Board of many non-profit organizations in the areas of early childhood education, interdisciplinary work between lawyers and therapists, reentry of prisoners into the community, and church mission boards.
Lee Anderson-Harris
Lee Anderson-Harris, board member, is ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church. She has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado-Denver, completed seminary coursework at Iliff School of Theology, and has a B.B.A. in Marketing from Texas A&M University. She has served churches in specialized roles of pastoral care and missions & service.
Paul Landers
Paul Landers is a seasoned leader in the health, education, and human services fields, with a M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Cambridge College and B.A. in Special Education, Boston University. He has over three decades of experience guiding organizations that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most notably, Paul served as President and CEO of Pathfinder Village in New York, where he oversaw a nationally recognized inclusive community, led multimillion-dollar capital campaigns, and launched transformative programs in education, housing, and workforce development. His career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive, mission-driven leadership, community partnerships, and organizational growth. Paul brings to Noor El-Salam his passion for creating opportunities and empowering underserved populations, aligning closely with our mission to support refugee children through education.
Rick Heidebrecht
Rick Heidebrecht, board member, is an engineer by degree, holding an EE degree from Oklahoma State University and MSEE from Purdue University. In business, he has held senior positions in engineering and business development for companies ranging from start ups to the Fortune 100. He also has enjoyed education as Scholar of Engineering Practice at the University of Colorado as well as tutoring in mathematics for middle school students. Over the past several years he has volunteered at several non-profits in roles from project manager to board member.
Advisory Board
Jodie Cottrell
Jodie Cottrell is a technical recruiter at a Big 4 consulting company for the past 15 years. She has an M.A. degree in Student Personnel Services from the University of NJ and an B.A. degree in Political Science from Douglass College-Rutgers University. She has served in a variety of church leadership roles from long term planning to facility management over the past several years. She has a particular strong interest in animal rescues.
Annual Reports
Noor El-Salam's annual reports provide a snapshot of activities. They contain highlights of relief, education and community activities in Lebanon as well as information on funds raised and spent.